SG-Powered Sports Betting Launches at FireKeepers Casino Michigan

  • SG’s OpenSports product suite now available to bettors at Dacey’s Sportsbook
  • Michigan launch marks another tribal success for SG, which powers two tribes-owned NY casinos
  • FireKeepers and SG are eyeing a Q4 launch of digital sports and casino platforms
  • MI internet gaming, online sports betting expected to go live by “late 2020 or early 2021”
pin indicating Battle Creek Michigan on map
FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan is now offering hundreds of sports markets at its retail sportsbook powered by Scientific Games. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Hundreds of sports markets available to bettors

Gambling products and services provider Scientific Games (SG) has launched a retail sports betting offering at Michigan’s FireKeepers Casino. Powered by SG’s OpenSports product suite, the tribal casino’s Dacey’s Sportsbook and Taphouse in Battle Creek can offer bettors the opportunity to wager on hundreds of US and international sports markets.

SG tweeted the announcement of Michigan’s first tribal sportsbook going live with OpenSports:

The sports betting launch at the casino owned by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi marks another tribal gaming success for SG, which also powers two New York casinos owned by the Oneida Indian Nation.

another tribal gaming success for SG

Jordan Levin, CEO of SG Digital, expressed his anticipation of a healthy partnership, stating that: “They [FireKeepers] have a wonderful team and we’re looking forward to building out their full product suite with the launch of OpenGaming once regulations permit.”

SG and FireKeepers are also readying their digital sports and casino platforms to go live.

Primed for action

Praising FireKeepers as a leading casino in the Midwest, Levin said SG’s strategy was to “partner with forward-thinking tribes as regulations evolve.” In a press release, Levin spoke of his hopes for an early digital launch date, saying “the state of Michigan is preparing for a digital go-live for sports and iGaming […] as early as Q4 2020.”

According to a WDIV ClickOnDetroit report, Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) executive director Richard S. Kalm said he expects the state to “launch internet gaming and online sports betting by late 2020 or early 2021”.

In July 2020, the MGCB started accepting internet gaming and sports wagering operator license applications from tribal and commercial casinos.

“Major strategic objective”

Michigan launched retail sports betting in March, the same month COVID-19 erupted in the US. Although FireKeepers patrons started wagering on sports in June at Dacey’s Sportsbook and Taphouse, the SG launch represents a “major strategic objective”, said FireKeepers CEO Kathy George.

opportunity to take both our sports and our casino online”

“The team at Scientific Games have been integral to delivering this fantastic new offering for bettors in Michigan. We keenly await the opportunity to take both our sports and our casino online with their player-centric technology and global expertise,” said George.

The popular 11-year-old FireKeepers Casino hosts a live poker room, bingo rooms, 70 table games, and 2,900 slots, in addition to restaurants and lounges. Customers in Western Michigan and Northern Indiana have voted it Best Casino. It also won Best Casino in the Casino Player Magazine Best of Gaming 2019 Native Midwest category.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *