Michigan Online Sports Bettors Shock the Experts

It's a shocker. There was a lot expected with the rollout of online sports betting in the state of Michigan. There were even high expectations related to the introduction of online casino gambling as well. As high as the expectations might have been, the number that Michigan's online bookmakers delivered in just 10 days of wagering was staggering.

During the first 21 days of the month, retail bookmakers were able to deliver a respectable $35.7 million in handle. During the last 10 days when the online bookmakers stepped to the forefront, they brought in $115.2 million to bring the January total handle to $150.9 million.

The $115.7 million exceeded expectations by the length of a football field. Contributing to the numbers was the NCAA bowl season, plus the NFL playoffs leading up to the Super Bowl, which was played on February 7, 2021. It will be interesting to see how online sports bettors reacted to having the opportunity to wager freely on the big game.

Not to be outdone by much, Michigan's online casinos also exceed expectations, bringing in just over $29 million in gross revenue for the same 10 day period. One can only surmise that Michigan gambling enthusiasts have been laying in wait for the opportunity to do what they love to do, gamble.