Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Michigan?
Sweepstakes casinos in Michigan used to be legal and accessible up until late 2023. However, in October 2023,
the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) sent cease-and-desist letters
to some of the most prominent gaming companies, including those that operate:
- Stake.us
- Chumba
- Global Poker
- Luckyland Slots
- Golden Hearts
The reasons for these cease-and-desist letters were various, but the common theme is that the gaming companies promoted an unlicensed online lottery for customers.
This means that Michigan has joined the few other states like Washington, Idaho, and Nevada that ban sweeps casinos.
Sweeps Casino Alternatives in Michigan
While we wait for Michigan sweeps casinos to become available again, you have three main alternatives:
Social Casinos
Social casinos in Michigan are similar to sweeps casinos, except you can’t redeem real money prizes. Any gameplay is purely for fun and winnings can be used for in-game free credit.
BetRivers.net
is one such option and is available for Michigan players.
Real Money Online Casinos
Although Michigan’s sweeps casinos are banned, this is one of the few states that offer regulated online gambling. Michigan legalized online casinos in 2021 and Michigan players can select from around 15 legal real money casinos. These include popular brands like:
- Caesars Palace
- BetMGM
- FanDuel
- DraftKings
Land-based Real Money Casinos
Michigan is home to 26 land-based casinos in total. 23 of those are Indian casinos managed by 12 different Indian tribes. The other three are corporate-owned. You can find a wide array of casino games at these casinos as long as you have the minimum age of 18+ (with casinos offering liquor having a minimum age of 21+). Some popular land-based casinos include:
- Turtle Creek Casino
- MGM Grand Detroit
- Motorcity Casino Hotel
Popular Sweeps Casinos in the US
If you’re still keen on playing at sweepstakes casinos, you currently won’t be able to do so in Michigan. However, here’s a list of the top sweeps casinos you can access when residing in most other states. If sweeps casinos are ever available again in Michigan, these are some of the first brands we expect to return.
1. Stake.us – The Leading Sweeps Cash Casino in the US
Many looking for the best real money sweepstakes casino find their way to Stake.us. Everything about this platform has been simplified – but in a good way. The icons are accessible, the site is responsive, and the theme of all games has been designed to give you long hours of enjoyment. Here is a little look into some of these casinos that took the Western world by storm after being released in 2017.
Promotions
Welcome bonus keeps things fresh and entices newcomers with the right goodies and the right incentives to try out the casino. In that regard, Stake.us hasn’t missed a beat. Here, we found one of the best welcome bonuses there is, with 55 Stake Cash + 260k Gold Coins + 5% rakeback available. Getting access to the bonus on Stake.us requires the bonus code – BONUSDROID.
Games
You won’t feel the lack of variety on Stake.US. We were happy with the slot selection we found. It was a mix of the old and new. OG games like Wanted Dead or A Wild are here, and if you want something more modern, Chaos Crew might be to your liking.
And for a more authentic casino experience, you can check out the live casino and the game shows. The selection of games these sections have are equally robust – with games like Blackjack Live, Crazy Time, Live Roulette, and more available.
However, if you want to check out some games exclusive to Stake.com, there are 18 Stake Originals. You can try out Plinko, Dice, Limbo, and Miles. Even original versions of Dragon Tower and Blackjack are among the selection. And we also liked the table game options available on this platform. While less engaging than the live casino, these offer more than enough perks to get your attention for a long time.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
2. Pulsz – Social Casino That Boasts 500 Casino-Style Games
Calling itself the “best social casino,” Pulsz’s game selection is large. And it is especially suitable for those looking for an authentic casino experience as if they are sitting across the table in Atlantic City. This casino has a massive selection of over 500 Vegas casino-style games, all packed with features, and all of them have a great UI that makes the gaming experience more worthwhile.
Promotions
While the platform itself doesn’t have any promotions, it doesn’t need to. This Michigan sweepstakes casino doesn’t require you to pay anything when you start. According to the website, you can just come to the page, log in, and get 5000 free gold coins. This virtual currency is your ticket to participate in slots, get into competitions, and get access to daily giveaways that we are happy to report, change regularly, and keep things fresh.
Also, if you do end up spending money here, you won’t be bombarded with adverts anymore.
Games
At Pulsz, we found five different categories of games. When it comes to slots, the games available are colorful. These games have great, vivid colors and are thematic – focusing on giving you a great gaming experience. You can pick between Buffalo Hold and Win. Diamond Strike, Day of Dead, if you want something old-school to help you out. And if you are more into new-style slots – which have the same mechanics but come with a brand new look – midnight show and Booming Bananas are great additions as well.
We were also thrilled that Pulsz had taken care of risk-embracing players with its jackpot selection. It is robust and has interesting options like Sparta, loony Blox, Colossal Gems, and Jellyfish Flow. The only thing we think could have been better was the selection of casino games. We only found two casino games – Texas Hold ’em and Multihand Blackjack. If you go by quality rather than quantity, these options are great. But more games like Roulette would make this selection even better than it already is.
367,000 Gold Coins and 460 VIP Points
3. Golden Heart Games – Sweepstakes Casino That Dedicates Some Winnings to Charity
If you want your desire to win prizes to be fulfilled but also seek to help people while doing so, then Golden Heart Games is right up your alley. This casino simply asks – do you have a golden heart, and gives you access to a great welcome bonus so that you spin to win and send money to charity as well.
Promotions
Golden Heart Games comes with an interesting welcome bonus. New players get $10 worth of Gold Coins that they can then use to participate in slots. And if you refer this platform to a friend, and if that friend donates, you will get 5000 coins submitted to your account each time your friend donates.
Games
At GoldenHeartGames, you can reminisce about the old days with their OG slots like Cash of the Titans. And we were also quite happy with the addition of the Cash Cow scratch game. If you want a more authentic gaming experience, you can check out the Old School Jacks or Better Video Poker.
Overall, the game selection on Golden Heart Games, although great, could do with a bit more variety. While we appreciate the old-school selection of games, it could have done a bit better with new school slots as well. That addition may play in its favor since most new-gen casino players are interested in new-gen slots.
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Conclusion
Sweepstakes casinos have found a way to continually provide an amazing gaming experience to players in the US. This is not the case in Michigan, where sweepstakes casinos are now banned. In this guide, we explored how there are other alternatives you can try in the form of social casinos, real money online casinos, or land-based casinos. These casinos don’t go against the Michigan sweepstakes law and offer an impressive service while remaining ethical.
Responsible Gambling in Michigan
Whatever option you choose to go for in Michigan, make sure that you always gamble responsibly. If you suspect you have a gambling problem, you can call the helpline 1-800-GAMBLER or check out the
Michigan Gaming Control Board’s website.
Top sweepstakes casinos for October 2024
1.
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2.
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3.
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4.
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FAQs
Is sweepstakes gambling legal in Michigan?
No, while sweepstakes gambling used to be legal in Michigan, it is no longer the case. However, do check our site regularly to see if this has changed.
Which casino provides the best sweepstakes slots in Michigan?
Unfortunately, no sweepstakes casino can operate in Michigan. If you reside in other states, you can check out other state lists, such as the list of best
Mississippi sweepstakes
casinos. You can check our guides to know about the best offerings.
Which bonus codes give the best rewards on sweepstakes casinos in Michigan?
Sweepstakes casinos available in the US offer a host of rewards. They can be welcome bonuses, login bonuses and more. However, you can’t access these in Michigan.
