The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) reported that Detroit casinos produced $103.7 million in October revenue, which is a 26.9% year-over-year increase.
Detroit casinos got back to normal this fall, posting a revenue number in line with what they earned in 2022. That’s a significant improvement over last October, when earnings were impacted because of a 47-day casino-employee strike that began in October and stretched into early December.
November is likely going to be a bigger year-over-year increase, as the strike lasted three weeks for two of the casinos and the full month for MGM Grand Detroit.
October revenue highest since 2021
The pandemic in 2020 and the strike from last year knocked Detroit casinos out of whack. It now appears that things are returning to a level of normalcy.
October proved to be the best since 2021, when the combined properties posted $111.5 million that year. Detroit casinos have posted at least $100 million in revenue in every month but once in 2024.
The graph shows the drastic impact the strike had last year. PlayMichigan estimated that the three facilities lost $54.1 million during the 47 days, which included 14 of October.
Detroit casinos are on pace for $1.28 billion in 2024
With two months to go, Detroit casinos are closing in on nearly $1.3 billion in yearly revenue, which would be a post-pandemic high. Facilities have posted the following totals since:
- 2021: $1.27 billion
- 2022: $1.26 billion
- 2023: $1.22 billion
Detroit properties generated $1.45 billion in revenue in 2019. It’s safe to say that the properties are doing well again, but completely reaching pre-pandemic totals remains an uphill climb.
Each casino benefits from a clean October
The strike last October impacted all three properties. It even last a few weeks longer for MGM Grand Detroit, which will show in December. However, this October, each facility has experienced a smooth month throughout.
- MGM Grand Detroit: $49.4 million, up 3.6% from September ($47.7 million)
- MotorCity Casino: $31.7 million, up1.6% from September ($31.2 million)
- Hollywood Casino at Greektown: $22.6 million, up 0.9% from September ($22.4 million)
Each of the three casinos experienced much higher year-over-year increases, too, which looked like:
- MGM Grand Detroit: 32.8%
- MotorCity Casino: 26.8%
- Hollywood Casino at Greektown: 16.5%
Retail sports betting handle remains flat
Despite the sports calendar heating up in October, sports betting remained around the same last month as it did for September.
The casinos posted a combined $22.2 million in handle for October compared to $22 million the previous month.
Hollywood Casino at Greektown’s handle dipped 32% last month to $6.6 million. This comes after the property recently rebranded its retail sportsbook to ESPN BET right before the NFL Draft in April.
MotorCity Casino became the beneficiary of Hollywood’s drop, as it increased 47.4% in October to $11.2 million.
