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The first six months of 2021 sports betting are in the books for Detroit casinos, and the amount wagered has already helped push a tumultuous first year to the back burner.
With Tuesday’s release of sports betting numbers from Detroit’s three casinos by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, $152.6 million of total sports bets were made through June. In comparison, just $130.8 million in bets were made during 2020.
Of course, 2020 made for an inauspicious start for the sector. Five days after launching on-site sports betting at MotorCity Casino, the coronavirus pandemic closed the casinos for nearly five months. The casinos later closed again for much of December.
| Licensee | Retail Handle | Revenue (GGR) | Promos | State Tax | Local Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MotorCity | $8,467,849 | $796,206 | $0 | $30,097 | $36,785 |
| MGM Grand | $8,087,227 | $680,455 | $20 | $25,720 | $31,436 |
| Greektown | $7,823,792 | $819,272 | $0 | $30,968 | $37,850 |
| Total | $24,378,868 | $2,295,932 | $20 | $86,785 | $106,071 |
The June 2021 sports betting handle in Detroit casinos was $24.4 million, the highest monthly total since January’s $35.7 million figure, which was boosted by online sports wagering not being legal yet for most of that month. The June total is up 20.7% from May, when $20.2 million was wagered on sports.
Capacity restrictions were lifted June 22.
Sports betting raised $86,785 in Michigan state taxes in June, while $106,071 in tax money was raised for the city of Detroit.
Table games and slots revenue was actually down 2% in June from May, earning $105.8 million.
FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity leads competitive handle race
In June, FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino earned the lead for the monthly casino horse race. At MotorCity, $8.5 million was bet in June, good for a 34.7% market share.
BetMGM Sportsbook at MGM Grand Detroit was second, with $8.1 million in bets (33.2% share), and Barstool Sportsbook at Greektown Casino was third ($7.8 million; 32.1% share).
The MGCB is likely to release June online sports betting numbers later this week.
As for hold, the casino held 9.4% of bets in June, a comparatively good month for the casinos. The trio is now holding 8.2% of bets in 2021.
DraftKings still leads FanDuel in fantasy sports contest race
As it has every month since the January 2020 launch, daily fantasy sports race in Michigan.
DraftKings reported $687,295 of revenue in May, while FanDuel posted $514,639 of revenue.
The reporting for fantasy contests is a month behind retail sports betting in Michigan.
Fantasy contests raised $1.3 million in May revenue, paying $105.859 in state taxes at an 8.4% rate.
