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April isn’t the most exciting month of the sports calendar. However, Michigan had lots to cheer about as the Detroit Pistons made the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and the Detroit Tigers got off to a hot start, following up on their playoff run in 2024.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) reported that sports betting operators produced $427.0 million in handle and $43.0 million in revenue.
Handle increased at a rate of 3% on a year-over-year basis, which isn’t that much. However, the vertical has grown drastically since April 2023, when operators only generated only $338.1 million in handle.
Handle declined at a 12.4% from March, which was to be expected.
April 2025 Michigan sports betting revenue numbers
- Handle: $427.0 million ($417.6 million online)
- Revenue: $43.0 million ($42.7 million online)
- Hold: 10.1% (up from 6.9% last month)
- Month-over-month: Handle increased 3%
- Sports betting taxes: $1.9 million total to state and local taxes
- Top online sports betting app by handle: FanDuel Sportsbook MI with $157.9 million
- Top online sports betting app by revenue: FanDuel Sportsbook MI with $19.4 million
Detroit sports create excitement
The Pistons made the playoffs for the first time in six years and completed a winning season for the first time since 2016. That culminated with a playoff appearance against the New York Knicks.
Despite the first-round exit, the Pistons pushed the Knicks to six games, five of which came in April. That certainly helped handle tick up last month.
While baseball isn’t as much of a popular betting sport, the excitement the Tigers generated is palpable. The team came within one game of reaching the National League Championship Series last year, which set them up for high expectations this year.
The Tigers posted an 18-9 record in April, and are currently 31-17, the best record in baseball. As the spring and summer continue, it’s possible the Tigers’ success can boost sportsbooks until it’s time for football season.
Hold reaches double digits
Sportsbooks have generally had a great start to 2025, posting impressive hold rates throughout. In April, operators recorded a rate of 10.1%, which is the third time in four months it has reached double digits. The previous three months are as follows:
- January: 14.9%
- February: 12.1%
- March: 6.9%
- April: 10.1%
April’s hold rate yielded operators $43 million in revenue, which is a 28.4% month-over-month increase and a 0.9% year-over-year decrease.
ESPN BET falls out of top five
There has been plenty of eyes on PENN Entertainment‘s partnership with ESPN BET. For the first time in 2025, ESPN BET fell out of the top five, in of handle.
Caesars Sportsbook ed ESPN in the rankings, generating $29.1 million. ESPN only mustered $24.4 million in handle. The operator has had mixed market share results:
- January: 5.6%
- February: 5.3%
- March: 5.9%
- April: 5.7%
PENN Entertainment has an opt-out clause in its contract with ESPN that it can exercise in 2026. That makes the rest of 2025 an important year for the partnership.
Michigan sports betting handle for April 2025 by operator
| Licensee | Online Brand | Handle | Revenue | Hold | Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MotorCity | FanDuel | $157,879,737 | $19,361,337 | 12.30% | $1,311,408 |
| Bay Mills | DraftKings | $114,931,291 | $10,467,171 | 9.10% | $499,481 |
| MGM Grand Detroit | BetMGM | $57,001,293 | $5,582,962 | 9.80% | $0 |
| Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa | Fanatics | $29,348,812 | $3,314,226 | 11.30% | $48,742 |
| Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa | Caesars | $29,143,638 | $1,106,965 | 3.80% | $72,719 |
| Greektown | ESPN Bet | $24,472,808 | $2,276,841 | 9.30% | $26,253 |
| Little River Band of Ottawa | BetRivers | $7,181,530 | $608,331 | 8.50% | $0 |
| Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi | betParx | $1,998,345 | $132,967 | 6.70% | $0 |
| Pokagon Band of Potawatomi | Four Winds | $1,679,573 | ($9,832) | -0.60% | $0 |
| Sagniaw Chippewa | Eagle | $1,479,341 | $25,926 | 1.80% | $394 |
| Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi | FireKeepers | $1,464,503 | $57,368 | 3.90% | $0 |
| Hannahville | SI | $412,824 | $34,728 | 8.40% | $0 |
| Total | $426,993,695 | $42,958,991 | 10.10% | $1,958,998 |
