MGCB Bullish on Challenges for State Gambling Regulation

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) convened this week for its regular meeting and highlighted the challenges facing the state’s gambling regulator.

Michigan has had successes this year against what it calls “unlicensed” gambling, including forcing prediction markets to withdraw certain products.

The MGCB has also been marking Illegal Gambling Awareness Week this week. It’s the first coordinated campaign against unlicensed online gambling.

The attorney general’s office, said Executive Director Henry Williams, was doing “an excellent job” in pursuing operators. “[They help] ensure we’re enforcing the licensing rules,” he added.

MGCB Joins CheckBeforeYouPlay Initiative

The MGCB held a meeting to reiterate its commitment to legalized gambling. Michigan has legal online casinos and is keen to keep the industry safe.

The board has been on a charge to pursue illegal gambling operators in the past year or so. It has sent hundreds of cease-and-desist letters to operators that have fallen foul of the state gaming laws.

In addition, the MGCB has been instrumental in getting prediction markets to pull their services from within Michigan borders.

Michigan has joined the CheckBeforeYouPlay initiative, a free tool that lets customers check the legality of online gambling sites.

The MGCB’s message, it said, was simple: “Play it safe, bet legal.”

MGCB vs the Operators

• November 2026: Polymarket to scrap sports contracts from Michigan, following Coinbase and Kalshi.
• October 2026: MGCB sends a further 32 cease-and-desist letters to offshore sportsbooks and casinos, all operating without a Michigan license.
• September 2026: Michigan AG bans Kalshi from offering sports contracts.
• April 2026: MGCB sends 45 cease-and-desist orders to offshore casinos and sweepstakes operators.

Polymarket Due to Pull Sports Contracts

One big scalp for the MGCB is Polymarket, who have been on the receiving end of repeated cease-and-desist orders in Michigan.

Polymarket has agreed to pull its sports event contracts from its platform in Michigan. Though other operators have already removed markets that resemble sports betting from Michigan, Polymarket is the last big name remaining. Polymarket’s outstanding sports contracts will be resolved by Nov. 25.

Coinbase already halted sports contracts on its platform in October under pressure from the MGCB. Kalshi was banned from offering similar contracts after a legal battle launched by AG Dana Nessel back in September.

MI Sports Betting Remains Strong

Michigan’s tough stance on non-state licensed gambling sites is still paying dividends. The MGCB reported a rise in overall sports betting handle for September 2026 in the latest figures.

Overall betting handle was up 3.6% to over $557 million as sportsbooks factored in a strong start to the new NFL season.

Midterms Results Unlikely to Change Landscape

Michigan had one of the most high-profile midterms this month. The Democrats regained control of the Michigan government, claiming both the Senate and House. Left-wing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed secured the most headline-grabbing win to become the country’s first Muslim senator.

Al-Sayed could impact a change in the state’s gambling law, although compared to other states it has a robust regulatory framework. However, he went on record before the midterms arguing for tighter regulations on sports betting advertising.

“I’m not for bans,” he argued, but he was in favor of curtailing marketing and the close relationship between online sports betting and entertainment.

While the MGCB promises more crackdowns on unlicensed operators, if required, Michigan’s new senator could be coming for the advertising dollars.