Michigan authorities' demand for TwinSpires to halt operations is met with resistance from the betting platform.
TwinSpires Stands Alone in Michigan's Shutdown Order
Photo credits: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Lowdown on the Drama
- TwinSpires, the lone operator, bucked Michigan's shutdown order issued by the Gaming Control Board
- A high-stakes hearing is on the horizon to assess the legitimacy of the ruling
- The digital sportsbook and casino of TwinSpires in Michigan has shut down operations
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At the Heart of the Matter
In early 2025, TwinSpires, an online horse racing betting platform, found itself in hot water with the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). Faced with a directive for all licensed Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) operators to cease offering services in Michigan, TwinSpires remained defiant. The order stemmed from a Michigan law stipulating that ADWs must partner with a local racetrack, which proved impossible due to the complete halt of Thoroughbred races in the state since 2018 and the final curtain call for Standardbred races in February 2024[3].
Defying Orders, Driven by Complexities
Ignoring the MGCB's shutdown order, TwinSpires, the official online betting partner of Churchill Downs, likely reasoned that the regulatory landscape was too intricate and potentially inconsistent to obey. Before the shutdown order, TwinSpires had a partnership with Northville Downs, a racetrack currently under redevelopment. Licensing issues surrounding Northville Downs prevented the statutory requirements for ADW operations from being met[3].
A Legal Battle Erupts
In the courtroom showdown that ensued, TwinSpires questioned the MGCB's actions. Pronouncing victory in the legal feud, a federal court denied the MGCB's request for a temporary stop on a preliminary injunction. This ruling essentially reverberated the Interstate Horse Act, preserving TwinSpires' right to keep its services running, albeit under specific conditions. The court steered clear of commenting on the need for Michigan's horse racing industry's policy changes but upheld the federal law regulating interstate off-track wagering[1][3].
The Epilogue
Initially suspending TwinSpires' license on January 7, 2025, the ruling tilted in TwinSpires' favor, paving the way for continued operations. Presently, TwinSpires geared up for the Kentucky Derby and various other events while abandoning the Michigan sports betting scene back in early 2022 due to profit issues[5].
TwinSpires' decision to continue operating their digital sportsbook and casino in Michigan, despite a shutdown order from the Michigan Gaming Control Board, has led to a high-stakes legal battle. This battle, sparked by TwinSpires' defiance, hinges on the interpretation of the Interstate Horse Act and the intricacies of Michigan's Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) regulations, a landscape that TwinSpires argues is too complex to obey. Consequently, TwinSpires has taken sports betting off the table in Michigan, focusing instead on their operations in states where they can legally offer online casino games and sports betting.
