Detroit Casinos Took $34.2 Million In October Sports Bets, The Most Since Online Launch
Detroit’s trio of casinos took $34.2 million of sports wagers in October, the highest total for any full month since Michigan online sports betting has been live.
That sports betting handle in Detroit is the most since January of this year and the third-highest month ever since the March 2020 launch, according to numbers released Wednesday by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
The total was boosted by five weekends of football in the month, which also was the first full month of NFL regular-season action.
Although the Detroit Lions are not generating much excitement around town with a winless 0-8 record through their bye week, the state’s marquee college programs certainly are providing betting fodder.
In fact, October’s final weekend featured a top-10 showdown between rivals Michigan and Michigan State. After the Oct. 30 Spartans’ win, BetMGM Sportsbook said national online customers wagered on it more than any other college football game this season.
| Licensee | Retail Handle | Revenue (GGR) | Promos | State Tax | Local Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGM Grand | $12,512,167 | $1,381,437 | -$3,593 | $52,354 | $63,822 |
| Greektown | $11,449,445 | $588,847 | $1,030 | $22,258 | $27,205 |
| MotorCity | $10,259,726 | $672,039 | $0 | $25,364 | $31,048 |
| Total | $34,221,338 | $2,642,322 | -$2,563 | $99,977 | $122,194 |
Notably, the Detroit retail sportsbook betting public did pretty well, as the casino hold was just 7.7%, bringing the 2021 total down to 8.5%.
These numbers don’t include the wagers taken at Michigan tribal casinos across the state, many of which now also feature retail sportsbooks.
MGM Grand leads Detroit casinos in tight October sports betting handle race
As for the Detroit sportsbook rivalry, BetMGM Sportsbook at MGM Grand took the October handle, attracting $12.5 million in bets, good for a 36.6% share. Barstool Sportsbook at Greektown Casino followed with $11.4 million in bets, a 33.5% share, with FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino in third with $10.3 million in sports betting handle (30.0% share).
As MGM Grand and Greektown took a bit of a hit from the September betting haul, MotorCity had a jump of $2.9 million from the previous month.
The monthly record for Detroit casino sportsbook handle is still the $46.1 million taken in October of 2020. January 2021, which also featured the launch of online sports betting in Detroit, had $35.7 million wagered at Detroit casinos.
October haul takes Detroit city 2021 tax haul over $1.0 million
The Michigan sports betting revenue haul led to a combined $99,978 in taxes paid to the state and $122,194 in taxes and payments paid to the city of Detroit.
The 2021 tax haul for the state of Michigan is now up to $820,426 just from retail sports betting in Detroit. The city of Detroit has taken in more than $1.0 million of tax revenue.
Detroit casinos, fantasy sports operators report monthly numbers
Detroit casinos generated $111.5 million in revenue from slots and table games, 47% of which was made by MGM Grand. MotorCity was second at 33%, and Greektown brought in 20% of that revenue.
Daily fantasy sports operators also reported their September numbers, as their reporting remains one month behind that of the casinos.
Operators reported $1.6 million of adjusted revenue and paid $132,030 in state taxes for the month.
As it has every month since reporting began at the beginning of 2020, DraftKings led the market there with $943,337 of revenue, a 60.0% market share.
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