Michigan’s 3 retail casinos, all of which are located in Detroit, posted $106.9m in revenue in August, representing a slight dip from July and a 3.6% annual fall. The majority of the revenue came from slots and table games.

Little more than 1% of the revenue came from sports betting. MGM grand Detroit maintains its market lead, with a 48% market share, but MotorCity Casino was the only casino to post annual increases.

Michigan is one of a still relatively small number of states to have legalized online gambling, giving gamblers a wealth of choices. As well as sites licensed in the state, many players also use offshore casinos, while sweepstakes casinos also represent an alternative.

Sweepstakes casinos use a dual currency system, which means they are even legal in states where iGaming remains prohibited, and their popularity means these sites offer the same wide range of games and generous bonuses as traditional online casinos, according to online gambling expert Viola D’Elia.

Michigan’s residents and visitors can also gamble at physical casinos. The state has three licensed casinos, all of which are found in Detroit. Combined, the trio generated $106.9m in monthly revenue in August. This figure consisted of $105.7m from slots and table games, a 4.6% fall compared to 2024 and a 0.3% drop compared to July.

The fall is not typical of performance across the US, where most states have been experiencing significant upticks in revenue. The one other exception has been Las Vegas, which has seen visitor numbers down significantly – Harry Reid International Airport alone saw a more than 6% decline in visitor numbers in June.

Michigan has seen visitor numbers rise steadily since 2020. While they haven’t quite reached the pre-Covid peak, they have roughly stabilised. Downtown Detroit draws in approximately 83,000 average daily visitors. However, while visitor numbers are stable, casino revenue has taken a hit this year with one exception.

Of the three retail casinos, MGM Grand Detroit and Hollywood Casino at Greektown posted monthly revenue of $51.7m and $22.8m, down 4% and 13% respectively. MotorCity Casino bucked the trend, however, and posted a 1.4% increase in revenue, at £31.2m.

The figures do not include revenue from the state’s tribal casinos, of which there are around two dozen, including Michigan’s Firekeepers Casino Hotel, recently voted one of the best brick-and-mortar casinos outside Vegas.

Detroit is also one of just seven states to have legalized online casinos, passing the Lawful Internet Gaming Act in 2019, and there are 14 licensed online casinos in the state. Online casino monthly revenue averages around $200m a month in the state.

In August, the three retail casinos posted $8.6m in gaming taxes to the state, while also contributing $12.6m in wagering taxes and development agreement payments. These payments are set to continue following the announcement that all three casinos have had their licenses renewed for another year.

Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams, said of the renewals: “Detroit’s commercial casinos are not only entertainment destinations but also major contributors to the city and state economies.

“By renewing these licenses, the Board reaffirms its commitment to a gaming industry that promotes integrity, accountability, and community benefit.”

In total, the three casinos have generated revenue of $851.3m year-to-date and, during that period, have submitted $101.4m in taxes, making them an invaluable source of state income. The MGCB also pointed to the overall effect of the casinos on the local economy, including related small businesses.