MGCB Issues Cease-and-Desist Orders to Four Illegal Online Gambling Operators

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (“MGCB”) has issued cease-and-desist orders to four unlicensed gambling platforms—You Wager, Bet Pop Casino, Wager 7, and Discount Wager—for unlawfully targeting Michigan residents with online sports betting and casino games.

These offshore operators are in violation of multiple state laws, including the Lawful Internet Gaming Act and the Michigan Penal Code, and offer no consumer protection. The MGCB warns that such illegal operations expose players to financial risk and undermine the integrity of Michigan’s regulated gaming market.

“Illegal gambling operations prey on vulnerable consumers and undermine the integrity of the regulated gaming industry,” said Henry Williams, MGCB Executive Director. “Michigan residents deserve the protections that come with licensed, legal gaming. We will continue to take strong action against those who skirt the law.”

The companies have 14 days to halt operations or face further legal action. Residents are encouraged to report illegal gambling activity to the MGCB at 1-888-314-2682 or MIGamblingTip@michigan.gov.

Michigan iGaming, Sports Betting Operators Report $290.7 Million in April Revenue

As reported by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (“MGCB”), Michigan commercial and tribal internet gaming (“iGaming”) and sports betting operators reported a combined $290.7 million total gross receipts in April. April receipts decreased by .09% when compared to last month’s results.

April iGaming gross receipts were $248.1 million. Gross sports betting receipts totaled $42.6 million, up from $33.0 million recorded in the previous month.

The combined total adjusted gross receipts of $259.9 million were reported for April, including $233.1 million from iGaming and $26.8 million from internet sports betting – representing an iGaming increase of 33.9% and a decline of 3.6% for sports betting when compared to April 2024.

The total April internet sports betting handle was $417.6 million, a decrease of 12.1% from the $475.1 million result in March 2025.

The operators delivered $49.6 million in taxes and payments to the State of Michigan during April, with iGaming taxes and fees contributing $48.2 million and internet sports betting taxes and fees contributing $1.4 million.

The three Detroit Casinos – MotorCity Casino, MGM Grand Detroit, and Greektown Casino – reported city wagering taxes and municipal service fees of $13.1 million, with iGaming taxes and fees contributing $12.6 million and internet sports betting taxes and fees contributing $504,986 for the month of April.

Tribal operators reported making total payments of $5.6 million of wagering payments to the tribes’ governing bodies in April according to the MGCB.

An online gaming and sports betting revenue distribution table is available on the agency’s website.

As of April 2025, a total of 15 commercial and tribal operators have been authorized to launch iGaming and/or internet sports betting. Currently, 12 commercial and tribal operators offer internet sports betting, and 15 operators offer iGaming. Details for each operator’s internet gaming and internet sports betting results are available and published on the MGCB website.

Detroit Casinos Report $109.8 Million in April Revenue

According to the April revenues released by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (“MGCB”), the three Detroit casinos reported $109.8 million in monthly aggregate revenue in April. Table games and slots generated $109.5 million, and retail sports betting generated $316,538.

The April market shares were:

MGM, 47%
MotorCity, 30%
Hollywood Casino at Greektown, 23%

The three Detroit casinos paid $8.9 million in gaming taxes to the State of Michigan. The casinos also reported submitting $13.0 million in wagering taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit in April.

The three Detroit casinos reported $9.4 million in total sports betting handle and total gross receipts were $336,021 for the month of April.

April QAGR by property were:

MGM, negative ($219,857)
MotorCity, $223,859
Hollywood Casino at Greektown, $312,536

The three Detroit casinos submitted taxes on retail sports betting in the amounts of $20,276 to the State of Michigan, and $24,781 to the City of Detroit for April 2025, based on their retail sports betting revenue.

In addition to reporting revenue from the three Detroit casinos, the MGCB released revenue numbers from fantasy contest operators.

Fantasy contest operators reported total adjusted revenues of $634,191 million and paid taxes of $53,272 during March 2025.

Top revenue generators were:

DraftKings, $471,082.98
FanDuel, $101,062.28

2024 Commercial Gaming Revenue Reaches $71.9B, Marking Fourth-Straight Year of Record Revenue

According to the American Gaming Association (“AGA”) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker, U.S. commercial gaming revenue reached an all-time high in 2024 of $71.92 billion, a 7.5% increase over 2023’s previous record. This marks the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking revenue. The year concluded with a record-setting fourth quarter of $18.62 billion.

AGA President and CEO Bill Miller stated in the press release, “In 2024, Americans embraced the diverse legal gaming options available to them—whether in casinos, at sportsbooks, or online—leading to another record-setting year for our industry.” He also added, “As we build on this success, the AGA remains committed to fostering additional growth that benefits consumers, operators, and communities alike.”

In 2024, online gaming continued to expand, making up 30% of nationwide commercial gaming revenue with a record $21.54 billion. Key sector highlights include:

Traditional Gaming: $49.78 billion in brick-and-mortar casino slots and table games revenue, with 12 of 27 states setting new revenue records.
Sports Betting: $13.71 billion, a 25.4% rise, from 2023’s record of nationwide sports betting revenue. New Jersey and Illinois each surpassed $1 billion in annual revenue. Additionally, the fall sports season helped drive legal sportsbooks to their most profitable quarter yet for the sixth consecutive year, generating $3.66 billion—an increase of 7.3% over the previous record set in the fourth quarter of 2023.
iGaming: $8.41 billion, up 28.7%, in the seven states with full-scale legal iGaming. All six previously established states broke prior revenue records.

Among the top markets, Las Vegas Strip remained at the top, followed by New Jersey, Chicagoland, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. In 2024, Queens/Yonkers broke into the top five, surpassing the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The industry also made a significant fiscal impact, contributing $15.66 billion in gaming taxes to state and local governments—an 8.5% increase from 2023—alongside other forms of tax revenue such as income, sale, payroll, and various other corporate taxes.

“The sustained growth of legal gaming is a win for our industry and the consumers and communities we serve,” shared Miller. “Every dollar of gaming revenue fuels jobs, investment, and economic growth—reinforcing why the legal industry’s expansion is so important.”

2025 Four Winds Invitational Announced

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and Four Winds Casinos have officially announced that the 2025 Four Winds Invitational will take place at the South Bend Country Club from Friday, August 1 to Sunday, August 3. Offering a $225,000 purse to players, this year’s Four Winds Invitational will also donate its proceeds to support Beacon Children’s Hospital.

Matthew Wesaw, Tribal Council Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana, shared his excitement about the upcoming event: “The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and our Four Winds Casinos are very excited to announce the dates for the 14th edition of the Four Winds Invitational.” He added, “We are proud to once again partner with the LPGA’s Epson Tour to shine a spotlight on the City of South Bend, which resides within a small portion of our ancestral homeland. Over the last 13 years, we’ve donated nearly $1.1 million to Beacon Children’s Hospital using proceeds from the tournament, and we couldn’t be more proud that these funds have been used to acquire life-saving equipment to better serve patients and families in the South Bend community.”

Mary Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Four Winds Casinos, emphasized the significance of the event for the local area. “The Four Winds Invitational is one of the most important sporting events of the summer in South Bend, attracting top talent from around the world, as well as raising funds for Beacon Children’s Hospital,” she said. “We are pleased to continue our sponsorship of the tournament and partner with the award-winning South Bend Country Club to make the 2025 Four Winds Invitational our best tournament yet.”

Hosting duties will once again be managed by South Bend Country Club, which has served as the tournament venue on four previous occasions. “We are very honored to once again be selected by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and its Four Winds Casinos to host the 2025 Four Winds Invitational,” said Greg Helmkamp, Head Golf Professional of South Bend Country Club.

Clock’s Ticking: Nominate a Gaming Champion Today

The American Gaming Association is accepting nominations for the 36th Annual Gaming Hall of Fame, celebrating individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the gaming industry. For more than 30 years, this prestigious honor has recognized leaders who have shaped and elevated the industry.

The deadline to submit a nomination is this Friday, May 23 at 11:59 PM. Don’t miss this opportunity to spotlight a true champion of gaming.