Popular horse racing betting operator TwinSpires is in trouble with the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) for ignoring a formal request to stop offering advance deposit wagering (ADW) to people in the state from January 1, 2025. The three other operators, TVG Network, NYRA Bets, and Xpressbet, complied with the request.
The regulator issued a suspension order on TwinSpires, owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated, for violations of Michigan Horse Racing Law of 1995 and other gaming laws. Any operators offering ADW need to be tethered to a licensed racetrack and live race meeting. Michigan doesn’t currently have any tracks hosting live races, so ADW is not permitted at the moment.
must host at least 30 days of racing to be eligible for ADW and simulcasting
Thoroughbred racing hasn’t taken place since 2018, and Standardbred races last ran in February 2024, with the Northville Downs track hoping to host more races this year and get approval from the MGCB. It must have at least 30 days of racing to be eligible for ADW and simulcasting.
TwinSpires will now face a virtual hearing with an Administrative Law Judge to decide the length of its suspension and if other penalties are necessary.