Michigan Internet Gaming, Sports Betting Operators Report $209.2 Million in November Revenue

As reported by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (“MGCB”), Michigan commercial and tribal internet gaming (“iGaming”) and sports betting operators reported a combined $209.2 million total gross receipts in November. November receipts increased 1.9% when compared to last month’s results.

November iGaming gross receipts were $175.3 million, the highest to date. Gross sports betting receipts totaled $33.9 million. In October 2023, iGaming gross receipts were $160.3 million and gross sports betting receipts were $45 million.

The combined total adjusted gross receipts of $158.1 million were reported for November, including $157.8 million from iGaming and $294,810 for internet sports betting – representing an iGaming increase of 9.4% and a 98.7% decrease for sports betting when compared to October 2023. When compared to November 2022, iGaming was up 20.5% and sports betting decreased by 98.9%.

The total internet sports betting handle was $568.8 million, an increase of 6.7% from the $533 million result in October 2023. This is the highest internet sports betting handle to date.

The operators delivered $33.6 million in taxes and payments to the State of Michigan during November, with iGaming taxes and fees contributing $32.9 million and internet sports betting taxes and fees contributing $740,056.

The three Detroit Casinos – MotorCity Casino, MGM Grand Detroit, and Greektown Casino – reported city wagering taxes and municipal service fees of $8.4 million, with iGaming taxes and fees contributing $8.2 million and internet sports betting taxes and fees contributing $180,872 for the month of November.

Tribal operators reported making total payments of $4.1 million of wagering payments to the tribes’ governing bodies, according to the MGCB.

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

During November, a total of 14 commercial and tribal operators offered internet sports betting, and 15 commercial and tribal operators offered iGaming. Details for each operator’s internet gaming and internet sports betting results are available on the MGCB website.

Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments To Boards and Commissions

On January 4, 2024, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer released an announcement of the appointments to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). These appointments are subject to the consent of the Senate.

Joni Thrower Davis, the owner and operator of a number of McDonald’s restaurants and the manager for Jamjomar, Inc., and Andrew Palms, the executive director if ITS Infrastructure at the University of Michigan, are being reappointed to represent the Democrats for terms commencing January 4, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2027.

The MGCB works to protect the interests of Michigan citizens by upholding standards for fair and honest gaming conduct through licensing and regulation of online gaming and sports betting operators and suppliers, pari-mutuel horse racing, and casino-style charitable gaming, in addition to auditing the compliance of the tribal gaming compact agreement.

MGCB Public Meeting Scheduled for Tuesday, January 9

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (“MGCB”) will hold a regular public meeting on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at the MGCB’s Cadillac Place Office, 3062 W. Grand Boulevard, Suite L-700, Detroit, 48202-6062. The meeting will begin at 9:30 AM and will also be accessible via Zoom.

The meeting is open to the public, and comments from the public are welcome and encouraged during the public comment portion of the meeting. The MGCB asks you to submit this form to MGCBweb@michigan.gov by 9:30 am Tuesday, January 9, to notify that you plan to address the Board during public comment. Please include your telephone number on the form. You also may use the Q&A in the Zoom meeting to indicate that you wish to speak during public comment. Please provide your name and telephone number, and you will receive a call placing you in the queue.

The meeting will also be accessible to the public via Zoom at this link.

GGB Magazine Announces Its 25 People to Watch For 2024

On December 20th, 2023, Global Gaming Business Magazine (GGB) announced its 22nd edition of its annual feature, 2024’s 25 People to Watch List (PTW). GGB Publisher Roger Gros said on this year’s members of the 2024 Class, “They have already made an impact in the gaming world, and our focus on them in this annual feature shows the industry just how important these individuals are.” Furthermore, “Many of the people honored by their inclusion in the 2024 list are prime participants in that merger (of the land-based and iGaming worlds). Their vision will shape gaming for many years to come.”

The GGB Editorial Advisory Board is a collection of some of knowledgeable and connected pillars of the gaming industry, and they are who make the selections the the PTW. Nominees represent a diverse range of niches within the industry. Once an individual is named a member of the PTW, they cannot be considered again.

The 2024 25 PTW Class is:

Noah Acres, Principal, Acres Manufacturing
Maureen Adams, Executive Vice President Gaming Operations, Churchill Downs Inc.
Kelcey Allison, Global COO, Aruze
Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director, UNLV IGI
Brian Blake, Vice President, Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, IGT
Julia Boguslawski, Chief Marketing Officer, AGS
Mike Brennan, Chief Product Officer, Bluberi
Dona Cassese, Vice President of Marketing, Everi
Robbie Cooke, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Star Entertainment
Ed Evans, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Cordish Gaming Group
Shawn Fluharty, President, National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS)
Katie Gehrke, Marketing and Communications Manager, JCM Global
Jeannie Hovland, Vice Chair, NIGC
Christopher Justice, President & CEO, Pavilion Payments
Danielle Kristensen, Vice President of Technology, Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures / Grand Casinos
Kim Barker Lee, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Bally’s Corporation
Kara Matthew, COO, BMM Innovation Group
Eileen O’Brien, Member, Massachusetts Gaming Commission
Tom O’Brien, President, Americas and EMEA, Aristocrat Technologies
Niklas Rytterstrom, President, Borgata Hotel Casino
Greg Sarris, Tribal Chairman, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
James Silva, Vice Chairman. Morongo Band of Mission Indians; Chairman, California Nations Indian Gaming Association
Jeffrey Soffer, CEO and Chairman, Fontainebleau Development
Max Tappeiner, Executive Vice President, Operations, Wynn Resorts
Mor Weizer, CEO, Playtech PLC