Michigan Online Gambling Debate
Recently, the state of Michigan laid down the gauntlet in the ongoing national debate on whether or not to allow online casino gaming with legislation that will legalize online gambling operations of various kinds as long as those operations were further developed under the auspices and on the premises of already legally operating land-based casino organizations that already exist within the state. The newly written legislation decrees that online gaming would be allowed in Michigan, but with the understanding, the operations have as a constant baseline criterion of only allowing the online gaming apparatus to evolve in these aforementioned approved casino outlets.
The actual regulations in place are vague on the issue, but the gaming industry and especially online gambling entities are lauded for their beneficial economic impact on the areas in which they exist currently, and the approving Michigan legislators expect Michigan’s economy to also receive a dynamic regional economic boost as have other instituting principalities when like policies have been instituted by their respective legislative processes.
The citizens of Michigan have already displayed a propensity to patronize this form of gambling as surmised by their high participation rates in gambling platforms that have not been approved by the appropriate legislative processes, and this interest has caused these unauthorized entities to proceed with developing their businesses in the absence of clarity or enforcement. In doing so, these operations have developed an operating base without contributing to the community in any form including in the remittance of their fair share of taxes.
Many legislators favor the passing of legislation allowing this vehicle for online gaming and proclaim this form of gaming a very vetted and needed revenue stream for their city and their constituents as well as the state of Michigan. This positive support includes the senator from White Lake Township, Mike Kowall. Mike Kowall is a very vocal proponent of the proposed legislation. The proposed legislation designates casinos the MGM Resort, Greektown casino and MotorCity Hotel as the proposed betting sites, and these companies along with the included American Indian tribe gaming operations will proctor online card games and online poker via their facilities only.
Michigan’s gaming control board requires a new set of taxes imposed on those applying for the additional online gaming licenses. Because of this, there has been significant pushback from some significant gaming institutions in the region. This includes many regional tribes who express dissent in having to pay the additional expense of added taxes in order to procure the new proposed internet gaming licenses.
They say that this is an undue burden and specifically because they already pay significant taxes to the Michigan Gaming Control Board. However, the highly debated and contested issue will be on the next legislative ballot in Michigan, so it will the be up to the voters of the state, and the grievances of the dissenting parties are left up to this decisive upcoming vote as their disagreements did not produce the desired outcome for which they had hoped.
