AGA Report: Michigan Casinos Have $6 Billion Annual Impact
@jdtomlin68
The 27 casinos in Michigan — Detroit’s three commercial facilities and 24 tribal casinos around the state — have an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion and help raise more than $1.3 billion a year in state and local taxes, according to a report issued by the American Gaming Association.
Detroit’s casinos are scheduled to reopen this week after having been closed since the middle of March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
RELATED: All About Michigan’s Online Casinos
The AGA research indicated that Michigan’s casinos have created 37,911 jobs, supporting about $2.1 billion in annual wages.
Revenue at Detroit’s casinos is off 40% from the record pace set in 2019, a major blow to the area’s economy.
Detroit’s three casinos alone — Greektown, MGM and MotorCity — have generated more than $2 billion in tax revenue in the 20 years since they have all been in operation.
Those three casinos are permitted to start opening again this week but will be limited to 15% capacity, per orders of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Action in Michigan Sports Betting, iGaming
This has been a busy time for Michigan online gambling and sports betting even with physical casinos shut down. The state approved online sports betting and iGaming late last year and Detroit’s casinos took their first retail sports bets in March, only to bet shut down — along with all of the sports leagues — a few days later.
Many of Michigan’s 24 tribal casinos, which are not under state jurisdiction, began reopening weeks ago and restarted gambling action. For instance, sportsbooks at the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee and the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo took their first legal sports bets in July while Detroit’s casinos were still shut down.
Also, BetAmerica struck a deal to offer Michigan iGaming and online sports betting through a partnership with the Hannahville Indian Community and a retail sportsbook at the Island Resort & Casino in Harris. And DraftKings struck up a partnership to offer retail and online sports betting via Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley.
Contributors
Jim Tomlin has more than 30 years of experience in sports journalism as an editor and writer. He has covered pro and college sports from football, baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, motorsports and more for publications such as the Tampa Bay Times, SaturdayDownSouth.com, SaturdayTradition.com and FanRag Sports. He now lends his expertise to TopUSCasinos.com, among other duties.
