Betting on sports and like poker in Detroit has just become a whole lot easier after PokerStars promised to throw “fan experience at the heart of the action” during its new sponsorship agreement with Detroit Red Wings.
Michigan sports betting has been legal since December 2019 but it’s only in the last year that the activity has truly taken off in the state. Indeed, legalized online poker was also passed that month, and again there’s been a steady buy-in to the activity ever since.
Remote wagering at sporting events is growing more and more popular, and the new sponsorship deal struck between the Red Wings and PokerStars’ parent company Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) will make it even more visible for fans attending games.
And Flutter hopes the deal with Derek Lalonde’s team will further expand the passion for both sports wagering and poker.
“We are extremely proud and excited to build a long-term relationship with such an iconic NHL team as the Red Wings,” said PokerStars US managing director Severin Rasset.
“Through this partnership, we look forward to delivering epic experiences for our PokerStars community, expanding on what we can offer our Michigan based players, as well as those across the rest of the US.”
PokerStars and Red Wings
The deal will see thousands of dollars flow into the Red Wings coffers at a time when the NHL is taking in more money than ever from sponsorship and TV deals. Hockey has also embraced online sports betting and casinos, with the New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators having all struck agreements with casinos and sportsbooks since the NHL officially allowed gambling sponsorships in October 2021.
More deals will be forthcoming as the sport gets used to its new relationship with betting companies. The decision to add jersey sponsorship from the 2022/23 season and beyond only boosts the opportunities for sportsbooks and casinos to get their brand out there.
The deal with Detroit Red Wings will see PokerStars branding splashed across the Little Caesars Arena, while fans will have greater access to online poker tournaments.
Poker In Michigan
The Great Lakes State is no stranger to poker. Back in the summer Michigan signed a multijurisdictional poker agreement that allows players to compete against others from different states.
It meant joining the likes of Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey in a cross-state agreement to share revenues from online poker, and allow players to bet against each other across state lines.
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3. Enjoy it! → https://t.co/ZTjRt6469q pic.twitter.com/3qs9Bug19z— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 5, 2022
Detroit itself has three casinos: the Hollywood Casino at Greektown, the MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino & Hotel. All three offer in-person poker tables where players can compete against each other for real money.
Meanwhile, the growth of Michigan’s online poker scene means the state is now one of the biggest in the country. Online casino and poker revenue hit $121.5m in June 2022, and to’s predicted that Michigan will soon overtake Pennsylvania as the biggest poker state nationwide.
Bet MGM Poker MI, PokerStars MI and WSOP MI are the three big players in the Michigan online poker industry. And while BetMGM has the big share of the market, PokerStars hopes that deals such as there one struck with the Red Wings will help narrow the gap.
