Casinos Are Back In Detroit As Greektown, MotorCity Reopen

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Wednesday couldn’t come soon enough for at least one local resident in Detroit, who had endured 139 days without the opportunity for legal gambling in the city.

The first person from Michigan to queue up for the 10 a.m. opening of MotorCity Casino arrived at 5 a.m. By the time the two city casinos opened on Wednesday, several dozens of people were already standing in line.

Despite Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s order to maintain a maximum capacity of 15%, two of Detroit’s casinos reopened on Wednesday to steady crowds after being closed for almost five months.

Greektown Casino-Hotel and MotorCity, which have been closed since March 16, have now reopened their doors to customers. Additionally, MGM Grand Detroit is set to reopen at 10 a.m. on Friday.

Different feel to Detroit casinos in COVID-19 era

For months, the marquee on Greektown has been proudly illuminating #DETROITSTRONG in the vibrant sky of the Motor City.

For the occasion, on Wednesday the message was modified to read, “WELCOME BACK WE ARE OPEN!”

On Wednesday, the most prominent changes observed at the venues were the implementation of a strict no-smoking policy, the widespread presence of plexiglass, and the mandatory requirement of wearing masks.

This summer, the casinos have been granted approval by the governor to operate according to the guidelines set forth by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

On Wednesday afternoon, table games at Greektown were not yet available. However, all the tables had been equipped with plexiglass partitions to ensure the safety of the dealer and a maximum of three customers per table, preventing any direct contact between them. The opening of table games was planned for later in the day on Wednesday.

Social distancing measures have been implemented at the casinos for slot machine play. At MotorCity, banks of three slots now have only the middle one open. Similarly, at Greektown, banks of five machines now operate with only two of them working.

15% capacities not yet reached on opening day

Early on Wednesday afternoon, MotorCity Casino was rapidly approaching its temporary limit of 1,600 customers; however, a continuous stream of customers could still be seen waiting in line outside.

Before, there was a queue of customers on Temple Street eagerly awaiting the reopening.

These days, there is only a single entrance and exit at Greektown.

On Wednesday, the entrances located at street level on Monroe and Lafayette streets were shut down. Customers were queued up at three different checkpoints, with two being positioned before and after the third-floor skywalk over Monroe.

Temporarily, the poker rooms in all of Detroit’s casinos will remain closed. The valet service has also been temporarily suspended. Furthermore, none of the casinos have yet opened their hotels.

Last week, a spokesperson stated that MGM will be able to accommodate approximately 1,800 patrons considering the new capacity restrictions.

According to the Detroit Free Press, MGM is said to have been open for VIP guests on Wednesday and will continue to be open on Thursday.

Greektown Sportsbook is back; others coming soon

On March 11, just five days prior to the coronavirus shutdown, sports betting commenced in Detroit.

After reopening on Wednesday, Greektown introduced its sportsbook, where approximately 10 individuals began placing bets in the Kambi system just 15 minutes later.

The Penn National Gaming casino continues to operate from its temporary location, specifically the former poker room.

Despite the hiatus, the construction of the new facility commenced. The future sportsbook, to be known as the Barstool Sportsbook, is now enclosed with permanent walls and will be positioned at the heart of the casino floor.

Playinmichigan’s attempts to reach out to a Greektown spokesperson regarding the anticipated launch date for the new sportsbook went unanswered.

At 11 a.m. on Friday, MotorCity is set to reopen its FanDuel Sportsbook. However, for the time being, the food court will only offer two dining options, namely Little Caesars Pizza and Pit Stop Deli.

On Friday, as part of its reopening, MGM Grand Detroit will resume operations at its BetMGM Sportsbook. However, the lounge area will remain unavailable. Additionally, National Coney Island, TAP sports bar, and Axis Lounge will also open their doors on the same day.

State, city have lost loads of revenue

Millions have been lost by corporate owners and local governmental units during the Detroit shutdown.

The American Gaming Association has recently published a revised report on the gambling industry in Michigan.

The group approximated that there are a total of 26 casinos across the entire state.

• The state experiences an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion.
• Generate $1.3 billion annually through state and local taxes.
• I support the creation of nearly 38,000 job opportunities, which would amount to $2.1 billion in wages.

The shutdown was estimated to have cost state and local governments a total of $114.1 million in revenue. This figure comprises $46.2 million allocated for K-12 education and $67.8 million designated for Detroit youth development programs, economic development projects, and various local improvement initiatives.

All but one Michigan tribal casino already opened

After closing in March, all except one of the state’s 23 tribal casinos have already reopened this summer in different locations.

This week, a series of Upper Peninsula casinos garnered attention for their proactive measures in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Kewadin Casinos recently revealed an expanded collaboration with Agilysys, Inc., introducing contactless food and beverage ordering services across its five UP casinos.

IG OnDemand, the new service, builds upon the already established connection between the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians casino group and the vendor.

The sole remaining unopened tribal casino is Kings Club Casino located in Brimley. Nevertheless, the Bay Mills Indian Community has successfully inaugurated its sister establishment, Bay Mills Resort & Casino, situated merely two miles away.

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