Online casinos equipped with mega-popular Live Dealer games have arrived in Michigan. Live Dealer games have the unique ability to bring the complete casino experience right to your computer, phone, or tablet — real dealers, real cards, and real personal interactions.
This page will touch on every aspect of Live Dealer casino gaming in the state of Michigan. We’ll cover the basics of Live Dealer play, the types of games offered, discuss timelines, where you can play, and how to hit the tables. Let’s get started.
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Live casino online games are live in Michigan
Online casinos became a reality with the launch of several sites and apps in January 2021. There are quite a few online casinos available right now in Michigan, with more slated to release shortly. Six months later, live dealer games began popping up online in Michigan.
For comparison, U.S. iGaming pioneer New Jersey first launched online casino gaming in 2013 but didn’t offer Live Dealer games until 2016. Similarly, Pennsylvania welcomed its first online casinos in July 2019 and didn’t start featuring Live Dealer games until 2020. Compared to three years, a six-month delay is nothing. Happily for online gaming fans in MI, live dealer games are live and here to stay.
Which Michigan websites offer Live Dealer games?
All of the following major online casinos open in Michigan feature Live Dealer games:
- DraftKings Casino MI
- FanDuel Casino MI
- BetRivers Casino MI
- BetMGM Casino MI
- Golden Nugget Casino MI
- WynnBET Casino MI
- Stars Casino Michigan
- Caesars Palace Online Casino MI
- Barstool Casino MI
- PointsBet Casino MI
- TwinSpires Casino MI
What is a Live Dealer game?
Live Dealer games are just that – an online casino game that’s officiated by a real, living dealer. Casinos that offer them set up professionally produced and monitored studios solely for their live games. The dealer oversees the table, which is broadcast through a live stream with online players making choices in real-time.
While all online casino games operate using a random number generator that’s been tirelessly tested, Live Dealer games bring things back to basics with a real person running the show. It’s more tangible – you can see the cards, chat with fellow players, ask the dealer questions – all from your couch.
The only thing missing is the chips; all bets are placed digitally.
Why play on Live Dealer tables?
Live Dealer games are the perfect marriage of online efficiency and the personal touch of brick-and-mortar gaming. Most of the advantages are readily apparent when compared to standard B+M casino gaming:
Pros
- Fast: With no chips to mess with you can place a bet with the tap of a finger or the click of a mouse.
- Social: Use the chat window to talk with fellow players and the dealer. This level of interaction just isn’t available at standard online casino tables.
- Flexible: Play from anywhere in the state of Michigan. As long as you’re in the state, you can play. While Michigan is well stocked with retail casinos, you just can’t beat the convenience of mobile.
- Lower Limits: Betting limits are going to be far lower than you’ll find in a casino.
- Side Bets: Since it’s all calculated automatically online, Live Dealer games have a lot more side bet options than you’ll find at a traditional table, playing in-person.
While there are a ton of pros, there are still some cons to take into consideration. Most of them come through comparisons to traditional iCasino games, sans the Live Dealer:
Cons
- Pricing and Rules: When compared to other online casino options, you’re going to be paying a bit of a luxury tax to engage in Live Dealer games. General rules may not be the most player-friendly.
- Availability: Live Dealer games require a full staff of casino employees to run, so they won’t be available around the clock. In other states, NJ for example, they’re usually running from 11 am – 3 am. This likely wouldn’t be an issue for most gamblers, but if you’re an early riser you may have to make other plans.
- Pace: While the pace of play is faster than a traditional B+M casino, it’s going to be significantly slower than other online casino games without the Live Dealer. You’ll have to give more time on each hand, spin, or roll for other customers to lay down a bet.
Live Casinos on Mobile
Live Dealer casino games are fully accessible from mobile devices. All you need to do is pull out your phone, load the online app of your choosing, and sit down at a Live Dealer table. These designated casino apps are optimized to work on all major tech platforms including both iOS and Android phones and tablets. The wonders of technology!
When browsing an online casino app, keep a lookout for a clearly marked Live Dealer section. It won’t be hard to find.
Available Live Dealer Games
The MI Live Dealer gaming catalog is slightly limited when compared to a typical online casino. Since they require manpower and physical space to produce, operators have to make tough choices on what they can offer. Michigan online casinos have great tech partners, some of whom have years of experience offering Live Dealer games, so we’re likely to see some solid tech.
The following games are available as Live Dealer games and are generally available on all the above online casinos, but you might want to double-check with your favorite casino just to make sure:
Blackjack
We list blackjack first because to put it simply, it’s really popular. In both retail and online formats, gamblers around the world flock to blackjack tables. The game translates well from the player’s perspective to a Live Dealer format. It’s easy to place bets, ask the dealer questions, chat with your fellow players, etc.
The only downside of Live Dealer blackjack is on the casino side: it takes up a lot of space. While some games, like roulette, for example, can support an indefinite number of bettors on one wheel – each hand of blackjack is unique for the player, requiring multiple decisions. Generally speaking, each player requires their own hand at the table, which in turn necessitates an actual seat at the Live Dealer table. Since casinos have a finite amount of space in their streaming studio, it can be an issue.
Casinos have started to figure out workarounds for this problem though. In New Jersey, the two major studios at the Golden Nugget and the Hard Rock have come up with innovative solutions that have made their way to Michigan in some capacity.
Hard Rock allows customers to choose a player and bet behind them. Unfortunately, you have no say over how your chosen player executes the hand, so you need to have faith that they’ll play with proper strategy. On the plus side, it gets more bettors involved at a single table. If you back a player that gets hot, it can be a really fun and social experience.
The Golden Nugget uses a different blackjack game type entitled Live Unlimited Blackjack. The slightly modified version of the game cuts down on the number of choices you can make during a hand but allows for an unlimited number of players to pack onto a single table.
Roulette
Roulette is a social game by nature. Getting an energetic table and betting together can be a really enjoyable experience… one which can be appreciated online through Live Dealer offerings. At a traditional online roulette table you place your bets, the random number generator spins the wheel, and you either win or lose. It’s pretty straightforward but lacks pizazz while playing solo. Live Dealer roulette brings the social aspect back into the equation.
It’s common for casinos to offer multiple Live Dealer roulette options. There is typically a standard version of the game featuring an actual dealer. However, some automated versions run 24/7. There’s not a human being spinning the wheel, but instead, there’s a video feed of a machine that automatically spins at regular intervals. While you lose dealer interaction, you gain some flexibility on time, and can still chat with your table-mates.
Notably, most Live Dealer roulette games are going to be in the ‘American’ style, featuring a wheel with both 0 and 00. Because it has both, the overall expected return won’t be as high as it is on both French or European Roulette tables which have just a single 0 space. French and Euro-versions of roulette are often available in non-Live Dealer formats.
Poker Games
Inside Michigan, Live Dealer casinos feature versions of popular poker-based table games like:
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em
- Casino Hold’em
- Three Card Poker
If you’re looking for player-vs-player online poker games, those are separate. It’s worth mentioning that the state of Michigan has also legalized online poker and a few sites also offer it as an additional feature separate from Live Dealer poker games.
Baccarat
Baccarat is another popular casino game and is commonly spread in Live Dealer studios. It’s easy to learn and simple to play, with participants having just three options to choose from on a given hand. After being dealt two cards it’s all about who gets closer to the elusive 9.
Bet with the “player” – the “banker” – or for a “tie“… and that’s pretty much it! While the point of entry prices for baccarat in a brick-and-mortar setting may be a little pricey, Michiganders can play for as little as $1 per hand with online Live-Dealer play.
And More…
While the aforementioned games maybe some of the most popular offerings, they won’t be the only offerings. Games like Progressive Slots and Casino Hold’em are available at several Michigan online casinos, and the selections are only expanding as the market grows. We’re excited to see what the operators bring to the table and will update this page accordingly as new games are introduced.
Michigan Live Dealer FAQs
Michigan online casinos are accepting Live Dealer wagers right now! Live Dealer games came to the state in July 2021, six months after operators opened up their online casinos.
No, you don’t have to live in MI to gamble online, you can simply be visiting the state and play. In fact you can just be passing through, place a few bets and then leave, although once you’re outside the state’s borders, operators will block you from continuing your play.
Absolutely. Almost all MI online gambling sites offer a mobile version of their software via Android or iOS devices, meaning you can play on the go wherever you may be inside the state. In fact, many bettors prefer wagering from their phones, due to the clean user interfaces provided by operators.
Live Dealer games are 100% safe. They’re regulated, like all other iGaming in the state, by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Playing a Live Dealer game is no less secure than taking a seat at a retail casino and playing there.
Yes! As long as you’re in the state, including the Upper Peninsula, you can play. You don’t even have to be a resident of the state to sign up for an account and play Live Dealer games. If you’re in the state, you can play.
Not at this time. As hiring dealers and hosting a live stream costs quite a bit of money, it’s unlikely that free-to-play Live Dealer games will be available in Michigan now or in the future. Generally speaking, Live Dealer games take a good deal of overhead, so it’s unlikely that they will offer them if they can’t recoup a rake.
No, it’s not. New Jersey was the first U.S. state to launch with Live Dealer games back in 2016. Pennsylvania also added Live Dealer games to their selection in 2020. West Virginia also offers online casino gaming, including Live Dealer games
Some are, but not all of them. Live Dealer games require staffing, so not all of them are offered 24/7. It depends on the game. Most Live Dealer games are available for the majority of the day, 11 am – 3 am, with just a few off hours late at night and early in the morning.
Yes, you can. You can play Live Dealer games from your phone or tablet with both iOS and Android devices.
