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The Detroit Lions missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022 could have contributed to a down January for Michigan sportsbooks.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board reported that operators produced $502.6 million in handle and $58.8 million in Michigan sports betting revenue. The Lions played in only one regular season game in January, finishing with a 9-8 record and missing the playoffs.
The team made the NFC Championship in 2024 and made the divisional round last year, resulting in strong January betting.
January sports wagering by the numbers
- Handle: $502.6 million ($491.3 million online)
- Revenue: $58.8 million ($84.0 million online)
- Hold: 11.7%
- Month-over-month: Total handle decreased 4.3%
- Sports betting taxes: $3.4 million to state and local coffers
- Top online sports betting app by handle: FanDuel Sportsbook with $173.3 million
- Top online sports betting app by revenue: FanDuel with $23.1 million
Handle, revenue experience decreases
Both categories decreased on a month-over-month and year-over-year basis.
Handle went down 4.3% from December and 12.5% from last January. Despite a decent hold rate, revenue plummeted 31.5% and 31.4%, respectively.
When the Lions made it to the NFC Championship game in 2024, handle reached $601.6 million. The drop-off from that January to this one was 16.5%.
Milestone handle reached
Despite the slow month, operators reached $25 billion in lifetime handle. The industry now stands at $25.3 billion in total handle since 2020.
FanDuel Sportsbook leads the way with $8.5 billion, followed by DraftKings Sportsbook with $6.6 billion.
Hard Rock’s performance
Hard Rock Bet delivered with a strong iGaming performance last month, finishing fourth in revenue. However, Hard Rock Sportsbook is a bit behind the eight-ball.
The sports platform came in sixth in handle:
- FanDuel: $173.3 million
- DraftKings: $144.8 million
- BetMGM Sportsbook: $63.5 million
- Fanatics Sportsbook: $44.4 million
- theScore Bet: $23.2 million
- Hard Rock: $21.9 million
Hard Rock’s bread and butter is its iGaming product. Despite a slower start in sports, it’s already closing in on theScore Bet.
It was the operator’s first full month in the market.
January MI online sports betting revenue by operator
| Licensee | Online Brand | Handle | Revenue | Hold | Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MotorCity | FanDuel | $173,309,355 | $23,115,939 | 13.30% | $1,427,467 |
| Bay Mills | DraftKings | $144,780,007 | $16,184,347 | 11.20% | $976,659 |
| MGM Grand Detroit | BetMGM | $63,533,322 | $8,301,456 | 13.10% | $478,605 |
| Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa | Fanatics | $44,412,350 | $4,436,595 | 10.00% | $236,818 |
| Greektown | theScore Bet | $23,163,342 | $1,997,621 | 8.60% | $123,383 |
| Hannahville | Hard Rock Bet | $21,900,938 | $2,675,464 | 12.20% | $11,384 |
| Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa | Caesars | $18,504,220 | $1,083,605 | 5.90% | $62,302 |
| Little River Band of Ottawa | BetRivers | $7,358,374 | $591,015 | 8.00% | $25,780 |
| Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi | betParx | $2,105,963 | $162,959 | 7.70% | $11,586 |
| Sagniaw Chippewa | Eagle | $1,755,055 | $164,353 | 9.40% | $12,117 |
| Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi | FireKeepers | $1,224,317 | $57,205 | 4.70% | $0 |
| Pokagon Band of Potawatomi | Four Winds | $540,922 | $55,498 | 10.30% | $4,245 |
| Total | $502,588,166 | $58,826,057 | 11.70% | $3,370,346 |
