Michigan betting and gaming bills passed by Senate

A year of negotiations look set to conclude with bills to legalise online gaming and sports betting passing into law in Michigan, after the Senate passed Representative Brandt Iden’s proposals by significant margins. The bill to regulate sports betting, House Bill 4916, was passed by the Senate with 35 lawmakers voting for the bill, and just three against. The online gaming bill, HB4311, passed by the same margin.  This followed each bill being approved by the chamber’s Committee of the Whole, having been ratified by the Regulatory Reform Committee, following significant changes.  This saw the tax rate for HB4916 lowered to 8.4% of gross revenue, from the original 8.75%. The state’s three land-based casinos and tribal venues will be permitted to offer retail wagering, as well as operating one online platform, paying $50,000 application, and $100,000 license fee.  However it was HB4311 that saw the most sweeping changes, due to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s concerns over online lottery revenue being cannibalized by new forms of igaming. As a result the tax rate has increased significantly, rising to a minimum of 20%, for operators generating revenue of $4m or less, and to 28% for those that bring in more than $12m.  Read the full story on iGB North America.