Detroit Casinos Collect Nearly $102 Million in September Revenue

MGM Grand Detroit and two other Detroit casinos contribute to nearly $102 million in revenue for September 2024. (Image: Joseph Sibilsky)

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has released the September revenue figures for the three commercially licensed casinos operating in the state, all of which are based in Detroit. The gambling locations combined to collect almost $101.98 million in aggregate revenue (AGR) in September 2024, a slight increase of just under 0.4% from September 2023.

Biggest Casinos in Michigan Power Year-on-Year Increase

The change in overall AGR was slight because Hollywood Casino at Greektown saw the most significant changes to its revenues, which dropped by 7.8% year-on-year. However, the casino only accounted for 22% of the state’s total AGR in September 2024, down from 25% in September 2023.

Meanwhile, the most significant contributors to Detroit AGR, MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino Hotel, both posted increases in AGR, with MGM seeing the most considerable increase. The land-based casino collected 6.6% more in September 2024 than in September 2023, covering 47% of the total amount.

Meanwhile, AGR at MotorCity Casino Hotel barely increased, jumping just 0.5% year-on-year. However, that amount combined with MGM Grand Detroit was enough for Michigan to see year-on-year increases in AGR.

Gaming taxes also marginally increased from $8.2 million to $8.1 million in September 2023. In September 2024, the casinos submitted $12.5 million in wagering taxes and development agreements to Detroit. 

Stronger Michigan Numbers Following 2023 Casino Worker Strike

September 2023 was the entire month of casino gambling not impacted by the 2023 casino workers' strike against the three land-based casinos in Detroit. The strike lasted 47 days against MGM and 34 for PENN Entertainment. 

The September 2024 numbers show that the resolutions reached in the casino strike agreements did not impact casino revenue growth, painting a brighter picture for the future of Michigan casinos. 

Retail Sports Betting Takes a Dive

Along with the AGR from casino games, the Michigan Gaming Control Board also released the qualified adjusted gross receipts (QAGR) from retail sports betting in Detroit. Overall, QAGR saw a massive slide year-on-year, dropping by 52%, despite the enormous increase in receipts at MGM Grand Detroit.

The retail sportsbook at MGM Grand Detroit, BetMGM Sportsbook, collected just over $43,000 in September 2023, rising by more than 1280% to over $600,000 in September 2024.

However, this significant increase in performance was offset by the drop from the other two retail sportsbooks at land-based casinos in Detroit. MotorCity Casino Hotel posted just $11,817 in QAGR in September 2024, compared to more than $875,000 in September 2023. Meanwhile, Hollywood Casino at Greektown saw QAGR drop from over $665,000 to just under $142,000.