The Stars Group has confirmed its entry into the Michigan sports betting market via a new agreement with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Gaming Authority for online betting and gaming market access in the state.
The agreement grants the company first skin market access to operate and brand real-money online betting, poker and casino in Michigan, subject to license availability, state law and regulatory approvals.
Robin Chhabra, CEO of FOX Bet, said: “We are excited to announce this agreement with the Odawa tribe, which further strengthens our market access as we work to continue to build our FOX Bet business into one of the leaders in the emerging US online betting and gaming market.”
“The tribe’s partnership with The Stars Group extends beyond our reservation and places the thrill of world class sports betting and online gaming under every finger-tip sliding across a touch screen in the State of Michigan,” said Fred Harrington Jr, Tribal Council, LTBB Odawa.
Under the terms of the agreement, Odawa will receive a revenue share from the operation of the applicable online offerings by The Stars Group.
Odowa operates two casinos in Michigan at Petoskey and Mackinaw. Opened in June 2007 at a cost of $140m, the former spans nearly 300,000 sq ft, incorporating 50,000 sq ft of gaming space featuring nearly 1,000 slots, dozens of table games, a high limit room and a dedicated Poker room and Blackjack room. Odawa’s Mackinaw location was opened in 2016 in Mackinaw City and offers a 6,106 sq ft gaming floor with 220 machines.
