The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has approved Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) to begin offering advance deposit wagering (ADW) on horse racing to players in the state.
Under an order issued by MGCB executive director Richard Kalm, CDI will now be able to accept mobile bets on live and simulcast pari-mutuel horse races.
CDI will support the offering through a third-party partnership with Northville Downs, the only licensed racetrack in Michigan.
In December last year, Michigan’s Horse Racing Law of 1995 was amended so that race meeting licensees in the state could use contracted third-party partners to offer betting on live and simulcast pari-mutuel racing
Players can create an account with the third-party facilitator – in this case CDI – and place bets online or via mobile on pari-mutuel races.
“Michigan horse racing fans now have more options for placing bets from anywhere in the state on horse races with Northville Downs using mobile wagering,” Kalm said.
“This new way of betting should increase interest in horse racing and provide additional funds for the industry.”
The MGCB announced its approval for mobile betting on horse racing on June 26, and on the same day issued a temporary license to mobile wagering operator TVG Network.
TVG Network, which also has a third-party arrangement in place wit Northville Downs, had its temporary license extended on August 25.
Last month, the MGCB also cleared horse racing and simulcast wagering to resume, with Northville Downs holding the first live standardbred races on August 14.
The resumption was authorized by an executive order from Governor Gretchen Whitmer, which also saw Detroit’s commercial casinos reopen from August 5, following their temporary closure due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).