The content previously listed on Michigan Advantage has been moved to US Casino Advantage. The following is an archive of the five blog posts that appeared on the site. Posts are dated starting in May and run through December 2022.
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- Michigan Officially Joins Interstate Online Poker Agreement (May 2022)
- Futures Betting Opportunities for the Detroit Lions 2022-23 NFL Season (July 2022)
- Michigan Betting Odds to Beat TCU, Win National Championship (December 2022)
- New Year’s Eve 2022 Michigan Casino Promotions (December 2022)
- PokerStars Will Be Michigan’s First Interstate Poker Site (December 2022)
Michigan Officially Joins Interstate Online Poker Agreement
Originally published: May 23, 2022
Written by: John Mehaffey
The Michigan Gaming Control Board announced today that the state is now a member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. This allows Michigan poker sites to connect their players with ones in Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey. These are four of five states with an active legal online poker industry.
The player pools in these four states may now legally sit at the same table, helping to add liquidity to the online poker rooms. This adds to the selection of cash games and can make larger tournaments.
“I am happy to announce Michigan has joined the multistate poker compact, and much of the increased tax revenue from multistate poker will go to support K-12 education in Michigan,” Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams said. “By joining, Michigan will almost double the potential pool of participants in multistate poker games.”
Pennsylvania online poker is legal. However, it has not joined the interstate poker gaming pact. Its poker sites may only be intrastate.
“The operators still have work to do before Michigan residents may join multistate poker games,” Williams said. “The MGCB must make sure Michigan residents are protected when they play multistate poker, and we will apply the same rigor to review of the new offering as we have other internet games.”
“Michigan poker players will enjoy more options and will likely play for bigger money when they can compete against players from other states,” said state senator Curtis Hertel. “I am glad we were able to make this possible for Michigan poker players.”
There is only one legal interstate poker site in United States, but that will change
WSOP.com is the only legal interstate online poker room in the United States. It uses software provided by 888. It networks players in Nevada and New Jersey with Delaware Lottery poker sites. Delaware online poker is a lottery monopoly, so no other site can network players from there besides 888 and its partner WSOP.com, which holds the contract.
New Jersey and Nevada are open markets. However, WSOP.com is the only operator in Nevada.
It is expected that BetMGM Poker will launch in Nevada in 2022. It would then be allowed to connect to its players in Michigan and New Jersey, if approved by regulators to do so. That network is called PartyPoker. Borgata Poker has a skin on it.
PokerStars also operates in Michigan. It could network with its New Jersey poker site. PokerStars is not available in Nevada. It is barred from operating in that state due to a tainted asset clause related to it accepting US players after 2006. PokerStars also has legal online poker in Pennsylvania.
Futures Betting Opportunities for the Detroit Lions 2022-23 NFL Season
Originally published: July 21, 2022
Written by: Andruw Burling
The Detroit Lions will look to improve after a very disappointing season. Detroit moved a step further into their rebuild this offseason adding some key players to build around, but still have a ways to go. The Lions finished second to last in the NFL a season ago. Detroit will look for their young players to make an immediate impact in their lineup.
Detroit is bottom five in Super Bowl odds once again this season as they compete in the NFC North. The Green Bay Packers are coming off a postseason appearance, while the Vikings finished one game out of a playoff berth. The Bears are in a similar position as the Lions as they continue their own rebuild.
The Lions stayed relatively quiet in free agency, but made their big moves in the NFL Draft. Detroit signed Wide Receiver D.J. Chark, Cornerback Mike Hughes, and Safety DeShon Elliott to fill in some holes. The Lions picked up Defensive End Aidan Hutchinson and Wide Receiver Jameson Williams in the first round of the draft.
Detroit Lions 2022-23 betting futures
| FanDuel | DraftKings | BetRivers | Caesars | BetMGM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl Odds | +10000 | +15000 | +12500 | +12500 | +12500 |
| Conference Winner Odds | +5500 | +6000 | +5000 | +6000 | +5000 |
| Division Winner Odds | +850 | +1000 | +900 | +900 | +850 |
| Win Totals | Over 6 ½ (-110) | Over 6 ½ (-115) | Over 6 ½ (-110) | Over 6 (-160) | Over 6 ½ (-110) |
Detroit is listed by mobile sportsbooks in Michigan as a long shot to win the Super Bowl, but the best value is at DraftKings at +15000. The Lions have the best odds to win the NFC at DraftKings and Caesars, where they are listed at +6000.
The Lions best odds to win the NFC North are on DraftKings as well, which has them at +1000. Detroit’s win total this season is listed between 6 to 6 ½ wins. The best value on the over is between FanDuel, BetRivers and BetMGM, which are all over 6 ½ for -110. The best value on the under is on DraftKings, which has them at -105 for under 6 ½ wins.
2021-22 season review
Detroit struggled heavily last season, finishing with a record of 3-13-1, which had them in second to last place of the entire NFL. Jared Goff started 14 games last season, going 3-10-1 in those matchups. Tim Boyle started the other three, failing to register a win. The Lions will need a lot of improvement at the quarterback position if they want to be competitive.
The Lions went 2-4 in divisional play last season, with one win coming against the Minnesota Vikings and the other against the Green Bay Packers backups in Week 18. Detroit lost six games by a single score or less last season. The Lions will look to turn those tight games into wins this season.
Questionable offense
Jared Goff will start the season at the Quarterback position. Goff passed for 3245 yards, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions last season. He had his moments, but struggled to get any rhythm going for most of the season. Detroit will look for Goff to have a much better second season with them.
The Lions added two important targets for Goff at receiver this offseason. Detroit signed D.J. Chark and drafted Jameson Williams out of Alabama. These two will play alongside wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end T.J. Hockenson. St. Brown led the team last season with 912 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.
Detroit has a rushing attack highlighted by D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. Swift had 1069 scrimmage yards and 7 touchdowns, while Williams had 601 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. The Lions have a strong offensive line going into this season with young players like Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow and Penei Sewell.
Improved defense
Detroit used their second overall selection to improve the defensive line adding DE Aidan Hutchinson out of Michigan. He will join a front seven highlighted by Alex Anzalone and Michael Brockers. The Lions also added Defensive End James Houston in the 6th round of the draft. Houston has a high potential, but dropped due to injury concerns.
The Lions secondary also improved with their offseason. Detroit’s cornerbacks are now highlighted by Mike Hughes, Amani Oruwariye and Jeff Okudah. Okudah has struggled his first couple seasons in the league, but will look to make the jump this season. Detroit also added DeShon Elliott to join Tracy Walker at safety.
Detroit’s defense was their biggest weakness throughout last season. The Lions gave up 467 points and 6456 yards against, which ranked 31st and 29th in the NFL. Detroit’s run defense was the weaker side ranking 28th in yards against, but the Lions did a great job adding Hutchinson to try and stop the outside run.
Expect another struggle
Detroit is coming off a very rough season, but will look to improve upon it early in this campaign. The Lions added a new infusion of youth to go along with the team. Detroit’s biggest problem remains with a questionable Quarterback though. If Goff continues to struggle, he will bring this Lions team down with him once again.
The Lions have a favorable first five weeks before their bye. Detroit will play winnable games against the Commanders, Seahawks and Patriots. The Lions will have a rough path late in the season though with a couple weaker teams mixed in. Detroit will need both sides of the ball to improve heavily though if they want to capitalize on this schedule.
Detroit is listed at a win total of 6 ½ wins in most places going into the season. I think that this total is a bit high with the Lions coming off a three-win season. I expect Detroit to improve, but to more than double their win total from a season ago seems a bit extreme. The under looks like the best pick for the Lions season.
Best Bet: Detroit Lions Under 6 ½ Wins
Michigan Betting Odds to Beat TCU, Win National Championship
Originally published: December 8, 2022
Written by: Andruw Burling
After a huge season from the Michigan Wolverines, the team’s attention now turns towards the college football playoffs. Michigan will play their first game against the TCU Horned Frogs on New Year’s Eve. The Wolverines will look to keep its perfect season alive with a win against this season’s Cinderella story.
Michigan Wolverines season recap
Michigan was able to earn a record of 13-0 throughout this season. The Wolverines will make their second straight college football playoff appearance after losing to Georgia in the semifinals a season ago. Michigan went 2-0 against ranked teams, knocking off number 10 Penn State in their seventh game of the season and beating the number 2 Ohio State Buckeyes on the road to end the regular season. The Wolverines won the Big Ten by beating Purdue in the conference championship.
Michigan has a run-heavy offense
The Michigan Wolverines have been led by J.J. McCarthy at quarterback this season. McCarthy has thrown for 2376 yards, 20 touchdowns and 3 interceptions on the season. He also rushed for 254 yards and 4 touchdowns. McCarthy will look to step up though as Michigan will need a more dynamic attack if they want to walk away with the National Championship.
Michigan will be without Blake Corum, who earned 1543 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns on the season. Instead they will turn to Donovan Edwards, who earned 1064 yards from scrimmage and 9 touchdowns. Edwards rushed for 401 yards and 3 touchdowns in the last two games of the season after Corum went down.
Michigan’s offense averaged 40.1 points per game, which was 7th in the entire nation. The Wolverines finished with an average of 210.5 passing yards and 243 rushing yards per game. The one concern with Michigan’s offense is they passed the ball around 26 times per game. If the Wolverines find themselves down late, they will need that passing attack to step up.
Michigan’s dominant defense
Juinor Colson and Mike Morris helped lead the front seven on defense this season. Colson led the team in total tackles with 95 this season. Mike Morris sacked the quarterback 7.5 times and had 11 tackles for a loss. Morris is questionable for the TCU game, which would be a huge hit to Michigan’s defense.
Rod Moore and Will Johnson helped lock down in the secondary, both earning three interceptions on the season. Michael Barrett had an interception returned for a touchdown, while D.J. Turner had a fumble returned for a touchdown this season.
The Wolverines defense gave up around 13.4 points per game, which ranked 5th in the nation. Michigan allowed opponents to get around 191.8 passing yards and 85.2 rushing yards per game this season. The Wolverines also earned around one takeaway per game this season.
Michigan Wolverines National Championship odds
Odds are courtesy of FanDuel:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Georgia Bulldogs | -130 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +300 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +360 |
| TCU Horned Frogs | +1800 |
The Wolverines are currently listed with the second best odds to win the National Championship. Georgia is listed as a relatively big favorite to win the title for the second straight season. Michigan has a more complete team though this season and will look to become the new reigning champs.
Related: How to bet on football
College Football Playoff game vs TCU
The opening line for the Michigan vs TCU game has the Wolverines listed at around 7.5 point favorites and -310 against the money line at Michigan online sportsbooks. This implies that Michigan will win this game around 75 percent of the time. The total in this matchup is set at around 58 ½ points.
Michigan has gone 8-4-1 against the spread this season, while the Horned Frogs have gone 9-3-1 this season. The Wolverines have been favored in all but one of their games this season, while TCU was underdogs twice this season. The over has only hit in four Michigan games, but has hit seven times for the Horned Frogs.
Michigan is very reasonably listed as a favorite after a perfect season and a dominant performance against Ohio State on the road in November. TCU struggled against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship game and will look to bounce back in this matchup. I like the value of Michigan to advance and the under in this matchup.
FanDuel is just one online sportsbook in Michigan. There are many more including BetMGM, Caesars and DraftKings.
If Michigan advances
If Michigan is able to knock off TCU in their first game, the team will meet up with either Ohio State or Georgia in the National Championship. Should the Wolverines meet up with the Buckeyes, Ohio State figures to be slight favorites in that matchup. The Bulldogs would likely be eight-point favorites if they meet up with Michigan in the final game of the season.
The Wolverines play Ohio State once a season in rivalry week. Michigan has been able to win “The Game” in the last two seasons. The Wolverines won at home last season 42-27 after rushing for 297 yards and six touchdowns. Michigan won on the road this season 45-23. The Wolverines gained 530 total yards and were able to dominate in the second half.
Michigan and Georgia played in the semifinals of the college football playoffs last season. The Bulldogs defense dominated, holding the Wolverines to 328 yards and only 11 points. Stetson Bennett IV threw for 313 yards and 3 touchdowns. Georgia was able to ride a dominant first half to a 34-11 win.
Best bet on the Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines are currently listed at +300 to win the National Championship. Michigan’s defense has been dominant all season. The Wolverines also proved in the Ohio State game that they can win through the air, something they struggled even more with last season. With a more complete team, I believe Michigan has a real chance to win the title.
The Wolverines are big favorites against the Horned Frogs and with the line at -7 ½, I do not think picking Michigan to cover is a great bet. I believe the best bet in that matchup is the under. If you want to pick the Wolverines to win, I believe taking them as a futures bet to win it all is the best bet. Michigan has proven they can dominate Ohio State and with a more complete roster, I believe they can compete with Georgia.
New Year’s Eve 2022 Michigan Casino Promotions
Originally published: December 12, 2022
Written by: Kristina Mehaffey
Most casinos in Michigan will be hosting hot seat drawings to bring in the 2023 New Year. Prize values vary with many increasing as the evening approaches midnight. Participants must use a players card to qualify for hot seat drawings. Some casinos may require a kiosk swipe to enter.
Other promotions include a High Limit community jackpot, entry earned drawings and wheel spins. Michigan casino New Year’s Eve promotions require players to be present to win. Be sure to check with the rewards center for full details of any promotional offers.
Over $164,500 in prizes in Detroit casinos
Two of Detroit’s three commercial casinos are holding New Year’s Eve promotions. Motor City does not have any NYE promotions listed on its website.
Hollywood Casino Greektown – $8,500+ in cash prizes
A High Limit community jackpot will take place at Hollywood Casino at Greektown on New Year’s Eve. At 6pm, the community jackpot will start at $5,000. Until midnight, every jackpot that is hit increases the community jackpot by $250. At 12:30am on January 1, three participants will be drawn to share the community jackpot.
All players club members may be selected to spin a wheel for $500, $2,023 or $10,000 in cash. Drawings will take place every 15 minutes beginning at 10:30pm until midnight on December 31, 2022. Additional entries into the drawing are earned playing slots, video poker and table games.
MGM Grand Detroit – $156,000 in free play
At MGM Grand Detroit, three players will be awarded $1,000 in free play every week during 2023. Entries for this promotion can be earned beginning December 5. The drawings will take place on December 31, at 9pm and 11pm, and at 1am on January 1.
Over $348,000 in prizes at Lower Peninsula Tribal Casinos
New Year’s Eve promotions are being held at all twelve tribal casinos located on Michigan’s lower peninsula. Prizes range from free play to cash, and even a chance to win a new car.
Firekeepers Casino – $50,757 in free play
Hot seat drawings will be held on New Year’s Eve at Firekeepers Casino every 15 minutes from 9am until 3pm. Randomly selected active slot players will win $2,023 in free play.
Slot machines earn two times points on New Year’s Day. This excludes video poker and electronic table games.
Four Winds Casinos – $115,000 in cash prizes
Four Winds Casino locations, including the South Bend, Indiana casino, are holding free play drawings on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Entries are earned playing slots, table games and live poker during December.
New Year’s Eve
- Noon – $2,500 cash (two winners)
- 1pm to 5pm – $2,023 cash (two winners per hour)
- 6pm – $5,000 cash (one winner)
New Year’s Day
- 1am – $20,000 cash (one winner)
- 2am – $10,000 cash (one winner)
- 3am – $5,000 cash (one winner)
- 2pm, 4pm & 6pm – $1,000 cash (five winners each)
- 3pm & 7pm – $5,000 cash (two winners each)
- 8pm – $10,000 cash (one winner)
Gun Lake Casino – Over $66,000 in prizes
On New Year’s Eve, Gun Lake Casino is giving away $30,000 in free play and a 2023 BMW X3. Ten players will be selected at 7pm, 9pm and 11pm. Each winner receives $1,000 in free slot play. At 1am on January 1, one player will win a new BMW or take the $36,000 cash option.
Between 3am and 3pm on December 31, players receive up to $1,000 in free play after earning 100 reward points. Prizes must be redeemed by visiting a promotional kiosk.
Leelanau Sands Casino – $5,000 in cash prizes
The promotion at Leelanau Sands Casino is for New Year’s Day 2023. A total of 23 winners will be selected from active slot and table game players. A minimum of 30 base points must be earned the same day to qualify. Ten players will win $100 cash, seven will receive $200 cash, four earn $400 cash and two get $500 in cash.
Little River Casino Resort – $62,440 in prizes
Random players will be selected to win cash or free play at Little River Casino on New Year’s Eve. Between 1pm and 10pm, twenty players will be selected to receive $2,022 in cash or free play. One player will win $22,000 in cash at 11pm. Entries can be earned by playing slots and table games during the month of December.
Odawa Casinos – Free play prizes
Hot seat drawings will take place on December 31, 2022 at Odawa Casino in Petoskey. Not labeled as a New Year’s Eve event, $99 table game hot seat drawings will take place between 2pm and 9pm. Additional drawings will take place for both slot and table game players between 11:30am and 3:30pm and from 7:30pm until 11:30pm. Up to $5,000 will be awarded. Up to $75 in free play will also be given to random bonus hot seats.
At Mackinaw City, slot players will have a chance at up to $150 in free slot play. Drawings will take place between 11:30am and 3:30pm and from 7:30pm until 11:30pm.
Both locations will have hot seat drawings on New Years Day. Players have a chance to win up to $200 in free play between 2pm and 8pm.
Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel – Up to $100,000 in cash
Not labeled as a New Year’s Eve special, Saganing Eagles Landing Casino will have hourly drawings from 4pm until 10pm. Selected players spin a wheel for a chance to win up to $100,000 in cash.
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort – Over $24,046 in prizes
New Year’s Eve hot seat drawings begin at 8pm at Soaring Eagle Casino. Each hour one player will be selected to win $2,023 in free play. At 12:30am on January 1, 2023 one winner will receive $22,023 in cash.
Turtle Creek Casino – Over $25,000 in cash prizes
There will be hot seat drawings on New Year’s Eve at Turtle Creek Casino. Ten active players will be selected to win $500 cash prizes between noon and 5pm. The prizes increase to $2,023 between 6pm and 11pm when another ten players will be drawn.
Over $67,000 in prizes at Upper Peninsula Tribal Casinos
The ten tribal casinos located on the upper peninsula of Michigan will be holding hot seat drawings on New Year’s Eve 2022.
Bay Mills Casino & Resort – $10,000 in cash prizes
To celebrate the New Year, twenty winners will be selected to win a share of $10,000 at Bay Mills Casino. Ten players will be selected from 4pm until midnight on December 31, 2022. An additional ten players will win starting at noon until 8pm on New Year’s Day. Each hot seat winner receives $500 cash.
Island Resort and Casino – $2,023 in prizes
Hot seat drawings will take place on the gaming floor at Island Resort and Casino. A total of $2,023 will be given away between December 31, 2022 at 6pm and 2am on January 1, 2023.
Kewadin Casinos – Over $21,000 in cash draws
All five Kewadin Casino locations will be hosting hot seat drawings on December 31, 2022. There are hot seat drawings at 10am with $6,000 in cash draws at 2:30pm. In the evening, drawings start at 6pm with more than $15,000 in cash draws at 10pm. The grand prize draw is worth up to $2,023 in cash.
Players must earn at least 50 base points to qualify for the drawings. Some locations will also offer party favors, champagne toasts, cake and live music.
Northern Waters Casino Resort – Over $25,000 in prizes
On New Year’s Eve from noon until 11:30pm, Northern Waters Casino will have hot seat and free play drawings. Prize values increase throughout the night.
- Noon to 5pm – $50 hot seat drawings (every 15 minutes)
- 6pm to 7:30pm – $223 in free play
- 8pm to 9pm – $523 in free play
- 9:30pm to 10:30pm – $1,023 in free play
- At 11pm – $2,023 in cash
- At 11:30pm – $20,230 in cash
Ojibwa Casinos – Over $9,700 in prizes
Ojibwa Casinos will be awarding players with free play and cash prizes starting at noon on December 31, 2022. Prize values increase as the evening approaches midnight and the New Year. Additionally, a commemorative gift will be handed out the the first 100 players to visit the Reward Center beginning at noon.
- Noon to 4pm – $250 in free play (one guest per hour)
- 5pm to 9pm – $500 in free play (one guest per hour)
- 10pm-midnight – $1,000 in cash (one guest per hour)
- At 12:15am – $2,023 in cash (two guests)
The free play promotions continue on New Year’s Day. From noon until 8pm, hot seat drawing winners will receive $223 in free play.
Alternative casino plans for New Year’s Eve
Participating in New Year’s Eve promotions at casinos in Michigan requires planning ahead to ensure a safe night of fun. Players should have transportation or overnight accommodations scheduled ahead of time. Many casinos have on property overnight accommodations or nearby hotel partners. However, New Year’s Eve can bring higher hotel rates and minimum stay restrictions at some locations.
Players that want to enjoy casino games without the crowds or planning can play on one of Michigan’s online casino sites. New player bonuses include free play credits, first deposit matches and a 24-hour loss rebate. Signing up with one of the below offers supports Michigan Advantage.
PokerStars Will Be Michigan’s First Interstate Poker Site
Originally published: December 25, 2022
Written by: John Mehaffey
PokerStars announced that it will launch interstate online poker in Michigan starting on January 1, 2023, after temporarily taking the sites offline for upgrades earlier this month. That is the same day that neighboring Ohio will open its new online sportsbook industry.
“Michigan and New Jersey joining forces is great news for our players in these two states, and poker, more generally, as it promises a better experience and even more value, all with the confidence provided by a trusted, licensed operator,” said PokerStars US Managing Director, Severin Rasset. “Our community will experience more breadth and depth of games, more tournaments with bigger prizes to win, amped-up promotions, and more choices. To kick start, we are offering generous guarantees on our debut multi-state tournaments that will no doubt provide lots of value for those who take to the tables. We worked closely with the regulators of New Jersey and Michigan, and we hope that more will follow this great example.”
PokerStars will be the first Michigan online poker room to offer interstate player pools. This will allow for larger cash game selections and tournament pools. PokerStars launched in New Jersey in March 2016. It opened in New Jersey in January 2021.
PokerStars also operates in Pennsylvania, which has not joined the interstate player pool agreement. Nevada has not permitted PokerStars to operate there, likely due to the controversial tainted asset clause in its online poker law related to previous US operations.
The first major interstate PokerStars tournament will have a $100 buy-in. The guaranteed prize pool will be $100,000. Virtual cards will go in the air at 6pm ET on January 1, 2023. At 6:30pm ET, there will be a $10 tournament with a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool, according to a press release. Both games are no limit Texas hold’em.
WSOP.com was the first US interstate poker site
In May, Michigan Gaming Control Board entered into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. The other states that have signed that agreement are Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey. The WSOP.com poker sites in Nevada and New Jersey are networked with Delaware’s online lottery sites. Delaware and Nevada players joined the same player pool in 2015. New Jersey players were combined with it in 2018.
The WSOP.com interstate site has been plagued by problems over the years. This includes arrogant management, incompetent customer service, software issues, and slow payouts. For these reasons, we do not recommend playing there.
WSOP.com has not yet been able to combine its Michigan player pool. That is likely because the Michigan software is a newer version than the ones used in Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey. Upgrades are needed on the archaic platforms used in those states before Michigan WSOP players can join those other states.
BetMGM intends to offer Michigan interstate online poker
BetMGM Poker will one day offer interstate online poker. It does not appear to be as ready as PokerStars is. One reason may be that it is still trying to open BetMGM Poker in Nevada. In addition to Michigan, BetMGM operates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The hope is that one day soon, its Nevada site can open, and merge the player pool in three states. Pennsylvania has yet to enter the interstate liquidity-sharing agreement.
Michigan online poker bonuses
All three Michigan online poker rooms offer new players a deposit bonus. This can return from 20% to over 50% rakeback. Our top pick is BetMGM Poker, where the deposit bonus is 100% up to $1,000 and up to $75 in free tournament tickets.
Last Updated on August 12, 2023 by Kristina Mehaffey