Best Michigan Sportsbook Promos and Sports Betting Bonuses (2023)

The US Sun

24 March 2023

LEGAL sports betting launched in Michigan in March 2020, with online betting arriving the following year in January 2021. Since then, Michigan hasn’t looked back.

By 2023 the state had at least 15 different online sportsbooks, including some of the most popular sites in the country like DraftKings and BetRivers.

Top Michigan sportsbook bonuses and free bets

DraftKings – Bet $5 and win $150 in bonus if your bet wins!
BetRivers – 2nd chance bet worth up to $500 in a free bet!
Si Sportbook– Bet $20 and win $200 in free bets!
WynnBET – Bet $100 and get $50 fee bet + $50 casino bonus!

Best of all, all of these sportsbooks are competing to stand out from the crowd and encourage Michigan residents to sign up, which means one thing: bonuses. Promotions and bonuses are the main way that sportsbooks try to attract new customers, and we’ve got all the details here.

These are the best sportsbook bonuses, and how you can claim them, available right now in the Great Lakes State.

Disclaimer

Offers presented in this article are available to residents of Michigan who are 21 years+ only, please check all terms and conditions when signing up and accepting any bonuses.

Michigan sportsbook promos: Full review for 2023

Sportsbooks come up with new promotions all the time, for a couple of reasons. They need to keep up to date with the latest trends and popular sports, to keep things fresh. Plus, the more varied the offers, the more likely they are to appeal to a wide range of people.

Below, you can see our favorite promos up for grabs in Michigan right now.

DraftKings offer

BET $5 AND WIN $150 IN BONUS BETS IF YOUR BET WINS!

DraftKings are currently offering a very interesting welcome bonus which is a novel alternative to the usual match bonuses that most sites offer new players. Here’s how it works. You need to sign up and make a deposit, and then place a bet of at least $5 on any moneyline bet. If your bet wins, you’ll receive $150 in free bets, in the form of 6 different $25 free bets.

Now, this is potentially very valuable. It’s effectively a 3,000% bonus based on your $5 stake. The big caveat of course is that you have to actually win the moneyline bet to get the bonus, which you will have to place at qualifying odds. If you do win, you have seven days to use your 6 free bets, which come with 1x wagering requirements.

Pros:

Potentially huge bonus of $150 for just $5
Reasonable 1x wagering requirements on bonus cash
Novel offer

Cons:

If you lose your initial bet, you lose the entire bonus

BetRivers offer

2ND CHANCE BET WORTH UP TO $500 IN A FREE BET

BetRivers current welcome offer is more classic. New players who use the promo code SPORTS will get a risk free bet, worth up to $500. All you need to do is sign up and make a deposit, and place your first bet. If it loses, you’ll get a bonus bet worth the same amount as your original wager. Impressively, there are no minimum odds on the original bet, although the bonus bet must be placed at -200 or longer and you only stand to keep the profits.

Pros:

$500 limit is impressive
Peace of mind that comes with second chance
No minimum odds on original bet

Cons:

You have to actually lose your first bet to get any benefit from the bonus. If you win, you effectively get no bonus (although you do get your winnings)

Si Sportbook offer

BET $20 AND WIN $200 IN FREE BETS!

This is a pretty similar offer to the DraftKings promo. To claim it, you need to sign up using the bonus code SI200, make a deposit and place your first bet worth $20 or more at odds of +120 or higher. If it wins, you get 8 $25 free bets. Winnings from your free bets are paid out in cash, but you don’t get to keep the value of the stake.

Much of what we said about the DK offer applies here too. The difference between the two is that the DraftKings offer is better value (3000% of $5 vs 1000% of $20) while SI Sportsbook is worth more in absolute terms ($150 vs $200).

Pros:

Potentially very valuable
No restrictions or minimum odds on free bets
Interesting and original

Cons:

If you lose your first bet, you lose your bonus

WynnBET offer

BET $100 AND GET $50 FREE BET + $50 CASINO BONUS!

WynnBET’s offer is great if you are into both sports betting and online casino games, but maybe not ideal if you’re only interested in sports. Here’s how it works.

Sign up, make a deposit, and place a bet of at least $100 at odds of -120 or greater. Whether the bet wins or loses, you’ll receive a $50 bet credit and $50 in casino credits. The free bet must be placed at odds of -150 or greater and you get to keep the winnings only. The casino credit is subject to various wagering requirements, depending on which games you play.

Pros:

Guaranteed bonus if you bet $100
Great for anyone who wants to combine sports betting with casino gaming
No wagering requirements on the free sports bet

Cons:

Need to risk at least $100 to trigger the bonus
The casino game part of the offer might not appeal to some sports betting fans

Do I have to be a resident of Michigan to bet at these sportsbooks?

Different types of legal bonuses in Michigan 2023

Just like any state with a healthy online sports betting market, Michigan sportsbooks are never short of a juicy promo or special offer. Check out an overview of the kind of bonuses you can find in the Great Lakes State below:

– This is the classic welcome bonus. The sportsbook will match all or part of your first deposit with bonus cash, up to a certain limit. It’s a great way to start with an enhanced bankroll. 100% match bonuses are the best, but the bonus cash does tend to come with wagering requirements that need to be taken into account.
Risk-Free Bet – Another popular welcome offer. If the first bet you place with a sportsbook loses, it will be refunded up to a certain limit – normally in the form of free bets or site credit.
Reload Bonus – This is exactly the same as a deposit bonus, only it applies to future deposits after you’ve created your account. Some books offer a reload bonus every week or month.
Enhanced Odds – Sportsbooks will choose specific bets or markets to receive boosted odds, offering extra value to customers.
Parlay Bonus – This is like an odds boost but for parlays. Normally, the more legs you add the greater the boost you receive. Some sportsbooks also offer money back specials if you add a certain number of legs.
Real Prizes – Sometimes you can win real life prizes, like iPads or tickets to sporting events or concerts. These types of prizes are normally more associated with online casinos rather than specialty sportsbooks.
Free Bet Bonus – Free bets are very common. They come in specific denominations and normally need to be used at certain minimum odds, like -150 or greater. If you win, you get to keep the winnings only, not the value of the stake.
Money-Back Bonus – You can reclaim a % of your losses over a given period of time. Unlike most bonuses, this can often be paid out in cash.
No Deposit Bonus – A no deposit bonus is any type of welcome offer you can claim without having to deposit any of your own money first. Free bets are the most typical offer, and they normally come with some steep wagering requirements.

Step-by-step guide to signing up at the best Michigan sportsbooks

The registration process tends to be largely the same regardless of which Michigan sportsbook you choose. This is because they are all legally required to gather the same information about their players, which includes verifying their identity by checking personal documentation, like a driver’s license.

It’s also in the interest of the sportsbook to make it as simple as possible to register, and that’s what they strive for.

The registration process is also often the opportunity to claim your welcome bonus, by typing in a bonus code. Check out the section about our favorite bonuses and the top of the page to find the respective codes.

To sign up, just click the “register” or “sign up” button on the site and follow the instructions. Here is the info you’ll need:

Name
Date of birth
Password
Phone number
Address
SSN

You’ll also need to confirm you accept the terms and conditions, complete any further verification steps that are required, and then you’re done!

How old do I have to be to bet in Michigan?

You must be at least 21 years old to bet in Michigan.

Who regulates sports betting in Michigan?

Sports betting in Michigan is regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. The Board hands out licenses to sportsbooks, monitors the individual sites for fairness, and provides customer support and protection in the event of any issues.

Which are the best legal sportsbooks in Michigan?

Choosing a sportsbook is an inherently personal decision. If one were simply definitively better than all the others there would be no competition in the market, and things would look a lot more boring.

Our dream sportsbook might look very different from yours, and there are lots of factors to consider before choosing to register with a book. They include the welcome bonus, the software, the range of bets and sports available, the odds, mobile betting, customer support, site security, and much much more.

Given all that, while we wouldn’t presume to claim any one book is unquestionably the best choice, our favorite sportsbooks in Michigan are below:

What are the most popular sports to bet on in Michigan?

Michigan has four major league professional sports teams, all of which are based in Detroit: the Tigers, the Lions, the Red Wings, and the Pistons. They all attract their fair share of bets in the Great Lakes State, while NFL remains the most popular sport to bet on across the country.

You can bet on loads of sports in Michigan. In fact, you can pretty much guarantee that if a certain sport is attracting a lot of interest from the general public, the sportsbooks will soon have a betting market for it.

There are plenty of more niche sports out there too, including leagues from all around the world.

NFL
NCAA Football
NBA
NCAA Football
NHL
NCAA Hockey
MLB
NCAA Baseball
Soccer (Premier League, MLS, International, Champions League etc…)
Golf
Basketball
Tennis
Boxing
UFC/MMA
Motorsports
Table Tennis
Lacrosse
Australian Rules
Badminton
Billiards
Bowling
Chess
Cricket
Curling
Cycling
Darts
Esports
Field Hockey
Floorball
Handball
Horse Racing
Netball
Rugby League
Rugby Union
Snooker
Volleyball
Winter Sports
Entertainment / Current Affairs

How to claim the best sports betting bonuses in Michigan

The way to claim a bonus varies depending on the sportsbook and the type of bonus.

Bonus codes are often used, especially in the case of welcome bonuses or reload bonuses. A bonus code or promo code is like a password that triggers a specific bonus. You can type it in during the registration process, or sometimes afterward at the cashier.

Other bonuses don’t require a code but are considered “opt-in”, which means some other action needs to be taken to confirm your participation. It could be clicking a button in the cashier, checking a box on the bet slip, or even sending customer support a message. However you need to opt in, it will be clearly explained in the bonus terms and conditions.

And then some bonuses don’t even require you to opt in, they just automatically trigger if you are eligible. This is the case with most odds boosts for instance.

How to deposit money at the top Michigan sportsbooks?

Just like signing up, Michigan sportsbooks tend to make it very easy to deposit some money and start betting. Multiple different payment methods are supported, and deposits are almost always processed instantly.

To make a deposit, open up the cashier and find the deposit option. Type in the amount you want to deposit, choose the method and follow the instructions.

Which sportsbook has the fastest withdrawal rate?

Withdrawal times vary a little depending on two things: the sportsbook policy and the method you are using to withdraw. E-wallets are typically the fastest option, with bank transfers a little slower. All in all, you can generally expect to wait a couple of days until your money appears.

Obviously, if you are in a position to actually go to the physical sportsbook to make a withdrawal in cash, this is the fastest option.

Of all the online books in Michigan, the fastest withdrawal rate we’ve seen is at BetRivers, via their BetRivers Play+ Card. The majority of the time your money will be available instantly, which is both rare and impressive. At most, it will take up to 24 hours, which only happens if there are delays with the approval process.

What payment methods can I use at Michigan sportsbooks?

When it comes to spending money, sportsbooks like to make life as easy as possible for their customers. This means supporting lots of different banking methods, to make things convenient for the highest number of people.

The following payment methods are available at Michigan sportsbooks, although not every book will have each one:

Bank cards/credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover, etc)
Bank transfers (ACH Transfers, E-checks, online banking payments, etc)
E-wallets (PayPal, etc)
Prepaid cards (Play+ card, etc)
Cash at in-person sportsbook
Wire Transfer
PayNearMe

Do I have to pay taxes on my winnings in Michigan?

The simple answer is “yes”.

The longer answer is that gambling winnings in Michigan are treated like any other form of income, and are therefore subject to income tax. The actual rate is determined by your overall income, although there is a flat rate of 4.25% that is always included.

How do you pay tax on gambling winnings? Theoretically, it’s up to you to declare your gambling wins at the end of the year when you file your taxes.

The exception is if you hit a big individual win – of over $5,000 when the value of the win is more than 30x larger than the wager. In this case, the sportsbook is obliged to withhold 24% of your winnings for federal tax.

For all other gambling wins, the ball is in your court. You don’t pay any tax on gambling wins up front and there is no real mechanism to track your smaller wins. However, you are theoretically obliged to declare them at the end of the tax year.

What sportsbook has the best iOS and Android betting app?

Mobile betting has become a huge part of the online gambling industry. It’s especially tailor-made for sports betting since it means you can quickly and easily place a bet while actually watching a game live in the stadium.

Every online sportsbook in Michigan has an app or mobile functionality, but of all the options our money is on DraftKings’ mobile app as the leader.

DraftKings has everything you want in an app. All the great features of the desktop site are still available but effectively scaled down so that they work on a smaller screen. You can sign up, claim bonuses, deposit and withdraw, and contact customer support and it all works seamlessly.

It’s reflected by the reviews too: DraftKings’ app is currently sitting pretty on 4.8/5 on the App Store and 4.6 on Google Play.

Are Daily Fantasy Sports available in MI?

Yes. Legal and regulated DFS officially arrived in Michigan at the same time that sports betting was legalized, back in 2019.

Our top 5 tips for sports betting in Michigan

Sadly there’s no magic spell for winning sports bets, but we do have a few tried and tested tips to keep you on the right track.

Choose your bonus wisely. As you can see from our list at the top of the page, the welcome offers vary a lot in Michigan and they all suit different types of players. Think about how you want to bet, and choose the bonus that facilitates your strategy.
That said, there is absolutely nothing stopping you from signing up with multiple sportsbooks and claiming multiple welcome bonuses. In fact, it’s a great idea. We totally get that the average casual bettor might not want to bother with several accounts, but it’s a pretty simple way to get extra value via bonuses.
Having multiple betting accounts is also important for another reason: line shopping. Looking around for the best odds is probably the simplest effective betting strategy to implement, for either beginners or experts.
Specializing is always a good idea. If you’re a massive fan of one sport or team – like the Detroit Pistons or the Lions say – it makes sense that you should use your knowledge to focus on them. It doesn’t mean you should blindly bet on them to win of course, but spreading yourself too thin around different sports can lead to bad analysis and bad bets.
Be serious about bankroll management. The best sports bettors are disciplined with their spending and don’t let wins or losses affect their plans. And of course, never bet more than you can afford.

The latest news on sports betting in Michigan

It’s been pretty much plain sailing for sports betting in Michigan since online gambling officially launched in January 2021. By early 2023, there were 15 different online sportsbooks in the state and a running total of $9,401,663,592 had been handled in sports bets since legalization.

Figures published at the start of 2023 show that FanDuel is the most popular online sportsbook in the state, closely followed by DraftKings.

As the market matures, lawmakers are continuing to introduce new legislation to manage gambling in Michigan. Sen. J.N. Bellino Jr. proposed a bill in February 2023 that would see responsible gambling initiatives taught in Michigan’s schools.