Michigan imposes restrictions on four prediction markets and launches global campaign
Polymarket must close Michigan sports contracts by 25 Nov; awareness week runs 9–13 Nov
Key Takeaways
- Polymarket US must close sports contracts for Michigan customers by 25 November under a federal consent order approved on 28 October.
- The Michigan Gaming Control Board obtained similar restrictions against Coinbase and Robinhood and a preliminary injunction against Kalshi.
- Operators dispute Michigan’s view that sports-result contracts are state-regulated gambling; appeals are pending before the Sixth Circuit.
- Michigan joins Illegal Gambling Awareness Week (9–13 November) and launches CheckBeforeYouPlay.org to verify licences.
- Residents can report suspected illegal sites at 1-888-314-2682; the problem-gambling helpline is 1-800-GAMBLER.
Polymarket US must close the sports contracts it still has with customers in Michigan by 25 November, under a consent order approved by a federal court on 28 October. Michigan has secured similar restrictions against Coinbase and Robinhood, and a preliminary injunction prevents Kalshi from offering contracts on sporting events to state residents; none of the four platforms holds a Michigan sports-betting license.
Court measures and deadlines
The federal consent order of 28 October requires Polymarket US to wind down remaining sports contracts for Michigan customers by 25 November; the company had already agreed to stop offering new contracts in the state. The [Michigan Gaming Control Board](/regulation) (MGCB) previously obtained equivalent restrictions against Coinbase and Robinhood. Kalshi is subject to a preliminary injunction barring it from offering sports contracts to Michigan residents.
Prediction-market operators argue their contracts are regulated by federal commodities rules, while Michigan treats contracts on sporting outcomes as bets that require state authorisation. The consent agreements do not resolve that legal dispute: appeals are pending before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
International campaign and verification tool
Michigan has joined the inaugural Illegal Gambling Awareness Week organised by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) from 9–13 November. The campaign introduces the free site [CheckBeforeYouPlay.org](/news), built with technology from Sharp Vision, which lets users enter an online gambling site address and check licence records from participating jurisdictions.
The MGCB is promoting the campaign via radio, video and social media with the message “Play it safe. Bet legal.”
“Illegal gambling doesn't stop at state or national borders, and neither can our response,” said Henry Williams, Executive Director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Warnings to players and reporting channels
The MGCB has already sent hundreds of cease-and-desist letters to offshore sites and other unlicensed operators. Licensed casinos and online sportsbooks in Michigan must verify customers are at least 21, protect player funds, offer gambling limits and meet responsible-gambling requirements; unauthorised sites operate outside those state safeguards.
Henry Williams said illegal operators “want you to think they are just another option” and warned that an unlicensed operator offers no age verification, no guarantee of payout and no regulator to appeal to.
Residents can report suspected unlicensed gambling by calling 1-888-314-2682. The Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline provides free, confidential support at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Frequently Asked Questions
What deadline does Polymarket US have to close contracts for Michigan customers?
Polymarket US must close sports contracts it still maintains with Michigan customers by 25 November, under a federal consent order approved on 28 October; the company had already agreed not to offer new contracts in the state.
Why does Michigan say these services require a state licence?
Michigan treats contracts on sporting outcomes as bets that require state authorisation, contrasting with operators’ position that their contracts fall under federal commodities rules; the legal dispute remains unresolved with appeals before the Sixth Circuit.
What verification resource does the international campaign offer?
The campaign debuts CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a free site built with Sharp Vision technology that lets users enter an online gambling site address and check licence records for participating jurisdictions during Illegal Gambling Awareness Week.
How can a Michigan resident report an unauthorised gambling site?
Residents can report suspected unlicensed gambling by calling 1-888-314-2682 and can seek free confidential help from the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER.
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About the author
Renata Quiroga
Betting Markets Correspondent
Renata Quiroga covers sports betting and prediction markets — sportsbook launches, odds technology, event contracts, and the regulatory calls that decide what can be bet on and where. The reports open with the product or the ruling, name operators and platforms precisely, and explain the mechanics without needless jargon. When a book enters a Latin American market or a prediction exchange lists a contested contract, Renata Quiroga reports what changes for the bettor.
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