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Detroit casino revenue down 24.3% in January

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Revenue from Detroit’s three commercial casinos declined 24.3% year-on-year in January as the facilities continued to face capacity limits due to the ongoing novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Figures published by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) show that the three casinos – the MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Greektown Casino – generated a total of $90.8m in revenue last month, compared to $120.0m in the same month last year.

However, the January figure was some 279.9% higher than in December, though casinos were only open for nine days of that month, having been closed from November 18 to December 23.

MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino both held 38% of the Detroit market in January, ahead of Greektown Casino on 24%.

Table games and slots were responsible for €86.9m in revenue, down 27.7% on last year, with casinos currently limited as to how may patrons they can host at one time.

Gaming revenue at MGM was down 32.0% to $34.0m, while MotorCity’s revenue also fell 20.7% to $33.2m and Greektown 30.4% to $19.6m.

The three casinos paid $7.0m in gaming taxes to the State of Michigan, while they also reported submitting $10.3m in wagering taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit.

In terms of sports betting, revenue was $4.1m off a handle of $35.7m in January.

Greektown led this section of the market on $1.63m, just ahead of MotorCity on $1.56m and then MGM with $863,439.

Qualified adjusted gross receipts are gross sports betting receipts, minus the monetary value of free play incentives wagered by punters.

The casinos paid $153,586 in taxes to the state of Michigan on retail sports betting revenue, as well as $187,716 in retail sports betting taxes to the city of Detroit for the month.

Last month also saw the launch of online sports betting and casino in Michigan, with licensees permitted to go operate in the state since January 22.

However, the MGCB is yet to publish any figures for this area of the market.