Revealing Michigan Casino Record Profits: The House Won in ’23

Michigan may not be the first state that comes to mind when you think of 'Gambling Mecca,' but it ranks as one of America's most lucrative markets for casino owners in terms of gaming revenue. Of course, it's nearly impossible to compete with the entertainment, nightlife, and 'what happens here, stays here' mentality found in Las Vegas, Nevada, but Michigan's fast becoming a wagering powerhouse.

Related: Ranking Revealed: Are These Michigan's Luckiest Casinos?

According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), Michigan casinos earned $323 million in February alone, bringing the 2024 total earned to $647.1 million. That's over half a billion in less than two months, up 14.1% from last year's period. To say that the gambling business is good (for casinos) would be an understatement.

Michigan Makes Its Mark on Gambling Nationwide

Michigan's first casino opened in Mt. Pleasant in 1994 and has since expanded to over 25 casinos statewide. There are also 23 tribally owned casinos scattered throughout the Lower and Upper Peninsula, owned and operated by 12 federally recognized tribes, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

While the tribally owned casinos don't report to AGA, they have their own governing body, the National Indian Gaming Commission. The NIGC will release their casinos' revenue later this year.

In the AGA report that recapped revenue for the nation's casinos, Detroit ranked among the top 10 markets, raking in well over a billion dollars for its three state-licensed casinos, the MGM Grand, the MotorCity Casino, and the Hollywood Casino at Greektown.

Related: Michigan's Richest Man is #73 on Forbes Billionaire List

While Michigan hasn't yet eclipsed some of the country's more seasoned gambling markets in terms of revenue, it's working its way up the list. Let's look at how Michigan ranks in gaming revenue when compared to America's top gambling revenue markets.