The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has reported a slight month-on-month rise in revenue from the three land-based commercial casinos in Detroit, with revenue up across casino gaming and sports betting.
Aggregate revenue for the month amounted to $110.0m, up 0.9% from $109.0m in April this year.
The MGCB noted that year-on-year comparisons were not available as casinos were closed for all of May 2020 due to state-wide restrictions related to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
However, the regulator did reveal that revenue was 12.6% lower than the $125.8m posted in May of 2019, but added that casinos are currently having to operate at limited capacity in line with continuing Covid-19 measures.
Of the total revenue generated in May, $108.0m was attributed to slots and table games – up 0.5% from April, while sports betting revenue climbed 20.0% to $1.8m.
MGM Grand Detroit was the market leader with 42% of the overall market share in May, ahead of MotorCity Casino on 36% and Greektown Casino with a 22% share.
Breaking down operator performance, MGM Grand Detroit posted $46.2m in slots and table games revenue in May, ahead of MotorCity Casino on $38.2m and Greektown Casino with $23.6m.
The casinos paid $8.7m in gaming taxes to the state of Michigan, as well as $12.8m in wagering taxes and development agreement to the City of Detroit during May.
Turning to sports betting and MotorCity Casino led this market with $709,796 in qualified adjusted gross receipts. These are classified as gross sports betting receipts minus free play incentives provided to and wagered by bettors.
Greektown Casino posted $636,547 in adjusted gross receipts, while MGM Grand Detroit followed with $402,223 for the month.
Players bet $20.2m on sports at retail sportsbooks in May, while the casinos paid $66,096 in retail sports betting taxes to the state and $80,784 in retail sports betting taxes to the City of Detroit.
Meanwhile, the MGCB announced that small-business owners may conduct up to $100,000 in non-gaming business with Detroit casinos in a 12-month period without having to notify the Board.
The resolution approved during a public meeting also grants longer, five-year licensing exemptions to non-gaming vendors.
“The changes approved by a 4-0 Board vote allow more small businesses to supply things like food and beverages, snow removal or laundry services to the Detroit casinos without disclosing information to the MGCB,” MGCB executive director Henry Williams said.
“If you are a non-gaming vendor already registered for internet casino gaming or online sports betting, your firm can provide up to $400,000 in goods and services to each Detroit casino and skip added paperwork.”