The Michigan Gaming Control Board approved 888 Holdings VHL Michigan LLC to be the Michigan online casino provider for the Hannahville Indian Community, the board announced last week in a press release.
888 Holdings, which will operate under the Sports Illustrated Casino brand, became the effective provider of the Hannahville tribe on Feb. 7. The Hannahville tribe operates Island Resort and Casino in Harris, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
SI, 888 and Hannahville Tribe Extend Partnership
This deal for the Sports Illustrated Casino extends the relationship among 888, the SI brand and the Hannahville tribe in the state. In September 2022, 888 Holdings became the tribe’s provider for Michigan sports betting as well.
The partnership between the Hannahville tribe and 888 Holdings came after TwinSpires, which was originally slated to provide internet gaming and internet sports betting at Island Resort and Casino, announced its decision to shut down operations in the state last fall.
The SI Sportsbook MI launch extended the brand’s reach, which is based on the famed magazine of the same name that began publication in 1954.
In 2022, the Hannahville Indian Community reported $11,744,736 in total sports betting handle, with nearly $818,000 in gross sports betting receipts, and just over $5.8 million in online casino handle. However, the tribe had ceased offering iGaming in the state on Sept. 6, 2022.
“I wish the Hannahville tribe continued success as they once again may offer their customers both internet gaming and internet sports betting,” Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams said in the release.
Hannahville Granted Initial License in 2021
The process for the Hannahville Indian Community to operate one of the online Michigan casino apps began in January 2021, when it was awarded one of 10 licenses from the Michigan Gaming Control Board to launch both internet casino gaming and internet sports betting.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill to legalize sports betting and online gambling in 2019. Michigan licenses, by law, are limited to the state’s trio of commercial casinos and dozen federally recognized tribes.
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