Detroit Casinos Report $94.7 Million February Aggregate Revenue

According to the February 2022 revenues released by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), the three Detroit casinos reported $94.7 million in monthly aggregate revenue in February. Table games and slots generated $95.6 million in revenue, and retail sports betting results showed a $872,552 loss.

The February market shares were:

MGM: 49 percent
MotorCity: 30 percent
Greektown: 21 percent

February’s monthly revenue for table games and slots was 10.6% higher compared to February 2021 results. Monthly revenue was down 3.4% when compared to January 2022 results. Table and game slot revenue rose 12.3% when January and February were combined and compared to the same two-moth period last year.

When compared with February 2021, monthly gaming revenue results were:

MGM: up 34.4 percent to $46.3 million
MotorCity: down 7.3 percent to $28.9 million
Greektown: down 2.1 percent to $20.4 million

The three Detroit casinos paid $7.7 million in gaming taxes to the State of Michigan, compared to $7 million for the same period last year. The casinos also reported submitting $11.4 million in wagering taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit in February.

Retail sports betting qualified adjusted gross receipts (QAGR) dropped to $794,925 during February. Monthly QAGR was down $2.8 million compared with January.

February QAGR by casino was:

MGM: -$175,082
MotorCity: -$400,347
Greektown: -$297,123

Total handle was $25,373,474. Total gross receipts reported by the three Detroit casinos were -$869,939. Because of the negative results, neither the State of Michigan nor the City of Detroit collected Taxes from retail sports betting during February.

Year to date thru February 28, aggregate retail sports betting QAGR results were:

MGM: $306,703
MotorCity: $121,146
Greektown: $632,672

Fantasy contest operators reported total adjusted revenues of 1.7 million and paid taxes of $143,984 for January.

MGCB Assists with Raid on Alleged Storefront Casinos in Lansing

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) assisted the Michigan Department of Attorney General and Lansing Police Department (LPD) with two raids at alleged storefront casinos in Lansing, according to this MGCB press release. Two independent search warrants were issued and executed in Lansing, the first one on February 28, at Bourbon Street in the Logan Square Shopping Center, 3222 South Martin Luther King Blvd., and the second on March 4 at 777 Games of Skill, 5031 South Cedar Street. In total, 82 machines were removed along with $91,532 in suspected gambling proceeds as part of these two investigations.

“The MGCB is committed to helping communities statewide remove illegal gambling machines, and we are happy to support the Lansing Police Department in this investigation,” said Henry Williams, executive director, MGCB.

The LPD reached out to MGCB seeking assistance in investigating alleged illegal gambling operation in October 2021. Police officials said several types of gambling machines were available for patrons to play at the Logan Square and South Cedar Street locations.

“Unregulated, illegal gambling operations in Lansing invite crime into our neighborhoods and business corridors. We are doing all we can to identify these illegal establishments and shut them down permanently. I am thankful for the efforts of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, the Attorney General, and other state agencies in working with the Lansing Police Department to shut down these illegal operations and keep our residents safe,” said Lansing Mayor Andy Schor.

“Partnerships in law enforcement are a large part of successful crime fighting. This investigation shows how the efforts of Lansing Police working with MGCB and the Attorney General bring success to a complex investigation,” said Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee.

The MGCB has a 24-hour anonymous tip line, 888-314-2682 and Michigan citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious or illegal gambling. The MCGB publishes a fact sheet about Michigan Gambling law as well as a fact sheet on unregulated machines used for illegal gambling.

Michigan Gaming Control Board Launches New Website

A new website has been launched by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (“MGCB”) as part of a multi-year statewide project to modernize websites for all state of Michigan executive branch departments.

According to a bulletin released by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), although the site will look different, the services and content being offered have not changed. As a result of the transition, the URL locations of certain items may change.

According to the MGCB, some of the benefits of the new website include:

Replacing a 20-year-old content management system
Leveraging an updated design that is unified across all state websites
Utilizing standard navigation structures and improved site and content accessibility
Providing responsive mobile friendly pages and content
Expanding social media integration
Streamlining content structure based on key services

The MGCB has indicated that it will accept any input, suggestions or questions by email directed to MGCBweb@michigan.gov.

Northville Downs To Begin Live Horse Racing on March 12

Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) issued a press release in which they authorized live Standardbred horse racing to begin at Northville Downs on Saturday, March 12.

There are a total of 61 race dates currently scheduled in two sessions: March 12 through June 25 and September 9 through December 17. Due to the lack of race entrants, the MGCB ordered a one-day delay in the season’s start at the request of Northville Downs management and the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association. Simulcasting will still be offered on March 11.

Under an order issued by MGCB, the track will host at least 8 live horse races per race date and not more than 16 live horse races per day. The track management may request the MGCB to approve another live racing date later in the season to make up for this weekend’s cancelled date of March 11.

“We wish for a successful year for Northville Downs and the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association and for many hours of fun for the fans who enjoy live horse racing,” said Henry Williams, Michigan Gaming Control Board executive director.

Detroit Area Reporter Robert Ankeny Passes Away

Robert Ankeny, a long-time Detroit News and Crain’s Detroit Business reporter who was actively involved in the paper’s coverage of the introduction of casino gambling passed away this week at the age of 86. Mr. Ankeny was always very thorough and fair in his approach to news stories, making sure that the factual information he was reporting was true and verified. Michigan Gaming’s own David Waddell, who wrote a casino gaming industry business focused column for the Detroit News from 1999 through 2008, made the following observation: “Bob was always tremendously focused on the quality of the journalistic product that he was involved with. With respect to my column, he made sure that it was used to convey important gaming industry information to the casino business community. He was very kind and patient, and from what I observed he acted as a very good mentor to many reporters. His influence in setting a high bar for journalists had a tremendous impact.”

According to a detailed article in Deadline Detroit, Mr. Ankeny is slated to be inducted in the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame on April 24th. The Hall of Fame recognizes that he “made major, sustained contributions in print, broadcast and online media to news, sports, business, automotive and cultural journalism”, and described Mr. Ankeny as a “dogged reporter on Jimmy Hoffa, Orville Hubbard and Kwame Kilpatrick”.

Registration Now Open for Annual National Conference on Gambling Addiction and Responsible Gaming

Registration is now open for the 36th Annual National Conference on Gambling Addiction and Responsible Gaming (“Conference”). The Conference includes a Digital Symposium on June 8-9, the Main Conference on July 21-22, and Workshops on July 20th and 23rd.

The theme of the Conference is “Better Together: Advocacy, Awareness & Assistance” which corresponds to the three pillars of NCPG’s mission. In announcing the Conference the National Center for Problem Gambling stated the following:

“Now in its 36th year, our conference is the oldest and largest annual national conference that brings together people from all facets of healthcare, research, government and the many segments of the gambling industry. With top-notch national and international experts as speakers, as well as those who work on local and state levels, the conference is a unique resource for everyone who works in these fields, as well as those in recovery and concerned others. The conference provides both detailed in-depth knowledge and cross-training opportunities.

Now more than ever, it is critical that we all work together to learn about new methods for prevention, treatment and responsible gambling as well as basics and continuing developments in the field.”

More information on the conference, together with links to register, are available at the NCPG’s website .