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MICHIGAN SPORTSBOOKS’ HANDLE RISES TO NEARLY $260 MILLION IN JUNE Online sports and casino betting falls in June, but revenue from sports betting makes a significant jump, according to PlayMichigan

Published

4 years ago

July 20, 2021

Michigan’s online and retail sports betting volume rose slightly in June but remained relatively low as sportsbooks continued to slog their way through the summer slowdown. But with the first significant jump in taxable revenue and an online casino industry that remains a reliable revenue generator, the industry has much to look forward to when summer turns to fall, according to PlayMichigan, which analyzes and researches the state’s regulated online gaming and sports betting market.

“Michigan’s sportsbooks grew so quickly from January through March that the slowdown that has followed might feel more dramatic than the reality,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayMichigan.com. “Sportsbooks remain in excellent position for a ramp up when football season approaches. Until then, they will have to rely on opportunities such as the Olympics and the NBA Finals to stoke interest.”

Michigan’s online sportsbooks accepted $235.1 million in wagers over the 30 days of June, down 1.0% from $237.6 million over the 31 days of May, according to official data released Monday by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. With $24.4 million in retail handle, announced earlier this week, Michigan’s online and retail sportsbooks took in a combined $259.4 million in bets. That total is up 0.7% from $257.7 million in bets in May.

April, May, and June are typically three of the slowest sports betting months of the year, but no major U.S. sports jurisdiction has experienced a steeper decline from March’s highs as has Michigan. June’s combined handle is off 32.4% from the record $383.7 million combined handle in March. By comparison, Indiana’s sports betting volume dropped 22.2% from March to June, and Iowa is down 31.1%.

More importantly, though, gross gaming revenue at online sportsbooks rose 28.2% to $24.9 million in June from a $19.5 million total in May. And June’s online sports betting hold of 10.6% for operators was their best for any full month in Michigan. After promotional credits, online sportsbooks produced $16.8 million in taxable revenue, up from $9.9 million. That yielded $1.4 million in state and local taxes from online betting.

“We’ve been waiting for a bump in taxable revenue that led to a real increase in tax revenue, which we finally got in June,” said Matt Schoch, analyst for PlayMichigan.com. “If there has been a disappointment with Michigan’s launch, it’s that tax revenue gains have lagged. So hopefully, this will continue into the fall, when we know revenue from sports betting will make a big leap forward.”

FanDuel topped the online market in June with a $77.3 million handle, up from $71.2 million in May. That led to a market-best $10.3 million in gross sports betting revenue, up from $9.3 million. June’s action produced $8.1 million in taxable revenue.

DraftKings trailed with $56.5 million in wagers, down from $66.7 million in May. Gross gaming revenue rose to $5.0 million from $1.9 million in May. BetMGM followed closely with $52.1 million in wagers, up from $51.6 million in May. That produced $6.1 million in gross receipts and $4.2 million in taxable revenue.

The online market leaders were followed by:

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Barstool ($16.7 million handle, down from $18.1 million in May; $1.8 million gross revenue, up from $1.1 million)
PointsBet ($10.2 million handle, down from $11.4 million; $911,170 GGR, down from $1 million)
William Hill ($7.9 million handle, up from $6.2 million; $598,641 GGR, down from $217,050)
WynnBet ($5.5 million handle, up from $1.4 million; -$383,777 GGR, down from $168,874)
Fox Bet ($3.7 million handle, down from $5.1 million; $332,639 GGR, down from $338,049)
BetRivers ($2.5 million handle, down from $2.8 million; $332,639 GGR, up from $76,004)
Twin Spires($1.3 million handle, down from $1.5 million; $143,197 GGR, up from $95,645)
Golden Nugget ($914,393 handle, down from $923,269; $83,855 GGR, up from $10,750)
Four Winds Sportsbook ($607,100 handle, up from $545,937; -$18,782 GGR, up from -$20,000)

FireKeepers reported $656 in handle and $299 GGR from a soft launch in June. The platform was released widely in July.

“FanDuel really opened up a significant market share lead, which will be difficult for any rival to overcome,” Schoch said. “WynnBet is taking on an aggressive marketing strategy, including a deal with the Detroit Lions announced last week. This could spark other smaller operators to take a more aggressive posture, too, which would ultimately be good for bettors.”

Related Topics:Latest-News Matt Schoch sportsbooks

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BETTING AT PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSBOOKS DIPS AGAIN IN JUNE, BUT REVENUE JUMPS State closes eventful fiscal year with more than $5.6 billion in sports wagering, $1.1 billion in online casino revenue, according to PlayPennsylvania

Canada

NetGaming Goes Live in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive via BetRivers Platform

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2025

George Miller

NetGaming, a fast-growing online casino content supplier, is proud to announce its launch in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive, Inc., a leading online casino and sports betting company in the United States, Canada and Latin America. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for NetGaming as it continues to expand its footprint across regulated North American markets.

As part of the launch, Ontario players on BetRivers can now enjoy a diverse portfolio of NetGaming titles, known for their high-quality graphics, immersive gameplay, and unique themes. Standout games such as Zeus’s Thunderbolt, Bison Gold, and Fireball Inferno are among the first to go live, with additional titles set to follow soon.

This partnership is just the beginning. NetGaming plans to extend its collaboration with Rush Street Interactive into Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Mexico over the coming months.

Pallavi Deshmukh, CEO of NetGaming, commented: “We are thrilled to go live with Rush Street Interactive, a powerhouse operator with a strong presence and loyal player base. This launch marks a significant milestone in our
North American expansion strategy and underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences tailored to local player preferences across the region.”

Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive, commented: “We are pleased to partner with NetGaming to bring innovative, premium games to our players in Ontario. This collaboration aligns with our strategy to offer world-class
entertainment through engaging, action-packed online casino games. We look forward to expanding this partnership into additional regulated markets in the months ahead.”

This strategic partnership highlights both companies’ dedication to providing high- quality, innovative, and responsible entertainment to players in regulated markets.

Compliance Updates

The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) Selects New Board Chair

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2025

Niji Narayan

The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) has announced Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, as its new Board Chair for SIGA’s Board of Directors.

SIGA is a non-profit First Nation gaming operator for seven land-based casinos and the online gaming platform PlayNow.com in Saskatchewan.

Chief Cook-Searson first joined SIGA’s Board of Directors in 2018 and has been a regular SIGA Board member as well as a member of SIGA’s Audit & Finance Committee.

She is serving in her 20th year as Chief of Lac La Ronge Indian Band and has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and a graduate diploma in management from Athabasca University. She also holds honorary degrees from the University of Regina, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

Chief Cook-Searson replaces outgoing Board Chair former Chief of Muskowekwan First Nation Reginald Bellerose, who has held the Board Chair position since February 4, 2015.

Latest News

SCCG Announces Strategic Partnership with Applift

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2025

Niji Narayan

SCCG Management has announced a strategic partnership with Applift, the world’s top performance App Store Optimization (ASO) agency. This partnership will introduce Applift’s proprietary ASO technology and advanced growth strategies to gaming companies worldwide, leveraging SCCG’s unmatched distribution capabilities and expansive gaming ecosystem of 120+ client partners.

Applift has earned a reputation as the gold standard in app growth by delivering data-driven ASO strategies powered by proprietary AI tools and the most comprehensive keyword intelligence system in the industry. Their work drives top keyword rankings, scalable user acquisition, and real business impact – increasing FTDs, improving retention, and maximizing LTV for some of the world’s most successful gaming, finance, utility, and AI apps.

Through this partnership, SCCG will activate its global network — with offices in every major gaming market across North America, LATAM, Europe, Africa, and Asia — to bring Applift’s breakthrough ASO technology to gambling companies seeking to scale user acquisition, boost visibility, and outperform the competition in app stores.

“At SCCG, we identify and scale the technologies that shape the future of gambling,” said Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management.

“Applift’s ASO platform is a game-changer. Our partnership gives gaming companies a proven solution to turn mobile visibility into performance at scale — and our global presence ensures the right operators and platforms benefit from this innovation.”

“At Applift, we’ve helped top gaming apps dominate the app stores, turning visibility into performance and installs into high-value users — all through our unmatched ASO technology and data-driven approach. Partnering with SCCG is a natural step forward. Their strategic footprint in the gaming world perfectly complements our ability to scale app growth at the highest level. Together, we’re not just optimizing – we’re redefining how gaming brands win in the app stores. I couldn’t be more confident in what we’ll achieve,” said Bar Nakash, CEO of Applift.