Michigan's online casino sector keeps racing ahead, yet Detroit's three commercial casinos are still taking in more on their gaming floors than they did twelve months ago — and July's figures put that resilience on clear display.
Key takeaways
- $111.64 million in combined Detroit table and slot revenue for July
- +5.3% year on year and +9.6% versus June
- All three properties grew, led by MotorCity Casino at +8.7%
- Michigan iGaming revenue rose 23.6% to $290.65 million
- Detroit casinos contributed $22.3 million in state and city taxes and payments
According to the Michigan Gaming Control Board, MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino at Greektown produced a combined $111.64 million from table games and slots in July. That represents a 5.3% improvement on July 2025 and a 9.6% jump from June.
The results don't mean Detroit has been shielded from the rise of online play. What they do show is that land-based casino activity is holding firm while the state's digital market continues to expand around it.
Growth Across Every Property
The July gains were not the work of a single standout venue. Each of the city's three casinos finished ahead of the prior year.
| Property | July revenue | YoY | Market share |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGM Grand Detroit | $52.50M | +3.3% | 47% |
| MotorCity Casino | $34.32M | +8.7% | 31% |
| Hollywood Casino at Greektown | $24.82M | +5.2% | 22% |
| Detroit total | $111.64M | +5.3% | 100% |
MGM Grand Detroit kept its position as market leader, while MotorCity delivered the sharpest percentage rise. On a year-to-date basis, combined Detroit table and slot revenue through the end of July was running 1.9% ahead of the same stretch in 2025.
Online Casino Keeps a Faster Pace
Michigan's licensed iGaming operators reported $302.77 million in gross receipts in July, with adjusted iGaming revenue reaching $290.65 million — a 23.6% increase year on year. The two sets of numbers track different markets and aren't directly comparable, but they illustrate just how large online casino gaming has become in the state.
Fifteen authorised iGaming operators were active during the month, giving players a far wider range of digital options than when legal online casinos debuted in Michigan in 2021. The market is now mature and highly competitive.
Even so, every one of Detroit's casino floors posted year-on-year growth in the very same month.
Why the In-Person Visit Still Matters
Online gaming wins on convenience, but a trip to a casino resort is a different proposition. Detroit's commercial properties function as entertainment destinations, where the gaming floor sits alongside restaurants, bars, hotel rooms and live entertainment — making gambling just one part of a longer outing.
That experience-led model is drawing attention beyond the gaming industry, too. The Wall Street Journal recently highlighted growing investor appetite for businesses built around in-person experiences, from casinos and sports to travel. For Detroit's operators the edge is simple: hospitality and atmosphere cannot be delivered through a smartphone screen.
A Stable Market Share Picture
Despite MotorCity's strong month, the balance of power in Detroit barely shifted. MGM held 47% of the market, MotorCity 31% and Hollywood Casino at Greektown 22% — a split broadly in line with previous months. The fact that growth was spread across all three venues, rather than driven by one unusually strong performer, gives July's result extra significance.
A Continued Source of Public Revenue
Detroit's casinos also remain a dependable contributor to public finances. In July they paid $9 million in state gaming taxes on table games and slots, and handed over a further $13.3 million in wagering taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit.
As Michigan's overall gaming market has grown, so has the regulatory workload, with the state broadening its consumer-protection and responsible-gaming measures as online gambling has matured. Retail and digital gaming now feed the same regulated ecosystem through different channels.
The Longer-Term Trend Is What Counts
A single month can't determine how online gaming will shape Detroit's casinos in the years ahead; the multi-month trajectory is the better guide. Through July, Detroit table and slot revenue remained 1.9% above last year's pace, even as Michigan iGaming grew at a considerably faster rate.
For now, both channels are generating substantial revenue. Detroit's casino floors continue to attract customers, post year-on-year gains and play a central role in the city's gaming economy — even as more of the action moves online.
