Michigan Gambling Statistics

We scoured the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) website for the latest gambling statistics in the state. Every month the MGCB releases financial statements for Detroit’s three commercial casinos, online casinos and retail and online sportsbooks.

Additionally, both the MGCB and tribal casinos release an annual report providing insights into Michigan’s tribal gaming industry. The state began compiling online casino and sports betting data on Jan. 22, 2021.

We’ve compiled the highlights of the monthly financial and annual reports here.

The top 10 Michigan gambling stats and trends

1. There are currently 41 casinos in Michigan: three commercial, 23 tribal and 15 online casinos.
2. The largest retail casino in Michigan is Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, with 210,000 square feet of gaming space.
3. 13 online and 14 retail sportsbooks are currently operating in the state.
4. Michigan Tribes have contributed $614.9 million to local governments entities from their retail casino operations. That includes $30.8 million in 2022.
5. There are 901 licensed or exempt Michigan commercial casino entities as of Dec. 31, 2022
6. There are 884 licensed or registered internet gaming and internet sports betting entities in Michigan as of Dec. 31, 2022
7. Last year $4.9 million was donated to local charities through the Millionaire Party program
8. Michigan’s horse racing industry will benefit from more than $6.9 million in taxes collected in 2022
9. In 2022, 13,152 minors were denied entry into Detroit’s three commercial casinos
10. Since its inception, 869 people have completed Michigan’s problem gambling Diversion Program designed and focused on gambling addiction treatment

February 2024 Michigan casino report

Michigan is home to 41 casinos: three commercial, 23 tribal and 15 online casinos. The Michigan Gaming Control Board publishes monthly revenue reports for Detroit’s three commercial casinos and the 15 online casinos in Michigan.

Online casino revenue for February came in at a record $188 million. It represented a 3.4% increase month-over-month and an impressive 27% increase year-over-year.

Online gambling by casino brand

The top three online casino brands in February are:

• BetMGM with 27% market share
• FanDuel with 26% market share
• DraftKings with 20% market share

BetMGM has dominated the market since its launch. In fact, the top three have always been on top, and while market share has fluctuated, the fluctuation has been insignificant.

It may seem as if nothing is left for the other 12 online casinos, but online casinos are big business in Michigan. For reference Caesars, the online casino with the fifth largest market share in February at 5.7%, still earned $10.7 million during the month.

SI came in last, with just a sliver of the market share equaling 0.7%. That percentage translates to $1.39 million for the month.

Michigan online casino partnerships

February 2024 Michigan sports betting report

There are currently three commercial and 13 online sportsbooks in Michigan.

Michigan sportsbooks took in $415.8 million worth of bets in February 2024, down 31% month-over-month from $601.6 million in January, but up 16.4% year-over-year ($357.2 million in February 2023).

Online sports betting accounted for 96.8% of handle across the state in February. Over the history of sports betting in Michigan, online betting has accounted for about 93.7% of the handle. The hold rate in February was 7.3%, below the state’s average of 8.6% held since launch.

Online sports betting by sportsbook

FanDuel and DraftKings continue to make up more than half the Michigan sports betting market with a 38% and 27% share in February, respectively. To put that in perspective, BetMGM holds the third highest market share, with 15%.

Retail sports betting by sportsbook

For the purpose of tracking retail sports betting, we are only tracking Detroit’s three commercial casinos. The ESPN BET sportsbook at the Hollywood Casino at Greektown led the way last month, with 41% of the commercial handle in February.

Michigan sports betting partnerships

2022 Michigan gaming annual report highlights

Every year in the spring, the MGCB issues its annual report on the regulation and operations of Detroit’s three commercial casinos, as well as online casino games and sports betting for the prior year.

Casino gambling in Michigan

Michigan online casinos have made big gains year-over-year, increasing in revenue by over 72% from 2021 to 2023. That’s also while the three Detroit retail casinos have seen slight declines, dropping by just over 3% from 2021 to 2023. It should be noted that 2023 saw a Detroit casino workers strike that cost the retail casinos approximately $50 million in revenue. Overall, casino gambling in Michigan has grown over 32% from 2021 to 2023.

Sports betting in Michigan

Michigan online sports betting saw a lot of growth from its first full year in 2021 to its second year of 2022. The state saw a nearly 25% jump in online betting. Thanks to a late surge, online sports betting in 2023 slightly surpassed 2022 in terms of handle. Retail sports betting has continued a decline, but overall sports betting remained nearly level from 2022 to 2023.

Horse racing in Michigan

Michigan’s horse racing industry benefited from over $6.9 million in taxes collected in 2022 on various forms of betting regulated by the MGCB. That includes internet wagering and simulcast wagering on horse racing, internet casino gaming, and online sports betting.

Millionaire Party Revenue

Millionaire parties are a fun and exciting way to raise money for a good cause. It is a fundraising event held by non-profit organizations where guests play casino-style games, such as Texas Hold’em poker, using imitation money or chips. The money or chips have no monetary value and simply are used to keep track of the bets.

In 2022, there were 1,394 millionaire party licenses issued and 5,289 separate millionaire party event days held. Those events took in $67.9 million in sales of chips with approximately $4.9 million benefiting charities in the state.

Responsible Gaming

In December of 2019, both the Lawful Internet Gaming Act and Lawful Internet Sports Betting Act were signed into law. Through these acts, the Responsible Gaming Database (RGD) was established. The RGD is designed to track people who are prohibited from establishing an online gambling account. This can be mandated or through voluntary self-exclusion. In 2022, 343 individuals were added to the RGD to self-exclude from internet gaming, while 311 individuals were added to self-exclude from internet sports betting.

Disassociated Persons List (DPL) is the list of people who requested self-exclusion from gambling at Detroit’s three commercial casinos. Disassociated persons are able to request removal from the list after five or more years on the list. As of Dec. 31, 2022, 4,111 are on the DPL and 1,038 persons had been removed from the list.

The MGCB initiated a Diversion Program, a problem gambling treatment program. When someone self-excludes and tries to enter a casino, they will be found guilty of criminal trespassing which can result in both prison and fines. The program offers those violating the terms of self-exclusion for the first time an opportunity to attend a treatment program.

Last year, 47 first-time DPL offenders were offered the Diversion Program and 48 people completed the program leading to the discharge of their offenses. Since the program began, a total of 1,070 DPL offenders were offered the Diversion Program in lieu of criminal charges and 869 have completed it.

Underage and Compulsive Gaming Studies

2022 Michigan Tribal gaming annual report highlights

Michigan is home to 23 tribal Class III casinos.

Pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, MGCB Board members do not have oversight over tribal gaming.

Most online casino gambling and sports betting conducted by tribes are subject to state law and are included in the monthly financial reports issued by the MGCB. Therefore, those figures are excluded from this report.

Michigan tribal casinos

Tribal casino contributions to local and state governments

As part of the state compacts, tribes are required to contribute to Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF). The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) provides oversight on the contributions.

The contributions range from 1% to 12% of net revenue, depending on a tribe’s compact. In 2022, Tribes contributed $52.8 million to the MSF/MEDC.

Additionally, the tribes contribute 2% of net revenue to local government. This resulted in a contribution of $30.8 million.

Definition of the gambling terms used in this report

Adjusted Gross Receipts (AGR) – AGR is equal to the gross gaming receipts (money bet) minus winnings paid out.

Class II casino – Class II casinos includes bingo and non-banked card games. Tribes do not need to enter into any agreements at the state level to conduct Class II gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Instead, tribal governments are responsible for regulating Class II gaming with National Indian Gaming Commission oversight.

Class III casino – Class III casinos include all other forms of gambling, including casino-style gambling. An Indian tribe can operate Class III games only if the tribe and the state have agreed to a gaming compact.

Handle – Handle represents the total amount of money wagered by consumer. When discussing monthly or yearly handle, that represents how much the collective state wagered on sports betting.

Hold – Hold is the percentage of money that was wagered that the casino/sportsbook kept in winnings. The hold percentage is determined by taking the revenue and dividing that by the handle.

* Simulcast Wagering Taxes were calculated based on date earned and verified by independent auditors. Timing differences exist when reconciling to the State accounting system due to the actual depositing of revenue occurring in the subsequent calendar year.

**Licensed Third-Party Facilitators allow Michigan residents the opportunity to place wagers on horse races from a funded account. Third-Party Wagering is commonly known as Advance Deposit Wagering.

*** “Outs” are uncashed winning tickets. Governed by Public Act 505, 1998, the race meeting licensee (the track) keeps 50 percent of the winning payout on the tickets and the other 50 percent is deposited into the Agriculture Equine Industry Development Fund.