Detroit Casinos Take $25M In Sports Bets Despite November’s Closure
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Despite the closure of three casinos in Detroit since November 18, over $25 million was still wagered on sports betting in the city during that month.
In comparison to the record-breaking October, where over $46 million was wagered in the city, the current number has decreased. Michigan sports betting has witnessed three consecutive months of setting new records, with October being the most recent. Since its launch in March, the total bets placed have surpassed $100 million.
The latest orders from the health department require Greektown Casino, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino to remain closed until at least December 20.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board anticipates the imminent launch of online gambling, including mobile sports betting, offering potential relief in the near future. Stay updated with our live feeds for the latest developments.
Michigan sports betting missed holiday haul
In November, the casinos’ sports betting activities amassed over $2.3 million in adjusted gross receipts, resulting in an impressive $88,000 in state taxes and nearly $108,000 in city taxes for Detroit.
In November, MGM dominated the sports betting market with a handle of $10.5 million, capturing a significant market share of 42.0%. Following closely behind was MotorCity with a handle of $8.3 million, accounting for 33.2% of the market. Greektown secured a share of 24.8% with sports bets totaling $6.2 million.
| Licensee | Handle | Revenue | State Tax | Local Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGM Grand | $10,533,411 | $561,372 | $21,220 | $25,935 |
| MotorCity | $8,327,169 | $1,130,956 | $42,750 | $52,250 |
| Greektown | $6,219,561 | $645,310 | $24,393 | $29,813 |
| Grand Traverse | ? | ? | $0 | $0 |
| Hannahville | ? | ? | $0 | $0 |
| Little River | ? | ? | $0 | $0 |
| Little Traverse Bay | ? | ? | $0 | $0 |
| Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish | ? | ? | $0 | $0 |
| Nottawaseppi Huron | ? | ? | $0 | $0 |
| Pokagon | ? | ? | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $25,080,140 | $2,337,638 | $88,363 | $107,999 |
Greektown showed strong performance in November, surpassing its overall market share of 20.6% for the year. Despite this, MGM remains in the lead with 44.8%, while MotorCity has declined to 34.6%. However, Greektown was making progress before the shutdown occurred.
The permanent Barstool Sportsbook at Greektown, scheduled to open in November, will have to be postponed.
In November, the casinos accumulated over $1.4 million in sports bets every day for a total of 17 gaming days. If this trend had continued, the overall November figures would have matched October’s outstanding outcome.
Since its launch on March 11, sports betting in Detroit has attracted a staggering $121 million in wagers this year. The casinos’ retail sportsbooks have generated a significant revenue of approximately $16.4 million, contributing over $619,000 in taxes to the state and more than $757,000 to the city of Detroit.
| Casino | Handle | Revenue | State tax (3.78%) | City of Detroit tax (4.62%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | $166,447,691.29. | $22,339,974.96 | $844,451.05 | $1,032,106.84 |
| MGM Grand Detroit | $68,722,968.50 | $9,029,186.40 | $341,303.25 | $417,148.42 |
| MotorCity Casino | $61,496,308.00 | $7,596,247.30 | $287,138.15 | $350,946.62 |
| Greektown Casino-Hotel | $36,228,414.79 | $5,714,541.26 | $216,009.66 | $264,011.81 |
Not being open in late November resulted in the unfortunate absence of the Thanksgiving and Black Friday rush. Additionally, it meant missing out on bets placed on the Detroit Lions’ traditional Thanksgiving game, which is one of the few occasions when the underperforming team gets national attention.
More sports betting options available, on the way
Despite the Detroit shutdown, numerous tribal casinos, including FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, continue to operate their sportsbooks without public reporting obligations or state tax requirements.
In total, the Detroit casinos generated $50.4 million in revenue for the month of November. When comparing the revenue from table games and slots for the period of January through November 2020 to the same period in 2019, there was a significant decline of 54.9%.
In November, MGM emerged as the market leader, generating $20.5 million in gaming revenue. MotorCity followed closely behind with $17.5 million, while Greektown secured $10.1 million.
Fantasy sports contest operators announced their total adjusted revenues for October, reaching $2.2 million and paying $183,236 in taxes. This milestone exceeds the $1 million mark in taxes paid for the year, marking the first time since the enactment of expanded gambling laws in December 2019.
Once again, DraftKings dominated its competitor FanDuel by generating $1.3 million in adjusted revenue, surpassing FanDuel’s $825,502.82.
