DETROIT – Starting at noon Friday, people in Michigan could legally place bets on sports teams or play casino games online. READ: ‘New era’ of gambling in Michigan begins -- Online sports betting goes live FridayIt’s been billed as a new dawn of online sports gambling, but really it is the COVID-recovery plan for the gambling industry. It all starts with downloading your favorite gambling app to your phone or smart device. At sign-up, they all require GPS tracking to make sure you’re betting from inside Michigan. The operators authorized to begin online offerings Jan. 22 are:ResourcesThe MGCB has published FAQs, patron dispute forms and a sports wagering catalog on its website, www.michigan.gov/mgcb.

DETROIT – Starting at noon, Friday, online sports betting was allowed for the first time in Michigan. The launch came about a year after sports betting became legal in Michigan, but until now, players had to place bets in person at casinos. It’s not just sports betting, but online gambling also has gone live. The MGM Casino is using Roar Digital, Motor City Casino is using FanDuel and Greektown Casino is using Penn Sports Interactive. The online apps require the user to verify their location within Michigan using the GPS in one’s phone or smart device.

DETROIT – The MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit is preparing to open its doors to the public on Dec. 23 thanks to loosened coronavirus restrictions announced this week. The MotorCity Casino Hotel will reopen at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23, officials said. All casino and hotel employees will reportedly be tested for COVID-19 before the reopening date. The revised restrictions are currently in effect until Jan. 15, 2021. More: Here’s everything that’s reopening under Michigan’s revised COVID-19 order