Offers Verified By Our ExpertsHow We Picked the Best NFL Betting Sites
Bettors want peace of mind when betting on NFL games at an online sportsbook. That’s why we put all NFL Sportsbooks through a thorough review process to ensure your money is in good hands. Here are the criteria our experts used in selecting the top sportsbooks in Michigan for betting on the NFL:
Licensing & Reputation
In Michigan, every sportsbook is required to operate with a license from the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Only online betting sites in the state that meet this requirement are considered for our recommended list.
Variety of Betting Options
In addition to the typical point spread, moneyline bet and totals odds, betting on NFL games also offers individual and team player props and futures bets. Our team researches each Michigan sportsbook to find the ones that give players the most diverse betting options. NFL odds vary from site to site, as do available NFL prop bets. You want the best options
Ease of Registration
New NFL bettors deserve a smooth introduction to the sportsbook they select. Our team signs up at each of the Michigan NFL online sportsbooks we have listed to ensure others enjoy a seamless process.
Banking Options
We understand that speed and accuracy are vital when selecting a great NFL betting site. That’s why we test each sportsbook’s payment systems and will let you know of any fees you should be aware of. The last thing anyone wants is an issue cashing out a big win, which is why we test withdrawals at each Michigan online sportsbook.
Software & Security
Only the most user-friendly and safe sportsbooks make our list. Navigating menus or worrying about your information isn’t a concern with any of the top NFL betting websites we have listed.
Customer Service
Our team ensures quality customer service is a priority at each of the top NFL gambling sites we review. Every sports bettor deserves an online sportsbook that’s open and willing to assist any of your needs through email, live chat or by phone.
Bonuses and Boosts
Sportsbooks regularly have boosted odds and promotions for new users, especially for the NFL. With Michigan becoming one of the latest states to launch online sports betting, you can expect plenty of sportsbooks to offer welcome deals like risk-free bets. We track them so you don’t have to.
Is Betting on NFL Games Legal in Michigan?
Yes, betting on the NFL became legal in December 2019. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of gambling bills that included the legalization of sports betting. Michigan was the 20th state to legalize sports betting and online casinos. Sports betting in Michigan officially debuted at Detroit’s three commercial casinos on March 11. This is the second NFL season where Michiganders can place legal bets on the league.
Benefits of NFL Betting in Michigan
Michigan is one of more than a dozen states to offer legalized in-person sports betting and online sports wagering, making it one of the premier locations for sports bettors to wager on the NFL. Spreads, moneyline and totals are all available for players to wager on, in addition to futures, parlays and prop bets. And with games on Monday, Thursday and Sunday, there are NFL betting odds for everyone to bet on throughout the week.
Signing Up to Bet on NFL Games
Once you find an online sportsbook that interests you, be sure to read our review. Afterward, click on the link and you will be directed to the sportsbook’s website where you can collect a special bonus when signing up as a new user. Click on “register” to begin the sign-up process. Provide an email address, select a password and username before going through the ID verification process. You will then be required to provide the last four digits of your Social Security number and a proof of your address.
When you decide to make your first deposit a copy of your driver’s license or a passport may be required to verify your identity. Following an initial deposit and after taking advantage of a welcome bonus offer, users can make their first NFL wager. Just select the NFL from the league list in the app or website and pour through seemingly endless betting options! Keep in mind you must be physically located in the state to make a wager.
NFL Bets to Make in Michigan
Throughout the year, you can make a futures bet on who will win the Super Bowl, AFC or NFC; team win totals; awards such as MVP: and more. During the season, those bets are still available, but there also hundreds of bets available on each game, from the customary spread bet to more exotic wagers like first player to score a TD, total yards passing for each quarterback and more. You can also combine a handful of bets in a parlay, which poses a greater risk (all legs must win to collect) but greater reward (a much larger layout).
Popular NFL Events to Bet On
The Super Bowl reigns supreme as one of the top betting events in the country. Data from the American Gaming Association showed 26 million Americans wagered $6.8 billion on the 2020 Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
During the regular season, the marquee games in the national primetime slots typically receive plenty of action. The Monday, Sunday and Thursday night games can see a large handle, especially with in-play betting, since they the only games going on at the time.
NFL Betting Tips to Consider
Bankroll Management: Every NFL bettor should determine a standard unit for a wager. A unit is relative to the size of your betting bankroll and varies from bettor to bettor. Someone with a $10,000 bankroll will use larger units than a player with a $100 bankroll.
There is no one rule for deciding what percentage size a unit must be, but it should be low enough to withstand any extended losing skid. An example of using proper bankroll management would be if your bankroll is $100 and a bettor settles on risking 1% of it for each NFL bet. That would mean a standard unit consists of $1. For a $10,000 bankroll, a unit would be $100.
Line shopping: With Michigan offering a wide range of NFL betting sites, bettors should analyze the lines to find the best value for the bet they want to make. For example, if the Lions are favored by 3 points on DraftKings Michigan but by 2.5 on FanDuel at the same -110 odds, the Lions hold better value at FanDuel Michigan. A 20-17 Detroit win would be a push on DraftKings but cash at FanDuel.
This same type of line shopping should be done for totals, moneyline odds and props to ensure you’re always finding the best value for your bets.
Reading NFL Odds and Betting Lines
When looking at a matchup, the number next to a team is the spread line. For example, if the Lions are -4 and the Bears are +4, the Lions are four-point favorites and must win by more than four for the bet to win. For any bettors on Chicago, any loss by the Bears of three points or less would be deemed a winner. A four-point margin of victory would be a push on both sides. Typical odds on a spread bet are -105 to -110 and you can line shop those odds among sportsbooks to squeeze out extra value.
Moneyline Odds
The moneyline odds are in the middle column, between the spread and point total. A moneyline bet is picking a winner straight-up. For this Lions and Bears matchup, since the Lions are favored, their moneyline odds would be -160, while the underdog Bears are at +135. A Lions bettor would have to wager $160 to win $100, while a $100 bet on the Bears would net a profit of $135. Negative moneyline odds indicates the amount you must bet to win $100; plus odds indicate the payout on a $100 bet.
Totals Odds
The final category in a traditional NFL wagering line is the total points scored combined. This is also known as the over/under. For football, this number is usually in the 40s. Using this Lions-Bears matchup, if a total is at 42.5, an over wager means the bettor believes more than 43 points will be recorded. An under bettor believes fewer than 43 will be scored. Totals normally have odds of about -110.
Why Trust BetMichigan for NFL Betting
We have a team of experts at BetMichigan.com who are dedicated to researching and evaluating sportsbooks across Michigan, ensuring our users have a safe and enjoyable NFL wagering experience. Betting on the NFL is one click away. Check out our reviews and select one of the top sportsbooks in Michigan to begin playing right now!
NFL Betting FAQ
Yes! Many online sportsbooks allow live sports wagering and at the three commercial casinos in Detroit, the minimum age to bet on sports is at least 21. For tribal casinos, the age requirement can vary. Tribal casinos can set their own age limits, and some allow players as young as 18 or 19 to place sports bets.
As more states have legalized sports betting, the NFL has embraced it. In February, the league announced teams could reach sponsorship agreements with sportsbooks. The Denver Broncos and FanDuel became the first official NFL betting partnership, and more teams followed suit. The Detroit Lions were one of those teams, reaching an agreement with Bet MGM.
Wagering on the NFL is safe if bettors are using a licensed and regulated sportsbook in Michigan. All legal sportsbooks in the state are licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control board. Be sure to check out our list of top-rated sportsbooks to make sure you are betting on an approved and licensed website.
Yardage statistics are a great tool to analyze when considering NFL bets. Yards per carry, yards per pass attempt and defensive yards allowed per carry and defensive yards per pass attempt allowed are all useful stats when comparing teams and considering prop bets. Another key football stat is explosive play rate. Finding offenses that can hit for large gains against defenses susceptible to the big play can be advantageous for bettors. And then there is pressure rate. With the NFL becoming a passing league, teams with top-tier pass rushes are more likely to hinder offenses with explosive passing attacks. If a team fails to consistently generate pressure, a bettor can expect a defense to struggle.
Bettors have a wide range of deposit options available to them at each sportsbook. These include debit card, credit card, PayPal, preferred e-check, online banking, a wire transfer and a Play+. How do I find the best NFL odds? The best way to find an edge with NFL odds is by line shopping across the sportsbooks offered in Michigan. Certain books may have better odds for the bet you’re looking for in a certain game, and users can freely select where they want to place their wagers.
This may differ from bettor to bettor since it mostly depends on what a player is looking for. If a bettor wants the best line early in the week and anticipates a line moving in the opposite direction, they should place the bet then. But if someone is waiting for the lineups and inactive list to come out, they may wait closer to kickoff to ensure a certain player will be playing. Live betting is another opportunity for bettors to find the best line. If a pregame spread or total is too high, a bettor can wait for a live betting opportunity when the odds may shift more in their favor.
All sports gambling winnings are subject to federal and Michigan tax. In Michigan, the state tax on gambling winnings is 4.25%.
Author
Bryce covers sports betting and gaming for BetMichigan.com, along with other Midwest states. He joined BetMichigan.com after spending the last nine years covering high school and college sports throughout Michigan. His favorite sports to gamble on are football, basketball, baseball and Formula 1.
