Key Takeaways
- Michigan regulators approved Soaring Eagle Gaming’s transition from GAN to White Hat Gaming.
- The change covers the tribe’s online casino and sports betting operations in Michigan.
- The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe received authorization to begin using the new platform on November 10.
- Both companies must follow Michigan’s gaming regulations, including approved suppliers, games, and internal controls.
Soaring Eagle Gaming has moved its online casino and sports betting operations in Michigan from GAN to White Hat Gaming after receiving approval from the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which operates Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, was authorized to begin offering online play through the new platform on November 10. The regulator confirmed the transition on November 12, stating that it had reviewed the White Hat Gaming platform and approved the tribe’s branding submission. The change also follows approval of the suppliers and vendors required for the launch.
Michigan Approves Soaring Eagle Gaming’s Transition From GAN To White Hat Gaming
The Michigan Gaming Control Board approved Soaring Eagle Gaming’s request to move its internet gaming and sports betting platform operations to White Hat Gaming Inc. The transition replaces GAN, which had provided the technology platform since the tribe entered Michigan’s online gambling market in 2022. According to the MGCB’s announcement, reported by CDC Gaming, the regulator reviewed the White Hat Gaming platform and the tribe’s branding submission before authorizing the change. Soaring Eagle Gaming also submitted an executed agreement with its new provider, while the suppliers and vendors considered essential for the launch received the necessary approvals.
The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe operates Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Its online gaming business operates under the Eagle Casino and Sports brand, offering internet casino games and sports betting to eligible players in the state. The operator initially entered Michigan’s regulated online gambling market in April 2022. At the time, the MGCB authorized Soaring Eagle Gaming as the state’s 15th internet gaming and sports betting operator, with GAN serving as its platform provider.
The original approval allowed the tribe to offer both online casino games and sports betting under Michigan’s regulatory framework. The latest transition changes the technology provider behind those operations rather than introducing a new operator into the market. More details about the original launch are available in the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s April 2022 announcement. White Hat Gaming’s appointment also appears in the regulator’s updated list of authorized online gaming and sports betting platform providers in Michigan. The listing identifies the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe as the operator and White Hat Gaming Inc. as its platform provider.
MGCB Sets Compliance Requirements For Soaring Eagle’s New Gaming Platform
The MGCB has outlined several conditions that both the tribe and White Hat Gaming must continue to follow under Michigan law. These requirements include offering only internet casino games approved by the board and restricting sports betting activity to authorized events and wager types. Both companies must also use board-approved suppliers, registered vendors, and authorized cashiering and depositing locations.
The regulator has also specified that Soaring Eagle Gaming and White Hat Gaming must follow approved internal controls, account terms and conditions, and platform change-control procedures. These requirements cover how the online gaming operation is managed and how changes to its systems are handled. The companies must also submit all applicable taxes, payments, and fees on time under Michigan’s Lawful Internet Gaming Act and Lawful Sports Betting Act. They are further required to comply with relevant statutory provisions, regulatory requirements, board directives, and approved amendments to internal controls.
MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said the approval followed the board’s review of the platform to ensure that services offered to Michigan players meet its requirements for integrity, security, and consumer protection. The regulator’s authorized platform provider list also shows the providers currently associated with other tribal and commercial gaming operators in the state.
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