Michigan regulators approved Soaring Eagle Gaming’s move of its internet casino and online sports-betting operations from GAN to White Hat Gaming Inc., authorizing the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe to begin offering play on the new platform on Nov. 10.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board announced the decision on Nov. 12. White Hat Gaming replaced GAN as the tribe’s platform provider, while Soaring Eagle retained its branding. The tribe operates Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant.
The board reviewed and approved both the White Hat platform and the tribe’s branding submission. It also confirmed that the tribe had supplied an executed agreement with White Hat and that the suppliers and vendors essential to the launch had received approval.
The authorization carries continuing operating conditions. Soaring Eagle and White Hat may offer only board-approved internet games and authorized sports-betting event and wager types, and must use approved suppliers, registered or approved vendors, and approved cashiering and deposit locations.
They must also follow approved internal controls, player account terms and conditions, and platform change-control processes. The companies are required to make the taxes, payments and fees due under the Lawful Internet Gaming Act and Lawful Sports Betting Act, as well as comply with applicable statutes, regulations and board directives.
Henry Williams, the MGCB executive director, said the approval followed a careful review intended to ensure platforms serving Michigan players met standards for integrity, security and consumer protection.
The regulator and the tribe did not state why GAN was replaced. Soaring Eagle had originally launched under the Eagle Casino and Sports brand using GAN as its platform provider, after the MGCB authorized it as Michigan’s 15th internet gaming and sports-betting operator on April 14, 2022.
Michigan had 15 authorized commercial and tribal online operators as of September, all offering iGaming and 13 offering online sports betting. Combined statewide iGaming and online sports-betting gross receipts were $355.7 million that month, up 5.4% from August.
The state’s online market began with 10 operators on Jan. 22, 2021. The Hannahville Tribe’s shift of its internet sports-betting platform to 888 Holdings in September 2022 was another recorded Michigan platform change.
