The Golden Nugget online casino brand has secured entry into Michigan.
Golden Nugget Online Gaming, the online arm of the Golden Nugget casino chain, has secured entry into Michigan’s online casino market after entering a partnership with Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, operator of Ojibwa Casino.
This news comes after the online gambling operator announced it would split from Landry’s Incorporated and go public on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
What’s covered under the deal?
With the deal, Golden Nugget will be able to launch and offer its online casino and sportsbook products in Michigan once it receives regulatory approval.
Golden Nugget is currently in the process of expanding outside of the New Jersey online casino market and establishing a presence in other US states. In the state of New Jersey, Golden Nugget is the market leader for online casino.
The operator is also planning to enter Pennsylvania’s online gambling market in early 2021.
Golden Nugget’s senior vice president and general manager of online gaming, Thomas Winter, said: “Golden Nugget Online Gaming is thrilled to partner with the Ojibwa Casino to provide casino players in Michigan with a premium online casino and sportsbook experience. Players in Michigan will be able to appreciate our award-winning product offering and exceptional customer service from a nationally recognized and trusted brand.”
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community President Chris Swartz said: “We are excited to partner with Golden Nugget to bring online casino and sports betting to the state of Michigan. Working with a strong brand will be a perfect complement to our brand new casino in Marquette as well as our casino in Baraga.”
Still no solid timeline for online casino launch in MI
While online casino and sports betting is now legal in the state of Michigan, there is still no timeline for launch in the state. Although the state initially planned to launch the activities in early 2021, the coronavirus pandemic has encouraged lawmakers in the state to work quicker.
Earlier this month, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) began accepting online betting and online gaming license applications.
In the announcement Richard S. Kalm, MGCB executive director said: “We expect to launch internet gaming and online sports betting by late 2020 or early 2021.”
Gambling in Michigan
On 20 December 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 4311 into law, creating the Lawful Internet Gaming Act. Under this law, mobile and online casino gambling is now legal in the state of Michigan. Under the law, the MGCB was granted the power to issue licenses for online and mobile casino gambling.
The state’s governor also approved HB 916, creating the Lawful Sports Betting Act. Under this law, commercial and tribal casinos can offer land-based and online sports betting in Michigan. Governor Whitmer also signed HB 4308 into law, legalizing fantasy sports contests in the state of Michigan.
Michigan’s sports wagering market went live on March 11 with the opening of sportsbooks at Penn National Gaming’s Greektown Casino and the MGM Grand Detroit. Online and mobile sports wagering has yet to go live in the state of Michigan.
