Detroit Casino Revenue Up in February but Still Lags Behind 2023 Results

Following January's revenue figures reminiscent of pandemic-era lows, Detroit's trio of retail casinos are likely breathing a collective sigh of relief after experiencing a rebound in gambling revenue figures for February.

As reported by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, the combined revenue from slots, table games and poker amounted to $104.8 million, indicating a return to the levels observed at the outset of 2023.

While this reflects a slight decrease of 0.2% compared to February 2023 (€105 million), it marks a notable 11.6% surge from January's disappointing total of $93.9 million. However, retail sports betting at the casinos declined in February, with just $13.2 million in handle — a substantial 45.4% drop from January's $24.2 million.

Nonetheless, this figure represents an 8.2% increase from February 2023 ($12.2 million). Despite the uptick in handle, Detroit sportsbooks collectively incurred a loss of $120,142 for the month.

Casino Revenue Breakdown

• MGM Grand Detroit: Revenue rose to $49.3 million from $44.6 million.

• MotorCity Casino: Increased to $31.6 million from $27.1 million.

• Hollywood Casino at Greektown: Bumped up to $23.8 million from $22.2 million.

This upward trend across all three establishments suggests a positive turn for Detroit's gambling industry in February.

Tax Revenue and Spending Patterns

• The surge resulted in $8.5 million in state wagering tax revenue.

• $12.5 million was generated in Detroit wagering tax revenue.

• Spending patterns normalized after the holiday season slowdown in January.

Despite February's improvement, Detroit's casinos still face challenges in closing the revenue gap compared to early 2023. January's setback created a significant hurdle that will prove difficult to overcome.

Comparative Performance (Average Revenue Through February)

• 2024 — $99,332,243

• 2023 — $104,182,420

• 2022 — $97,281,588

• 2021 — $86,621,015 (pandemic limits in place)

Before the labor strike, the casinos appeared poised to surpass 2022's annual revenue, suggesting that 2024 could have outperformed both previous years. Historically, March delivers the highest totals, with March 2023 reaching $117.8 million and March 2022 hitting $120.9 million.

During the NFL season, Michigan saw a spike in sports betting — fueled in part by the Detroit Lions' performance. However, with the conclusion of the playoffs and the Super Bowl, betting dynamics shifted.

While overall handle stayed consistent year-over-year:

• MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino reported sportsbook losses.

• Hollywood Casino at Greektown achieved modest gains.

The closure of NFL futures markets post-Super Bowl contributed to these declines. As March Madness approaches, Detroit's sportsbooks are hoping for renewed betting activity to replicate last March’s strong wagering figures and sustain the city's upward momentum.