Michigan’s online casinos saw another strong month of growth, generating $248.1 million in total gross revenue. This is according to the latest data from the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). The figures represent a 26.8% increase from April 2024.
Although revenue fell 4.8% from the previous month, the $248.1 million generated in April ranked third in history for revenue. The record was set in March with $260.5 million, while the second-place figure was set in January with $248.2 million.
April also marks the eighth consecutive month with iGaming revenue exceeding $200 million. The $248.1 million generated by Michigan’s online platforms means that for the second month in a row, the state has surpassed New Jersey for second place in the U.S. for gross gaming revenue.
While the Garden State also saw impressive annual growth of 25.2%, online platforms generated $235.2 million. If this trend continues, Michigan could surpass New Jersey in total annual casino revenue by 2025.
The previous year, New Jersey’s online platforms generated $2.39 billion, compared with Michigan’s $2.2 billion.
FanDuel Takes Lead in April, Overtakes BetMGM in Michigan
In a tight battle for market dominance, FanDuel took the top spot in April with $67.6 million in revenue. The brand came in ahead of BetMGM, which brought in $64.9 million.
The two operators have been battling for the top spot for a long time. In fact, last month BetMGM led with just under $69 million, narrowly edging out FanDuel’s $68.1 million.
The revenue of the two operators up to April also demonstrates the fierce competition in the year to date. BetMGM maintains a slight advantage, with US$ 260.6 million, while FanDuel is close behind, with US$ 260.3 million, a difference of around US$ 300,000.
In April, DraftKings came in third with $42.5 million. Notably, the platform was the only one to see monthly growth, up from $41.1 million in March.
While it didn’t see a monthly increase in April, Fanatics continues to perform strongly. The platform generated $8.96 million in April, a slight decrease from the $9.2 million it reported in March.
Still, this result allowed the company to climb to sixth place, surpassing Golden Nugget Online Casino. The latter’s revenue of $7.3 million represented one of the most significant monthly drops, compared to $11.8 million in March.
Regulator cracks down on illegal online casinos to protect Michigan industry
As the market continues to grow, the MGCB has also been doing its part to help protect operators and consumers. The regulator, which has emerged as one of the strictest in the country, has been relentlessly pursuing illegal operators.
Illegal or offshore platforms operate outside of state regulation and tax obligations and are considered a threat to the regulated market as they steal potential taxable revenue.
In an effort to combat this, in April, the MGCB sent 11 cease-and-desist orders to online casinos, as well as ordering the suspension of 10 illegal platforms in March.
