The ban will cover all forms of over/under proposition wagers on individual athletes where the customer bets against the house which are also know as Pick’em contests. This means that any fantasy sports operators that run on this wagering model alone could be forced to exit the state.
The announcement comes less than 24 hours after the New York ban and two weeks since the state of Florida sent cease and desist letters to fantasy sports operators PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy and Betr.
The new rules in Michigan, which were proposed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), have been accepted by default by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR).
In its statement, the Coalition for Fantasy Sports said that thousands of local sports fans had requested that the MGCB rules be rejected with the JCAR receiving over 2,600 emails and 700 phone calls relating to the matter. However, despite this, the JCAR approved the rules by default as it took no action on the matter within a 15-day window once the rules were proposed.
Speaking of the new rules State Senator Jim Runestad said:
Michigan Introduces New Fantasy Sports Rules to Prohibit Pick'em ContestsMoving forward, I pledge to work with the Gaming Commission and other lawmakers to restore access to the legal fantasy sports games that have just been stripped away from Michiganders.”
The Coalition for Fantasy Sports added:
“We will continue to work with regulators and policymakers to provide the innovative fantasy sports products customers want and love.”
In its latest monthly revenue report, the MGCB revealed that local fantasy sports operators generated $1.2 million in revenue during the month of July.
Olivia has worked as an editor and writer for major brands across multiple niches. She now focuses on the iGaming and sports betting industries.