The Michigan Gaming Control Board will allow online sports betting and casino games starting on Jan. 22.

Michigan first legalized in-person sports betting in 2019 and has since generated over $18 million in revenue. 

The state is now looking to join the ten others who have seen success with full mobile sports betting. 

• Last year, New Jersey saw the most online sports betting revenue out of any state, grossing over $301 million.
• 94% of New Jersey’s $6 billion sports betting handle was taken online in 2020.
• After launching sports betting in May 2020, Colorado took 98% of its wagers online in the first six months.

Nine operators have been authorized to begin offering online options in Michigan, backed by sportsbooks including DraftKings and FanDuel.

“We’re actually more encouraged that we think it could be a bigger marketplace than New Jersey,” FanDuel Chief Marketing Officer Mike Raffensperger said. “Given the nature of the state of Michigan, the population, the gaming apparatus it has with casinos.” 

The launch in Michigan comes as other states, including New York, are considering the benefits of a similar move. Legalization creates tax revenue and jobs for states — a much-needed lifeline as budgets reel from the pandemic.  

Los Angeles-based music management firm Milk & Honey is launching a sports division.

Damien Wilson of the Kansas City Chiefs and Courtland Sutton of the Denver Broncos are among the 15 NFL players joining a roster of more than 80 names. Milk & Honey’s website lists artists like Selena Gomez, Wiz Khalifa, and Panic! At The Disco as clients. 

Milk & Honey’s sports division is led by veteran NFL agent Jacob Presser and former University of Arkansas running back Rawleigh Williams. The agency plans to sign basketball, baseball, hockey, golf and soccer players in the future.

Several high-profile entertainment agencies have expanded into sports over the past decade:

• TaP Music, which lists Dua Lipa, Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding as clients, launched TaP Sports in November.
• United Talent Agency, which represents Post Malone and DJ Khaled among others, invested in Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports in 2019 to create UTA Sports. 
• Jay-Z’s Roc Nation branched out to sports in 2013.

“There’s a lot of opportunity for our football players and our musicians to create content where there’s a crossover,” said Lucas Keller, chief executive officer of Milk & Honey. “A company is made more interesting by having multiple pillars in entertainment.”

MGM Resorts has ended its takeover attempt of British gaming company Entain. 

The news follows a string of offers from MGM to acquire its partner in the sports betting joint venture BetMGM.

Entain, formerly GVC Holdings, rejected two offers from MGM, including one for $11 billion earlier this month, saying it undervalued the company.

Entain owns major betting brands like Ladbrokes, bwin, PartyPoker and Coral.

An MGM and Entain merger would have created one of the largest gambling companies in the world with major physical and online presences.

Since news of MGM’s efforts to acquire Entain emerged, Entain acquired Swedish gaming firm Enlabs for $333.5 million. CEO Shay Segev announced plans to leave for a co-CEO position at sports-focused streaming service DAZN as well.

MGM shares finished up 2.45% on Tuesday.