Five people have pleaded guilty in connection to an illegal gambling operation at a Flint arcade, officials said.

BetMGM, the platform provider for MGM Grand Detroit, can allow multi-state internet poker games between Michigan and New Jersey after a decision made by state gambling regulators Wednesday.

An illegal gambling operation was uncovered inside a Michigan bar, and the owners are now facing charges.

Five people are facing more than two dozen charges in connection to alleged storefront casinos in Michigan.

Authorities have seized 100 gambling machines and devices from two suspected storefront casinos in the Flint area.

Michigan residents who place wagers on unregulated gaming sites may gamble on more than they expected and become identity theft or deposit theft victims, said Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams.

Michigan will officially allow online sports betting for the first time starting on Friday, Jan. 22. The Michigan Gaming Control Board today authorized nine operators to begin online sports betting or both online gaming and sports betting at noon on Friday, Jan. 22. “The Michigan Gaming Control Board and the state’s commercial and tribal casinos will begin a new era Jan. 22 with the launch of regulated online gaming and sports betting,” said Richard S. Kalm, MGCB executive director. Taxes and Payment RatesThe tax and payment rate for online sports betting is 8.4 percent. The tax and payment rate for internet gaming ranges from about 20 percent to 28 percent.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced Wednesday that is has started to accept internet gaming and internet sports betting operator license applications from commercial casinos and tribes in Michigan. The MGCB continues to make progress toward the launch of online gaming by adding forms for operators and vendors, said Richard S. Kalm, MGCB executive director. On May 15, the agency began to accept online gaming supplier forms. We expect to launch internet gaming and online sports betting by late 2020 or early 2021, Kalm said. Read back: Michigans Legislature votes to legalize sports betting, online gambling

The Michigan Gaming Control Board made the announcement Friday that sports fans will be able to bet on March Madness games when the legal betting goes live. MGM Grand in Detroit spent $7 million on a sports lounge and sports book. It will have seven walk-up windows and 15 kiosks. Greektown Casino sports book will be on the third level with kiosks, televisions, a bar and food. Motor City Casino didn’t respond to a comment request about what it has ready for sports betting, but it has met the requirements to begin onsite betting Wednesday.