Legislation now under consideration by the Michigan House would move forward a ballot referendum to allow sports gambling in the state. Kalamazoo County Republican Brandt Iden told Michael Patrick Shiels this week he’s all in favor of the idea.
“Folks are already doing this, either online or through illegal bookmakers,” Iden said. “Either way, they’re doing it illegally. We just want a wayt to control that revenue source.”
Iden says he’ll bring the legislation before the Regulatory Reform Committee. New Jersey is challenging a federal prohibition on new sports betting markets that would need to be repealed before Michigan casinos could start taking bets. Backers of the referendum idea hope to see it on the ballot as soon as next year.
