Michigan Online Casinos Reach New Revenue High Of $97.2 Million In August With Live Dealer Boost

Written By Matt Schoch on September 16, 2021Last Updated on September 17, 2021
Michigan Online Casino Revenue August 2021

Another month down, and another nearly nine-figure month recorded for Michigan online casino revenue.

But this time, August set a Michigan monthly record.

Although sports betting lagged somewhat again, the Michigan internet gaming sector stayed strong in August. Revenue ticked up 5.3% to $97.2 million for online casinos and online poker, a record monthly haul in Michigan. Internet gaming raised $17.9 million in state taxes, $4.9 million in taxes for Detroit and just shy of $2.0 million in payments to tribal governments.

From the Jan. 22 launch through August, $672.6 million of Michigan internet gaming revenue has now been raised. That’s resulted in $120.1 million in tax revenue for the state, $33.3 million for Detroit and $13.2 million for tribal operators.

Live dealer games helped power record August numbers

August was the first full month for live dealer casino games in Michigan, which helped boost the revenue totals released Thursday by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

Live dealer blackjack, roulette and baccarat launched July 22. The games are powered by global supplier Evolution in a Southfield studio and available at 10 Michigan online casinos.

Meanwhile, August sports betting numbers in Michigan trudged along through the summer sports slowdown. Sports betting actually slightly ticked up in August. It’s expected to pick up more steam in September with football season in full force.

August’s tally broke the previous record of $95.1 million of revenue, set in March. The revenue numbers have remained remarkably steady since then, with a low of $89.2 million in June.

BetMGM Casino dominates internet gaming operators again

BetMGM Casino led the brand to another dominant month in the sector, raising $39.7 million of revenue for a 40.9% market share. Another contribution to the company’s dominant position comes from BetMGM Poker.

The state’s leading sports betting operators have tangled for second place each month in internet gaming. In August, FanDuel Casino topped DraftKings Casino for second, earning $14.2 million (14.6% share) of revenue to $12.6 million (13.0%) for DraftKings.

BetRivers Casino was fourth with $7.1 million in revenue (7.4% market share), and Golden Nugget Casino was fifth at $5.3 million revenue (5.5%).

Licensee Brand Revenue (GGR) Promos State Tax Local Tax
MGM Grand Detroit BetMGM $39,721,259 $3,972,126 $7,006,830 $3,449,791
MotorCity FanDuel $14,228,090 $1,422,809 $2,509,835 $1,235,710
Bay Mills DraftKings $12,612,487 $1,261,249 $2,542,677 $635,669
Little River BetRivers $7,144,595 $714,460 $1,440,350 $360,088
Keweenaw Bay Golden Nugget $5,310,216 $531,022 $1,070,540 $267,635
Sault Ste. Marie WynnBet $5,028,203 $502,820 $1,013,686 $253,421
Little Traverse Bay Fox Bet $3,061,986 $306,199 $617,296 $154,324
Greektown Barstool $2,543,964 $254,396 $448,755 $220,943
Pokagon Four Winds $2,485,573 $248,557 $446,896 $111,724
Hannahville TwinSpires $1,341,449 $134,145 $231,802 $57,951
Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Play Gun Lake $1,330,893 $133,089 $191,649 $47,912
Nottawaseppi Huron FireKeepers $1,058,550 $105,855 $152,431 $38,108
Grand Traverse Caesars $822,344 $0 $131,575 $32,894
Lac Vieux Desert PointsBet $508,009 $31,429 $76,253 $19,063
Total $97,197,617 $9,618,155 $17,880,575 $6,885,233

After an early August rebrand, Caesars Casino made a big jump in revenue, earning $822,344 in August, a 177% jump from July. However, there’s still work to be done. That August revenue represented just a 0.8% market share.

Gun Lake Casino passed the seven-figure monthly revenue mark for the first time in August, reporting $1.3 million. The casino launched its online product in April.

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Matt Schoch

A Michigan native, Matt has worked at newspapers in Michigan, Missouri and the Virgin Islands. A versatile sports reporter, Matt has covered sailing on the Great Lakes, cricket in the Caribbean, high school and pro playoffs, and the Olympics in Rio. He’s also the former host of the Locked On Pistons Podcast and producer of a documentary on Emoni Bates. A former blackjack dealer, Matt has studied the industry from all sides.

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