Gambling News | 20 Mar 2025

February sports betting revenue in Michigan was up despite a decrease in handling

 In February, gross online sports betting earnings in Michigan climbed 50.8% year-on-year, even if player spending was down. The state also saw growth in its igaming market.
 Unlawful websites in Michigan
 A total of $268.5 million (£206.4 million/€246.0 million) was brought in in February from online casinos and sports betting.  This puts February ahead of previous year by 22.9% but January behind by 18.9% in Michigan.

 The revised February totals are part of the figures released on March 18th by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.  After adjusting for promotional expenditure, total adjusted gross receipts from sports betting and igaming came to $236.3 million, an increase of 29.8 percent year-on-year and a decrease of 17.9 percent from January.

 The latest sports betting news is mixed.
 Revenue from sports betting increased to $46 million, from $30.5 million the previous year, according to the data.  The $27.2 million in adjusted gross sports betting receipts was an increase of 110.9% over the previous year.

 Compared to February 2024, gamers spent $379.8 million, a decrease of 31.6%.

 The monthly hold percentage was 12.11 percent, calculated from gross receipts.  There was a hold of 7.16 percent when adjusted gross sports betting receipts were considered.

 From an operator perspective, the two best sites are MotorCity Casino and FanDuel.  With a $142.9 million handle, $23.7 million in gross receipts was a monthly hold of 16.59%.

 With $12.9 million out of $106.6 million, DraftKings and the Bay Mills Indian Community held a 12.1% share.  Third place went to BetMGM and MGM Grand Detroit, who held 8.96% of the $54.7 million. This amount was $4.9 million.

 Michigan's iGaming Industry: A Year in Review
 With an increase of 18.4 percent year over year, igaming contributed $222.5 million to total gross receipts.  The month's adjusted gross receipts were up 23.6% over the same period last year.

 The market leadership was recovered in February by FanDuel and MotorCity Casino.  With an adjusted gross revenues of $58 million, igaming's total revenue surpassed $61.7 million.

 After leading in January, BetMGM and MGM Grand Detroit fell to second place.  The adjusted gross receipts came to $56.7 million, while the gross receipts came to $60.3 million.  In third place, with adjusted receipts of $26.1 million and total igaming receipts of $27.8 million, respectively, were DraftKings and the Bay Mills Indian Community.

 Including $42.3 million for igaming and $1.5 million for sports betting taxes and fees, operators paid a total of $43.8 million in taxes to the state in February.  Payments of $12.1 million were made by Detroit casinos, while $4.7 million was paid by tribal operators to governing bodies.

 Declines for the land-based casinos in Detroit
 Data for Detroit's three commercial casinos has also been made public by the state's regulator.  Sales of slot machines, table games, and retail sports betting totalled $98.8 million in February, a decline of 5.5% year over year and a decrease of 5.7% from January.

 The combined income from slot machines and table games was $106.4 million, down 6.4% from the prior year.  Profit from sports betting, however, turned a profit of $820,450 in 2025, up from a deficit the previous year.  A monthly hold of 10.01% was achieved with $8.2 million in player spending.

 With 47% of the market, MGM was far ahead of MotorCity (29%), and Hollywood Casino at Greektown (24%).

 When it came time to pay taxes, the casinos handed over $7.9 million to the state and $11.7 million to Detroit.  The state received an additional $30,828 in sports betting taxes, while Detroit received $37,679 in the same category.