MGCB Stops TwinSpires in Michigan

Imagine placing your regular wagers on a horse racing site, only to find it suddenly halted by regulators.

That’s exactly what happened when TwinSpires—a well-known operator—refused to heed the MGCB’s ban.

Picture an entire state enforcing its horse racing laws, ensuring no one bends the rules or bypasses licensing.

Discover how this showdown might redefine Michigan’s ADW landscape and reveal the future of horse betting compliance.

TwinSpires Ordered to Cease Horse Racing Bets: MGCB Enforces Zero-Tolerance in Michigan

3 Key Points

1. MGCB halted TwinSpires’ ADW activities, citing no licensed racetracks to permit legal online wagers.
2. Northville Downs has conditional approval but lacks a full licence, keeping simulcast and ADW off-limits.
3. TwinSpires alone ignored the December directive, triggering a summary suspension and possible further penalties.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued a stern order against TwinSpires, abruptly banning the operator’s horse racing wagering services. Effective immediately, TwinSpires must cease offering advance deposit wagering (ADW) in the state. The move follows the platform’s decision to ignore official warnings to shut down betting operations, leading to what the MGCB describes as a direct violation of Michigan gaming law.

MGCB’s announcement rests on key provisions of the Horse Racing Law of 1995. Under this law, all ADW or simulcast wagering is confined to licensed racetracks hosting live horse racing. Right now, no racetrack in Michigan holds a complete licence to run live events. Hence, any online betting is deemed unlawful. For an ADW provider like TwinSpires to legally operate, that racetrack must obtain the necessary approvals from the MGCB. The last thoroughbred race in Michigan occurred at Hazel Park in 2018, while Northville Downs briefly hosted a 10-day standardbred meet in February 2024 before halting operations.

Despite the MGCB giving Northville Downs conditional approval to hold two harness racing meets in 2025, it still lacks the full licence needed for offering simulcast or ADW. Until that licensure finalizes, the MGCB maintains zero tolerance for any unlicensed online horse betting.

TwinSpires—operated by Churchill Downs Technology Initiatives Company—was among four ADW providers that received official notice from the MGCB in December 2024. The other three—NYRAbets, TVG Network, and Xpressbet—voluntarily complied, halting wagers by 1 January 2025. However, TwinSpires openly defied the directive, stating its intent to continue serving Michigan’s residents. That bold stance triggered a summary suspension order on 1 January, effectively removing TwinSpires from Michigan’s betting scene.

MGCB officials highlight how the operator’s defiance forced their hand. The board aims to preserve integrity in the local market by ensuring no entity circumvents the legal licensing route. By ignoring the demand to cease, TwinSpires placed itself at odds with established regulations. Now, it must either align with the law or face further legal ramifications.

Furthermore, this decision underscores the challenges Michigan faces in reviving local horse racing. Although the law allows ADW, it hinges on the presence of a properly licensed racetrack. The slow progress in reestablishing such tracks has left many fans disappointed. Consequently, ADW providers must stay idle until the official go-ahead arrives. For TwinSpires, continuing to accept wagers without licensure not only breaks state rules but also disrespects the MGCB’s authority.

A virtual hearing with an Administrative Law Judge is set to determine the next steps. The judge will decide whether the suspension stands and if TwinSpires should incur additional sanctions or fines. At present, there’s no confirmed date for the hearing. However, the MGCB indicates it will consider the operator’s repeated defiance in deciding the severity of punishment.

By halting TwinSpires’ operations, the MGCB signals that no gambling operator can dodge Michigan’s strict horse racing regulations. ADW providers must follow established protocols, especially where no fully licensed live-racing venue exists. As Northville Downs moves closer to licensure, watchers hope to see a renaissance in Michigan’s horse racing scene. Yet, until that day, any operator ignoring official directives risks facing swift and robust enforcement from the MGCB.