Total aggregate revenue from gaming (table games, slots, and sports betting) from the three Detroit casinos was $109.7 million in April, down 6.2% from the same month in 2022.
One lucky bettor who won more than $2.5 million combined in multiple parlays at MotorCity Casino helped tilt the month into the red for sports betting at the casinos. Those bets, which largely hinged on Connecticut winning the NCAA Men’s Basketball title, were placed at FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino in downtown Detroit.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board reported that total gross receipts for the Detroit retail books landed at negative $14,489 during the month. Retail sports betting qualified adjusted gross receipts (QAGR) fell 93.6% in April compared to 2022, and plummeted 91.5% in comparison to March of 2023.
Play from table games and slots produced $109.6 million in revenue, and retail sports betting at the casinos resulted in revenue of $120,350.
MGM Grand Leads Detroit Casino Gaming Market
The MGM Grand Detroit once again was tops among the three Detroit casinos, capturing 46% of the market share based on aggregate revenue in April. Next was MotorCity Casino at 30%, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown, with 24%.
Only Hollywood Casino at Greektown saw an uptick in gaming revenue in April compared to 2022, moving up 6.3% to $25.2 million. By comparison, MGM Grand reported a dive of 11.5% to $50.2 million in revenue last month. MotorCity was down by 6.1% to $34.2 million, according to the MGCB.
The City of Detroit received $13 million in wagering taxes and development agreement payments from the April activity of the three casinos in its city limits.
About $8.9 million in taxes was sent to Lansing by the Detroit casinos in state payments in April for the State of Michigan. That’s a slight decrease from the $9.5 million that was paid in taxes for April 2022.
Detroit Retail Sportsbooks Report Total Handle of $15.3 Million in April
Data from the MGCB reveals that the Detroit retail sportsbooks accepted $15.3 million in bets on sports in April, with total gross receipts coming in at a negative $14,489, thanks to the big payout on the parlay wins from one bettor.
Those wagers meant MotorCity Casino had a negative-$1.7 million month in April for qualified adjusted gross receipts. That swallowed the $1.4 million reported by Hollywood Casino and the $432,195 from MGM Grand.
Retail sportsbooks at the trio of Detroit casinos paid $69,237 in taxes to the state, and an additional $84,624 to the City of Detroit. It was the first full month where the casinos paid less than $100,000 to the state for sports betting activity.
Numbers were also released for Fantasy Sports contests for March: operators had combined total adjusted revenues of $2.1 million, on which they were responsible for $177,504 in taxes.
With the first quarter of 2023 now complete, we can report that licensed fantasy contest operators in Michigan had aggregate fantasy contest adjusted revenues of $6.8 million, and paid $572,626 in taxes.
