An NFL postseason in Michigan without the Detroit Lions seems to have led to a significant decrease in January wagering.
Key Takeaways
- It was the lowest January handle since 2023.
- Revenue dipped a more significant 31% compared to the previous January.
- iGaming produced the second-highest gross revenue ever in Michigan.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board reported on Thursday a $502.6-million sports betting handle. The amount wagered in the first month of 2026 was down 12.6% from January 2025, when the Lions won the NFC North and entered the playoffs as a No. 1 seed with a 15-2 record in the 2024 season.
Detroit went 9-8 during the 2025 campaign and finished fourth in the division, leading to less interest, the lowest January handle since 2023, and a 31% year-over-year decrease in Michigan sports betting revenue.
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Profit dip
A year ago, the Lions played just one playoff game, a 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round, but the Michigan sports betting operators racked up, reporting over $85.5 million in gross revenue.
Profits in the latest reported month, however, dipped to $58.8 million. Online sportsbooks made all but $789,000, which was won by retail operators on an $11.3-million handle. After adjustments, online sportsbooks hauled in $37 million, leading to a $2.5-million tax payout to the Wolverine State.
While still an impressive win rate, January’s 11.7% hold was the first under 12% since September 2025 and well below the 14.9% produced during the same month in 2025.
FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet shine
| Online Operator | January Handle | Gross Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | $169.3 million | $22.8 million |
| DraftKings | $144.8 million | $16.2 million |
| BetMGM | $61.1 million | $8.1 million |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | $44.4 million | $4.4 million |
| Hard Rock Bet | $21.9 million | $2.7 million |
| theScore Bet | $18.8 million | $1.7 million |
FanDuel managed to turn in a 13.5% hold on a state-leading $169.3 million that produced $22.8 million in gross revenue, a 44% year-over-year decrease.
DraftKings was more in line with the January average, using a 11.2% win rate to gross $16.2 million from a $144.8-million handle. BetMGM produced a solid month with a 13.2% hold, while Fanatics hit right at 10% on a $44.4-million handle.
Hard Rock Bet was the only other operator to accept at least $20 million in wagers and enjoyed a healthy 12.3% hold, while theScore Bet produced a 9% win rate. Caesars won back less than 6% of an $18.5-million handle.
iGaming stays hot
Michigan’s online casinos recorded gross revenue of $298.3 million in January. That’s a 20.2% year-over-year increase, but the first month of 2025 wasn’t able to match December 2025’s record $315.8-million mark.
January still produced the second-most iGaming revenue ever. FanDuel reported $73.3 million in monthly profits, while BetMGM was second with $65.8 million. The state collected over $54 million in tax revenue from online casino operators. Another $20.2 million went to city and local coffers in January.
