Eight Michigan Tribal Casinos Saw Yearly Gaming Payment Decline In 2024
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Reported gaming payments at eight Michigan tribal casinos experienced a decline in 2024.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board’s 2024 Tribal Gaming Report reveals that Michigan’s 23 tribal casinos experienced a 2.2% decline in their reported payments to local entities compared to 2021.
The MGCB annually provides details on the payments made by tribes to local units of state government, which are determined by the slot revenue generated from their Class III machines.
The mentioned figure accounts for approximately 2% of the total net win achieved by the casino throughout the year. This is the only available information regarding the annual revenue generated by tribal casinos in Michigan.
Out of the 26 casinos in the state, tribal casinos comprise 23 of them. Both the retail casinos in Detroit and the online casinos in Michigan, which also involve tribal partners, are obligated to furnish monthly revenue reports.
In 2024, there was a minor decline in the performance of Detroit’s casinos.
Michigan tribal casino payments down 2% from 2021
According to a statement from the MGCB provided for Playinmichigan, the 2% payment calculation provides an approximate annual estimate of tribal casino slot revenue. However, it is important to note that several factors can influence these payments and the net win totals, and these factors may vary among different tribes.
For instance, the tribes have varying methods of incorporating free play bets into their reported net profits for the year. Additionally, numerous tribes operate Class II machines in their casinos, but the revenue generated from these machines is not accounted for in the annual tribal report.
Michigan tribes made payments totaling $30.8 million to local government units in 2024, showing a marginal decrease compared to the $31.5 million recorded in 2021.
Below is a comparison of the annual performance of all 12 tribes that run casinos.
| Tribe | 2021 payment | 2024 payment | Change 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Mills | $340,688 | $329,502 | -3.3% |
| Grand Traverse Band | $1,383794 | $1,344,666 | -2.8% |
| Gun Lake | $4,243,082 | $4,272,440 | +0.7% |
| Hannahville | $1,122,372 | $1,192,758 | +6.3% |
| Keweenaw Bay | $754,687 | $725,721 | -3.8% |
| Lac Vieux Desert Band | $291,596 | $273,875 | -6.1% |
| Little River Band | $1,463,331 | $1,498,279 | +2.4% |
| Little Traverse Bay Bands | $1,150,137 | $1,112,296 | -3.3% |
| Nottawaseppi Huron Band | $6,397,613 | $6,196,103 | -3.2% |
| Pokagon Band | $6,120,250 | $5,578,183 | -8.9% |
| Saginaw Chippewa | $7,023,782 | $6,916,589 | -1.5% |
| Sault Ste. Marie | $1,214,061 | $1,364,104 | +12.4% |
| Totals | $31,505,393 | $30,804,516 | -2.2% |
Eight Michigan tribal casino operators saw payments decline
Out of the 12 tribal gaming operators in the state, eight experienced a decrease in their 2% payments compared to 2021.
Out of the eight, the four that experienced the most significant declines were:
- The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians witnessed the most significant decline among the 12 tribes, with a collective 8.9% decrease in the operations of their Four Winds Casinos located in Dowagiac, Hartford, and New Buffalo.
- The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, who manage the Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet, experienced a decline of 6.1% in their operations compared to the previous year. Furthermore, their collective payment total, amounting to $273,875, was the lowest among the twelve tribes.
- The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, which manages the Ojibwa Casinos in Baraga and Marquette, experienced a decline of 3.8%.
- The Little Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa Indians, who own the Odawa Casinos in Mackinaw City and Petoskey, experienced a combined decrease of 3.3% in revenue compared to the previous year, 2021.
Four Michigan tribal casino operators increase payments
According to the report, four tribal gaming operators in Michigan experienced an increase from 2021.
- The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, who own Kewadin Casinos located in Christmas, Hessel, Manistique, St. Ignace, and Sault Ste. Marie, defied the prevailing statewide pattern. They achieved an impressive 12.4% growth in comparison to the other tribes across the state, placing them as a notable exception. Moreover, in contrast to other casinos in the Upper Peninsula that experienced significant declines in 2024, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe’s casinos remained resilient.
- In 2024, the Hannahville Indian Community, which operates Island Resort & Casino, experienced a remarkable growth of 6.3%.
- The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, who operate the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, have announced a payment increase of 2.4% for the year 2024.
- Gun Lake Casino, owned by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band Of Pottawatomi Indians, experienced a modest rise in revenue. The tribe reported a 0.7% increase compared to the previous year. Among the four tribes that observed growth, Gun Lake Casino made the most substantial payment, amounting to nearly $4.3 million.
