Despite facing increasing competition from Michigan's flourishing online casino industry, Detroit's three commercial casinos demonstrated a solid performance in February 2026.
They collectively reported an impressive $100.6 million in aggregate revenue (AGR), signaling stability and modest growth in the city's gaming industry.
Table games and slots were the primary revenue drivers, contributing $100.0 million to the month's total revenue.
This marked a 2.0% increase compared to February 2025, albeit a 3.0% decline from January. Over the two-month period from January to February 2026, revenue increased by 1.4% year over year, reflecting resilience amid seasonal and market fluctuations.
And this was coming off a record-setting performance in December.
MGM Leads The Way in Detroit
Breaking down the casino market shares in February, MGM led with a commanding 48%, followed by MotorCity at 29%, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown with 23%.
When compared to February 2025, each casino showed varied performance:
- MGM: Up by 4.1%, reaching $48.3 million in revenue.
- MotorCity: Recorded a 3.3% increase, totaling $29.4 million.
- Hollywood Casino at Greektown: Experienced a decline of 3.7%, bringing in $22.3 million.
The casinos also made significant contributions to public coffers, paying $8.1 million in state gaming taxes, which surpassed the previous year's $7.9 million during the same period. Additionally, they remitted $11.9 million in wagering taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit.
In terms of QAGR by casino, the casinos reported:
- MGM: $134,420
- MotorCity: $159,851
- Hollywood Casino at Greektown: $266,689
Despite the downturn, the casinos paid $21,204 in state taxes and submitted $25,916 in wagering taxes to the City of Detroit from retail sports betting activities.
Michigan Online Casinos Remain a Major Player
Michigan iGaming (online casino gaming) has experienced explosive, sustained growth since launching in January 2021, far outpacing the state’s three Detroit retail casinos. It now represents the largest slice of Michigan’s overall gambling revenue and consistently delivers double-digit year-over-year (YoY) gains.
Annual Trends
- 2025: Record $3.1 billion in gross iGaming revenue (up approximately 26.5% from 2024).
- Combined iGaming + online sports betting hit $3.8 billion (up 29.5% from 2024).
- 2024: Approximately $2.44 billion gross iGaming revenue.
Earlier years showed similar strong compounding growth, with monthly totals rising from the low $100 million range in 2023 to frequent $250 million+ months in 2025.
This performance helped Michigan rank among the top 5 U.S. states for online gaming revenue in 2025, generating roughly $600+ million in state taxes and fees from iGaming alone that year.
Recent Monthly Performance (as of latest available data — January 2026)
As of March 11, 2026, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has not yet released the February 2026 iGaming figures. (The retail casino report came out March 10; online reports typically follow shortly after.)
- January 2026: Gross revenue was $298.3 million (new monthly high at the time; +20% YoY from $248.2 million in January 2025).
- Adjusted Gross Receipts (AGR): $286.3 million (+22.8% YoY).
- December 2025: Record $315.8 million gross (all-time high; +29% YoY from December 2024).
- Other notable 2025 peaks: October ~$278.5 million (previous record before December).
Month-to-month movement is seasonal (post-holiday dips are common), but the long-term trajectory remains sharply upward.
Market Share & Leading Operators (lifetime through early 2026)
The top three platforms control approximately 69% of the market:
- BetMGM (partnered with MGM Grand Detroit) — 30% lifetime share.
- FanDuel Casino (MotorCity) — 22%.
- DraftKings (Bay Mills tribal) — 17%.
Fifteen iGaming operators are currently active, including tribal partners.
Online Casinos Matter in Michigan
iGaming now dwarfs Detroit’s retail casinos, which did just $100.6 million combined in February 2026 and roughly $1.2 billion for all of 2025.
Growth drivers include:
- Widespread Mobile Access
- Aggressive Promotions
- 15+ Platforms
- Strong Consumer Adoption
The sector continues to grow even as retail remains relatively flat, reinforcing Michigan as one of the strongest online gambling markets in the U.S.
In short, Michigan iGaming is in a clear multi-year uptrend with no signs of slowing. 2025 set a new benchmark, and 2026 is off to another strong start.
The Bigger Picture: Balancing Physical and Online Gaming
Detroit's physical casinos continue to demonstrate resilience amidst a landscape increasingly dominated by digital options. The modest year-over-year gain in core gaming revenue coincides with rising success in Michigan's online gaming and sports betting sectors, which have been setting new records, particularly in iGaming.
Maintaining strong performance is crucial for supporting state and local services, as Detroit casinos contribute significantly through taxes and fees. The effective taxation rate, including state gaming tax and additional city wagering taxes, often falls around 10-12%, reinforcing the essential role casinos play in the local economy.
This latest report from the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) highlights the stability of Detroit's commercial casino market, ensuring optimism for continued growth in the face of evolving gaming trends. As the year progresses, the industry remains poised to navigate competitive pressures while capitalizing on emerging opportunities.
