Detroit casinos are still on a path to their best year since 2019 thanks to combined July revenue of $106.3 million. The numbers were released today by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Revenue was up slightly month-over-month. However, year-over-year results trended down, slightly. MGM Grand Detroit is the only property to increase earnings from last month, enough for a 1.63% rise from June.
Through July, Detroit casinos have generated $751 million in slots and table games revenue, which is the most since 2019. While properties have certainly recovered, they have a long way to go before it starts reaching pre-pandemic totals.
Detroit casinos July revenue up from June, but down year-over-year
The $106.3 million in July earnings for Detroit casinos is the fourth-best month of the year, behind March, May and April, respectively. Despite being the heart of the summer, month-over-month revenue was up 1.63% while year-over-year ticked down 0.37%.
Detroit casino players have exhibited similar behavior in each of the last three Julys, posting nearly identical revenue figures. Those include:
- 2021: $115.7 million
- 2022: $105.9 million
- 2023: $106.7 million
- 2024: $106.3 million
Rebound continues, but reaching pre-pandemic totals is an uphill climb
The casino industry started to worry when Detroit casinos posted only $93.9 million in slots and table games revenue in January. It was the lowest monthly revenue total that wasn’t impacted by the workers’ strike or COVID limitations since June of 2005. That could perhaps be chalked up to the frigid cold temperatures in the Great Lakes State.
It looks like Detroit casinos have recovered nicely since, posting the following totals for the year:
- January: $93.9 million
- February: $104.8 million
- March: $122.3 million
- April: $107.9 million
- May: $111.3 million
- June: $104.6 million
- July: $106.3 million
Total slot and table games revenue comes out to $751 million YTD, which is the best mark since 2019. However, in the 10 years prior to the pandemic, Detroit casinos produced at least $800 million through July nine times. Properties have a long way to go before they start reaching those figures.
Only one Detroit casino up month-over-month
MGM Grand Detroit essentially carried the other city casinos into a positive month-over-month result. Here are the following revenue totals:
- MGM Grand Detroit: $51.3 million, up 5.34% from June ($48.7 million)
- MotorCity Casino: $31.2 million, down 1% from June ($31.5 million)
- Hollywood Casino at Greektown: $23.8 million, down 2.46% from June ($24.4 million)
MGM Grand Detroit has acquired the largest market share among Detroit Casinos at 48% in July.
Bad month for Detroit casinos retail sportsbooks
July is the softest month of the sports calendar with just baseball, essentially, on its own. And, it hit Detroit casinos hard. They went negative $379,000 in sports betting revenue in July.
MotorCity Casino lost the most, by far, at $647,136, while Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MGM Grand Detroit made $194,472 and $53,435, respectively, in sports betting earnings.
Here is how handle totals shook out, with Hollywood Casino at Greektown leading the way, again:
- Hollywood Casino at Greektown: $2.6 million
- MotorCity Casino: $2.2 million
- MGM Grand Detroit: $1.8 million
Up next: July online numbers due next week
As for the July online revenue figures, the MGCB is expected to drop those next week.
