Michigan online casinos record the best month in history in November during the second and final month of the Detroit casino workers’ strike. And, the numbers helped push the state to its best year ever.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board released November’s online revenue numbers on Tuesday and Michigan online casinos recorded $175.3 million in combined revenue. That bested the previous record of $171.8 million recorded in March 2023.
It was up 9.4% from October’s revenue of $160.3 million, up 5.3% from September 2022’s $166.4 million and up 20.6% from November 2022’s $145.4 million.
With December’s revenue report still to come, Michigan has already posted its best year ever in online casino revenue. November’s numbers propelled the 2023 total to more than $1.74 billion, which exceeds all of 2022’s revenue of $1.58 billion.
That total is 22% ahead of the $1.43 billion in Michigan online casino revenue recorded through November of 2022.
Michigan is now averaging $158.4 million per month in online casino revenue. If that holds up for the final two months, Michigan will hit $1.9 billion for the year.
November 2023 Michigan online casino revenue
Online casinos in Michigan continue to make big gains from a year ago with November surpassing last year’s mark ($145.4 million) by over $30 million.
- Online casino revenue: $175.3 million, up 9.4% from October ($160.3 million)
- November online casino tax payments: $45.2 million in state taxes and fees
- Top online casino app by revenue: BetMGM Michigan with $46.7 million, up from $45.6 million in October.
- Closing the gap: FanDuel Michigan (MotorCity Casino) had its best month ever ($43.9 million) and continues to narrow the gap between it and BetMGM.
Four takeaways from November Michigan online casino report
Strike leads to record online casino revenue
For 19 days in November, Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino were dealing with a workers’ strike. BetMGM Grand Detroit dealt with the strike the entire month of November. A settlement was reached on Dec. 2.
The strike led to the worst complete revenue month in 22 years — not counting the months impacted by COVID-19 closures. The three casinos combined for $76 million in slot and table game revenue, a 28.2% dip from its monthly average in 2023 prior to the strike ($105.9 million). November’s combined revenue was $5.7 million lower than the October total of $81.7 million.
Clearly, some Detroit casino regulars moved their gambling online in November. That at least partly explains the all-time record revenue month.
FanDuel Michigan closing in on top spot thanks to record month
FanDuel, in particular, was a big winner in November. It had its best month ever ($43.9 million), up 18.6% over October ($37 million), which was its previous record month.
It also means FanDuel was just $2.8 million away from Michigan long-time leader in online casino revenue — BetMGM ($46.7 million).
BetMGM was up in November from October, but it was only the operator’s 9th best month of the year.
As for the third online casino connected to a Detroit casino, Barstool Casino (Hollywood Casino at Greektown) had revenue of $4.1 million in November. It was up 24% from October ($3.3 million). November was also Barstool’s best month since March. Barstool will soon transition into the Hollywood Online Casino in Michigan.
Michigan sets new yearly casino revenue record
As previous stated, overall online casino revenue for 2023 has already set a record.
Through 11 months, all Michigan online casinos have collected $1.74 billion in revenue. In all of 2022, the online casinos had $1.58 billion in revenue.
For the year, online casino revenue is up 22% through 11 months compared to where it was at through the first 11 months of 2022 ($1.43 billion).
While Michigan won’t reach $2 billion this year, it should surpass $1.9 billion when December’s numbers drop in January 2024.
Five operators set new revenue records
Along with FanDuel Casino hitting a new monthly record, four other operators joined in with top marks in November.
BetRivers Michigan posted a record total by bringing in $10.7 million in revenue. It’s third time BetRivers has surpassed the $10 million mark in the last four months.
Caesars Palace Michigan had a tremendous month. Its revenue of $9.1 million was up 26.4% from it previous best month of $7.2 million in September.
With revenue of $2.15 million, Gun Lake Casino set a new record, as well. It surpassed the $2.14 million it reached in March.
FireKeepers Online Casino set a new record as well. It had online casino revenue exceeding $1.9 million to better it previous best of $1.86 million in September.
Michigan online casino November 2023 revenue by operator
| Licensee | Online Brand | Revenue | Promos | Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGM Grand Detroit | BetMGM | $46,715,962 | $4,671,596 | $12,297,977 |
| MotorCity | FanDuel | $43,938,781 | $4,393,878 | $11,566,884 |
| Bay Mills | DraftKings | $34,684,415 | $3,468,441 | $8,740,473 |
| Little River Band of Ottawa | BetRivers | $10,716,422 | $1,071,642 | $2,700,538 |
| Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa | Caesars | $9,112,332 | $911,233 | $2,296,308 |
| Keweenaw Bay | Golden Nugget | $6,983,225 | $698,322 | $1,759,773 |
| Greektown | Barstool/Hollywood | $4,125,571 | $412,557 | $1,086,057 |
| Pokagon Band of Potawatomi | Four Winds | $3,164,881 | $316,488 | $797,550 |
| Sagniaw Chippewa | Eagle | $3,033,123 | $303,312 | $764,347 |
| Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa | WynnBet | $2,772,676 | $277,268 | $698,714 |
| Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa | PokerStars | $2,573,932 | $257,393 | $648,631 |
| Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi | Play Gun Lake | $2,150,432 | $215,043 | $541,909 |
| Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa | PointsBet | $2,099,722 | $209,972 | $529,130 |
| Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi | FireKeepers | $1,905,666 | $190,567 | $480,228 |
| Hannahville | SI | $1,323,927 | $134,152 | $320,100 |
| Total | $175,301,066 | $17,531,866 | $45,228,617 |
