Online Poker in Michigan - Best MI Poker Sites 2025

Author
Vargoso
Published
11/12/2025
Updated
11/12/2025

If you’re a fan of online poker, you’re lucky to be in the Great Lakes State, as it officially regulates and allows gambling. All players who wish to play online poker in Michigan for real money can do so legally in one of four licensed operators. We’ve also explored trusted offshore websites to recommend the best poker sites for Michigan poker players. 

Online Poker in Michigan

Best online poker sites to play in Michigan in 2025

  • Betonline Poker Logo
    #1
    4.7
    BetOnline
    Chico Poker Network
    Bonus
    100% up to $1,000
    Rakeback
    VIP
    United States is accepted
    • Crypto accepted
  • Coin Poker Logo
    #2
    4.5
    CoinPoker
    Independent
    Bonus
    150% up to $2,000
    Rakeback
    33%+
    United States is accepted
    • Crypto accepted
  • Ignition Casino Logo
    #3
    4.3
    Ignition Casino
    Paiwangluo Poker Network
    Bonus
    150% up to $1,500
    Rakeback
    Not available
    United States is accepted
    • Crypto accepted
  • Everygame Poker Logo
    #4
    4.2
    Everygame
    Horizon Poker Network
    Bonus
    200% up to $1,000
    Rakeback
    36%
    United States is accepted
    • Network's best skin
    • Crypto accepted

You can legally play online poker in Michigan right now. Players aged 21 and over can access licensed poker rooms offering real-money games. These sites are regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). Four major legal online poker platforms are available to Michigan residents, each offering or preparing to offer interstate play through the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA): this ensures steady traffic and a consistent schedule of tournaments and cash games once fully integrated.

  • PokerStars Michigan. PS MI has the largest cash games (No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and mixed games like HORSE and 8-Game) player pool and an extensive MTT grid with major tournament series such as MICOOP and MISCOOP. In January 2023, PokerStars connected its Michigan and New Jersey player pools, creating the first shared liquidity network in the state.
  • WSOP MI. This operator has a strong tournament focus with online bracelet events and Main Event qualifiers. As of 2025, WSOP MI operates on the WSOP/888 platform and offers shared liquidity with Nevada and New Jersey under the MSIGA.
  • BetMGM Poker. BetMGM greets new players with a $1,000 welcome bonus. Players can participate in single-table and multi-table tournaments, such as the Winter Poker Championships. It also features FastForward Poker. BetMGM MI operates under MGM Grand Detroit’s license and is expected to join the MSIGA network once technical approval is completed.
  • BetRivers is Michigan’s newest licensed online poker room. It launched in June 2025 and welcomes new players with a first deposit match bonus 100% up to $1,000. It runs on the Run It Once Poker platform acquired by Rush Street Interactive, offering NLH and PLO cash games and a small but growing MTT schedule. 

Furthermore, many US-facing poker sites accept players from Michigan. Of course, if you choose larger offshore platforms for their game selection or payment methods, you'll be solely responsible for protecting your rights. Therefore, it's important to choose a secure and trustworthy platform.

CategoryPoker siteBonus
⭐ Best MI online poker siteCoinpoker150% up to $2,000
✅ Soft fieldBetOnline100% up to $1,000
✅ Best legal poker sitesPokerstars MIup to $200
✅ Best bonusesPhenom Poker150% up to $3,000
✅ Casual friendlyEverygame200% up to $1,000
Comparing the best MI online poker sites

We at Worldpokerdeals have researched the best options, covering both licensed and major offshore sites, to help players from Michigan enjoy a safe and high-quality poker experience.

Need help choosing the best poker site to play at? Let our team do it for you. Contact us and we will help you with your choice, give you the best rakeback deals.

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CoinPoker

CoinPoker

CoinPoker is the largest crypto poker site available to players from Michigan, thanks to its decentralized blockchain platform. No KYC is required here, and registration is even available via a Web3 wallet.

CoinPoker fits players of all limits: you get dozens of NLH and PLO tables — from micro-stakes of $0.10/$0.20 to nosebleed limits of $200/$400, where you can come face to face with the best poker players in the world.

On top of all this, you get a generous welcome bonus of 50% up to $2,000, a permanent 33% rakeback, and a special offer from our website.

Ignition Poker

Ignition Poker

Ignition Poker is the leader among American online poker rooms in terms of traffic. Tables are available 24/7 for NLH and PLO with limits up to $10/$20, as well as the fast-paced Zone Poker format.

Ignition Poker’s main feature is anonymous tables without nicknames, which makes the game private and comfortable, especially for hobby players.
For tournament lovers, the MTT schedule includes regular events with guarantees up to $150,000.

Ignition Poker offers a special 150% bonus up to $1,500 for BTC deposits. The poker room itself can be called crypto-friendly: the main deposit and withdrawal methods are BTC, BCH, LTC, and ETH.
The only downside is the lack of rakeback, but it’s more than compensated for by the weak player lineups at the tables.

Our ranking criteria for choosing the best MI online poker sites

In tightly regulated markets, the baseline of trust and reliability offered by most poker sites is generally similar. In that case, we recommend focusing on game variety, bonuses and traffic. If you plan to explore offshore platforms, however, you'll need to consider more criteria when selecting your options. This is what we are guided by:

  1. License availability: The site must have information about its license, preferably from a well-known regulator such as Malta, the UK or Curacao.
  2. Background and history: The operator must have an impeccable or at least positive reputation, and information about the management company must be publicly available.
  3. Security level: SSL encryption is a must to keep players’ sensitive information safe.
  4. Cashier's system: The site must guarantee players' security by using SSL protocols, KYC verification and other tools. It should also offer a wide range of payment options, including cryptocurrency.
  5. Games and traffic choice: We prefer poker rooms with 24/7 traffic across all games and stakes.

The legal background of poker in Michigan

Online poker is legal in Michigan under state law. It was authorised by the Lawful Internet Gaming Act (Public Act 152 of 2019) in December 2019. Licensed operators, such as PokerStars Michigan, BetMGM Poker, WSOP MI, and BetRivers Poker, offer poker under strict oversight by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). Michigan also participates in the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), allowing shared player pools with New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.

Players can legally play online poker in Michigan as long as they stay within the state borders (geolocation software is used to verify location) and are of age, of course (21+ years old). The state’s Criminal Code prohibits gambling activities that involve chance, consideration, and prize unless authorized by law. This means that you can legally play only on the platforms that are regulated in the state.

Under the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act (Public Act 69 of 1997, Section 432.218), operating an unlicensed gambling business is a felony, which can carry up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $100,000, or both. This concerns mainly operators, not players.

For players, the risk is mainly losing protection. For example, if you play on offshore platforms that are unlicensed, there’s no guarantee you’ll be paid your winnings. There’s also a risk of enforcement actions or blocking. These sites can be blocked, shut down, or their access restricted via cease-and-desist orders, which the MGCB and the Michigan Attorney General have already used against several unlicensed gambling

Tax on poker in Michigan

In Michigan, all gambling winnings are considered part of a person’s income, so state income tax must be paid on both land-based and online winnings. For players, the flat state income tax rate is 4.25%, but the rate is much higher for operators, depending on their Adjusted Gross Receipts (AGR).

TypeWhat is taxedRate
State Income Tax on Individual WinningsAn individual’s gambling winnings4.25%
Operator / Online Poker / Online Casinos TaxLicensed operators activity 20% for AGR ≤ $4 million
22% for >$4M to < $8M
24% for >$8M to < $10M
26% for >$10M to < $12M
28% for ≥ $12M
Federal Withholding for Big WinsLarge winnings meeting IRS criteria (e.g., >$5,000 from poker tournaments)25% or 24%

Payment methods at MI poker sites

If you plan to play online at regulated sites in Michigan, you'll have a fairly wide choice of payment methods. These will most often include debit cards, bank transfers, or e-wallets. 

MethodMin DepositWithdrawals
Card (Visa, MC)❌ Usually no withdrawal is allowed
ACH / e-Check
eWallets, PayPal
Bank Transfer✅ Processing may take several business days, but limits are often higher
Prepaid Branded Cards
PayNearMe / Cash Deposit / Casino Cage

If you prefer to use cryptocurrency for payments, you'll need to look for offshore poker sites.

Live poker in Michigan

Live poker is legal in Michigan. It is allowed in both commercial casinos (primarily in Detroit), tribal casinos operated under federal compacts, and certain charitable gaming card rooms. Some smaller bars or social clubs also host poker games under state-approved charitable gaming licenses, provided the events comply with Michigan’s Bureau of State Lottery and MGCB regulations.

Such poker rooms often offer tournaments and a mix of cash games. The common ones are No-Limit Texas Hold’em, sometimes Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, and lower frequency variants like Stud or Stud-Hi-Lo.

Poker rooms can differ a lot in size. For example, FireKeepers in Battle Creek has a large room with 26 tables. Other rooms are smaller, more modest, and can sometimes even be a part of tribal properties or inside casino gaming pits.

CasinoLocationType
Notable Events / Features
FireKeepers Casino HotelBattle CreekTribal (Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi)
Hosts Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), daily tournaments, large cash-game variety
MGM Grand DetroitDetroitCommercial
High-stakes NLH & PLO, MGM Rewards Poker Series, regular promotions
MotorCity CasinoDetroitCommercial
Well-known for MotorCity Poker Classic, daily and weekend MTTs
Hollywood Casino at GreektownDetroitCommercial
Focus on cash games, regular low- and mid-stakes tournaments
Soaring Eagle Casino & ResortMount PleasantTribal (Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe)
Frequent WPT and Heartland Poker Tour events
Gun Lake CasinoWaylandTribal (Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians)
New poker room opened post-expansion; strong mid-stakes action
Odawa CasinoPetoskeyTribal (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians)
Small room, occasional local tournaments
Charitable Poker Rooms (various)Throughout the stateLicensed Charitable Gaming Venues
Operated under MGCB charity gaming rules, low-stakes and social games

Best poker players from Michigan

Ryan Reiss Win Main Event 2013

Michigan All Time Money List: 

  1. Ryan Riess —    $16,9M+
  2. Joseph Cada — $14,9M+
  3. Daniel Heimiller — $8M+
  4. Brek Schutten    — $6M+
  5. Samuel Panzica II — $4,9M+

Both of Michigan's best players owe their success to the World Series Main Event.

Ryan Riess decided to turn pro immediately after graduating. In 2012, he invested his entire bankroll in his first live tournament for $1,675 and ended up winning $239,063 in a heads-up deal.

The following year, Riess took a chance on playing in the WSOP Main Event, but sold 50% of his shares to be on the safe side. Thus, half of the $8,361,570 first-place prize went to his friends. Since then, he has cashed more than 300 times in live tournaments, but has never surpassed the $700K mark in a single event.

Joseph Cada won the World Poker Championship title three years earlier and earned $8,546,435, becoming the youngest winner of the WSOP Main Event. Like Riess, he also sold 50% of his shares to backers.

Nine years later, in 2018, Cada made it to the final table of the Main Event again, but only finished fifth. In the same year, the player won his third and so far last World Series bracelet.

Conclusion

Michigan allows players located within the state to legally play online poker on state-licensed platforms. Alternatively, you can visit an offshore site that accepts Michigan players. To minimize your risk, follow our recommendations for safe gaming platforms.

Responsible Gambling

Responsible gambling is considered very seriously within the state. The MGCB provides tools such as the Responsible Gaming Database, which allows individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from online gaming platforms. For immediate assistance, you can contact the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-270-7117, which is available 24/7. Here is the list of organizations that can help.

FAQ

✅ When was poker legalized in Michigan?
✅ What’s the minimum age to play online poker in Michigan??
✅ What are the tax rates for online poker in Michigan?
✅ Is PokerStars available in Michigan?
✅ Can you play CoinPoker in Michigan?
✅ Is BetOnline Poker allowed in Michigan?
✅ Can I play BetRivers Poker on my mobile device?
✅ Does Michigan share player pools with other states?
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