Detroit
Casino News - 2005
December 27, 2005
Phase two of the
Casino Windsor expansion is set to begin next month. WZMH Architects
have designed the facility's addition to feature a slender 22-story,
400 room hotel tower with walls of glass covering the 100,000 square
foot convention center and 5,000 seat auditorium. Phase one of the
renovation, the Market Buffet, opened on December 16, 2005, and had
7,000 customers during its first three days of operation.
December 13, 2005
At Tuesday's Board
meeting, a transfer of shares request was approved for Don Barden's
shares in the Greektown Casino to be transferred to the Sault Ste.
Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, majority owners of Greektown
Casino. Barden's shares were purchased from Christopher Jackson and
Arthur B. Blackwell II for $11.4 million, and he is willing to sell
them for $16 million.
December 13, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board unanimously approved MGM Grand Detroit's plans for its
permanent hotel/casino facility at Tuesday's Board meeting. MGM
Grand Detroit Casino is building a completely new hotel/casino
facility about two blocks north of its temporary casino. Plans for
the $600 million complex include a 401-room hotel, a 5,000 space
indoor parking garage and 100,000 square feet of gaming space. With
construction already begun, the target date for completion is early
2008.
December 13, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the November 2005 Total Adjusted Revenue for
the three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's November 2005
total adjusted revenue was $38,258,019.27 compared to $38,808,210.68
in October 2005; MotorCity Casino's October 2005 total adjusted
revenue was $33,627,466.92 compared to $36,318,454.56 in October
2005; and Greektown Casino's November 2005 total adjusted revenue
was $28,314,520.86 compared to $28,659,218.83 in October 2005.
November 30, 2005
MotorCity Casino
broke ground today for its permanent facility expansion. Plans for
the $275 million project include a 17-story, 400-room hotel, a
1,200-seat auditorium, an additional 25,000 square feet for
gambling, and space for conventions. The expansion is going up
adjacent to MotorCity Casino's 75,000 square foot temporary
facility, which will be incorporated into the final facility.
MotorCity Casino owner Marian Illitch would like the new facility
completed by late 2007.
November 24, 2005
Casino Windsor
announced the grand opening of the first phase of its $400 million
renovation project. On December 16, 2005, at 11:00 a.m., Casino
Windsor will unveil its new Market Buffet, featuring seven distinct
eateries with a great variety of menu choices for serving up to 600
diners. The Market Buffet's unique design will allow patrons to
watch as chefs prepare at least 95 percent of the menu choices fresh
at each of the seven eatery stations as well as at the dessert bar.
The Market Buffet is on the casino's lower level in the former food
court and waterfall areas.
November 15, 2005
At a special meeting,
the Michigan Gaming Control Board unanimously approved Greektown
Casino's financing arrangements for the construction of a permanent
casino, hotel and parking structure. The Board-approved financing
plan allows Greektown to refinance its current debt, issue $185
million in new debt to repay former partners Ted Gatzaros and Jim
Papas and new investor Don Barden, and borrow $200 million for the
permanent complex construction. Since Greektown Casino opened in
2000, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians' profits have
been approximately $10 million annually. For the next three years,
the Tribe, which owns 90 percent of Greektown Casino, will receive
only $5 million in annual profits from the casino-operation and will
apply the additional profits to paying down the loans. Should the
Tribe miss a payment, it has agreed to find a new buyer for the
casino-hotel within 180 days.
November 10, 2005
On its 5th
anniversary, Greektown Casino celebrated by opening a new
eight-story, 630-space valet parking garage. The garage is at
Beaubien and Fort and is designed to shorten the time guests wait
for retrieval of their vehicles.
November 9, 2005
The Michigan
Gaming Control Board released the October 2005 Total Adjusted
Revenue for the three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's
October 2005 total adjusted revenue was $38,808,210.68 compared to
$35,429,838.05 in September 2005; MotorCity Casino's October 2005
total adjusted revenue was $36,318,454.56 compared to $33,933,523.20
in September 2005; and Greektown Casino's October 2005 total
adjusted revenue was $28,659,218.83 compared to $25,283,145.07 in
September 2005.
November 9, 2005
Construction of MGM
Grand Detroit Casino's permanent facility is progressing. The
pilings are going in for the eight story parking garage, part of the
new hotel-casino complex, just northeast of the intersection of the
Lodge/I-75 freeways between Third and Bagley avenues. Plans for the
facility include a 400-room hotel and a casino with 100,000 square
feet of gaming space. Casino and hotel construction is expected to
begin next year, once the approvals are finalized.
November 8, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board passed Resolution No. 2005-03, which expands the
monetary limit at which persons involved in the construction of
permanent casinos who are prime contractors may still qualify for a
Vendor Exemption under Resolution 2003-07 from $2,000,000 to
$8,000,000. To review Resolution 2005-03, click here.
November 8, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board will hold a special meeting on November 15, 2005,
beginning at 6:00 p.m. concerning the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of
Chippewa Indians' financial arrangements for the Greektown Casino
permanent facility.
November 8, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board approved Don Barden as suitable to hold a casino
license at its meeting Tuesday. Also, Mr. Barden's purchase of a 3.8
percent interest in Detroit's Greektown Casino was officially
granted. Mr. Barden has an agreement with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe
of Chippewa Indians to sell his interest in the Greektown Casino
back to the tribe for $16 million. His casino interest was purchased
from minority owners Christopher Jackson and Arthur B. Blackwell II
for $11.4 million.
October 13, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the September 2005 Total Adjusted Revenue for
the three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's September 2005
total adjusted revenue was $35,429,838.05 compared to $38,900,696.00
in August 2005; MotorCity Casino's September 2005 total adjusted
revenue was $33,933,523.20 compared to $35,988,380.84 in August
2005; and Greektown Casino's September 2005 total adjusted revenue
was $25,283,145.07 compared to $28,515,413.08 in August 2005.
October 12 2005
At Wednesday's Senate
Gaming and Casino Oversight committee meeting, Gaming Control Board
Executive Director Dan Gustafson reported that a steady, slow growth
in gambling at the three Detroit casinos is expected to continue
over the next ten years with a possible average annual rate of 1.5
percent. The smoking ban at Ontario casinos, including Windsor
Casino, has the potential to increase the Detroit gaming market as
much as 10 percent. Mr. Gustafson also indicated that there are
presently 13 Michigan State Police troopers investigating criminal
events and complaints, and the Board needs to double the number of
troopers performing those duties.
October 5, 2005
A Wayne County
Circuit Court Judge ordered that the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa Indians pay Don Barden $33 million as provided for
in a 2001 agreement between Barden and the tribe. This decision is a
result of Barden suing the tribe for breach of contract in July of
this year when the Lac Vieux Band discontinued payments on Mr.
Barden's portion of the settlement money received as a result of the
tribe's lawsuit concerning the Detroit casino licensing process. The
October 5, 2005, settlement is not a 50/50 split, and allows the Lac
Vieux Band to retain $4.8 million more than provided by the equal
split.
October 5, 2005
Site clearing for the
permanent MGM Grand Detroit Casino facility at Bagley Street and the
Lodge Freeway has begun. A privacy fence is up around the 25-acre
site and utilities are being removed by work crews. A date for the
groundbreaking is yet to be announced.
September 2005
The "Entrepreneur of
the Year" award was presented to Don H. Barden, chairman and CEO of
the Majestic Star Casino LLC, during the 2005 Indiana Black Expo's
Summer Celebration. The award was presented during the Indiana Black
Expo Corporate Luncheon at the Indianapolis RCA Dome. President
George W. Bush and Governor Mitch Daniels attended the ceremony.
This award is recognition of Mr. Barden's commitment, dedication and
lifetime achievements. Majestic Star Casino is 100 percent owned and
operated by Barden, the only African American owner and operator of
a national casino entertainment company. Since Gary, Indiana's
Majestic Star Casino opened in 1996, it has donated millions of
dollars to various charities and has a long history of community
involvement, including volunteerism, community sponsorship and
charitable contributions. Mr. Barden also owns a one percent
interest in Detroit's Greektown Casino.
September 13, 2005
MotorCity Casino's
permanent casino and hotel construction plans were approved by the
Michigan Gaming Control Board at Tuesday's meeting. The $275 million
project, which includes plans for a 17-story, 400-room hotel, a
1,200-seat theater, restaurants, bars and 4,400 parking spaces,
needs only City of Detroit building permits for construction to
begin in February. With completion scheduled for early 2008,
MotorCity's permanent casino will remain at its present Grand
Avenue/Lodge Freeway site. The new hotel will be at the corner of
Temple and Brooklyn with the casino, parking deck and expanded food
service building on the other three corners. Access to the separate
buildings will be via an overhead walkway.
September 13, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the August 2005 Total Adjusted Revenue for
the three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's August 2005
total adjusted revenue was $38,900,696.00 compared to $38,582,864.90
in July 2005; MotorCity Casino's August 2005 total adjusted revenue
was $35,988,380.84 compared to $37,314,206.94 in July 2005; and
Greektown Casino's August 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$28,515,413.08 compared to $31,285,994.92 in July 2005.
September 13, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board tentatively approved Don H. Barden's purchase of a one
percent interest in Detroit's Greektown Casino. Mr. Barden currently
owns the Fitzgeralds Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the
Majestic Star Casino in Gary, Indiana.
September 13, 2005
Greektown Casino
announced a change in plans concerning its new, permanent casino.
Pending Michigan Gaming Control Board approval, Greektown Casino is
now looking at staying in the Greektown district and adding a 3,500
space parking structure at the corner of Monroe and St. Antoine with
a 15-story, 400-room hotel across the street. Plans for the $175
million project, expected to be completed in January 2008, also
include a theater, meeting rooms and a spa.
August 15, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the July 2005 Total Adjusted Revenue for the
three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's July 2005 total
adjusted revenue was $38,582,864.90 compared to $33,647,703.42 in
June 2005; MotorCity Casino's July 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$37,314,206.94 compared to $32,563,706.50 in June 2005; and
Greektown Casino's July 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$31,285,994.92 compared to $26,401,893.45 in June 2005.
July 19, 2005
Detroit casino
winnings issued on paper tickets expire after 180 days. Since 2003,
when paper tickets were first instituted in the Detroit casinos,
casino patrons have failed to redeem approximately $650,000 in
winnings. Unclaimed winnings become property of the casino.
July 19, 2005
Don Barden filed suit
against the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
in Wayne County Circuit Court alleging breach of contract for an
alleged agreement whereby the tribe agreed to pay Barden 50 percent
of any settlement payments which came about due to the tribe's suit
regarding the Detroit casino licensing process. Wayne Circuit Judge
Gershwin Drain will preside over the case.
July 14, 2005
The Michigan Court of
Appeals issued its opinion in the McClary, et al v State Gaming
Control Board matter. In this suit, Highland Park casino interests
claimed Michigan's 1997 law regulating the three Detroit casinos was
unconstitutional because it denied other Michigan cities the right
to casino licenses and gaming facilities. The Court opined the law
is not a local act and it is, therefore, plausible that in the
future other Michigan cities could meet the casino criteria and seek
to enact local laws enabling a gaming facility in that area.
Highland Park meets the specific locale requirement (located within
100 miles of a state or country which permits gaming), but does not
have the 800,000 or greater population required for a Michigan city
casino facility.
July 14, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the June 2005 Total Adjusted Revenue for the
three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's June 2005 total
adjusted revenue was $33,647,703.42 compared to $39,462,881.98 in
May 2005; MotorCity Casino's June 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$32,563,706.50 compared to $36,312,401.88 in May 2005; and Greektown
Casino's June 2005 total adjusted revenue was $26,401,893.45
compared to $30,337,966.79 in May 2005.
July 13, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board gave Marian Ilitch the final approval for her $1.1
billion financing package allowing her to become sole owner of
Detroit's MotorCity Casino.
July 13, 2005
The Michigan Court of
Appeals upheld a Wayne County Circuit Court decision that Mark
Cowsert must exhaust his remedies with the Michigan Gaming Control
Board before taking his dispute over a $13.7 million jackpot he
alleges to have won at a Greektown Casino slot machine to the state
court system. Mr. Cowsert sued Greektown Casino when the casino
refused to pay him the $13,757,317.37 jackpot he feels he won.
Greektown Casino said the slot machine had malfunctioned and turned
the machine over to the Gaming Control Board.
July 13, 2005
At the request of Don
Barden's attorneys, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Borman dismissed
the Barden lawsuit against the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa Indians.
July 7, 2005
Don Barden filed a
lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa Indians alleging breach of contract. The Barden
suit contends his company, Barden Development Inc., was to receive
50 percent of any settlement payments the tribe received in return
for assistance Barden provided Lac Vieux in its court proceeding to
challenge the Detroit casino licensing procedure. Lac Vieux reached
a settlement agreement with the MotorCity and Greektown casinos and
paid Barden his percentage of the 2004 $3 million payment, but when
the tribe received its $14.5 million payment on July 1, 2005, tribal
attorneys notified Barden that they considered the agreement expired
and no further payments would be forthcoming.
June 22, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the May 2005 Total Adjusted Revenue for the
three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's May 2005 total
adjusted revenue was $39,462,881.98 compared to $38,345,124.70 in
April 2005; MotorCity Casino's May 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$36,312,401.88 compared to $38,478,711.84 in April 2005; and
Greektown Casino's May 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$30,337,966.79 compared to $26,993,224.06 in April 2005.
June 15, 2005
Renovations at Casino
Windsor began with the removal of the atrium's waterfall and palms
and the building of a large wall to block the construction from the
gaming area. Casino spokeswoman Holly Ward told Windsor Star the
remodeled area will be an even more spectacular new attraction. This
work is expected to be completed in three years. Meanwhile,
preliminary work on the adjacent, newly planned expansion (hotel
tower, parking and convention space) continues, and excavation is
expected to begin by the end of June.
May 16, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the April 2005 Total Adjusted Revenue for the
three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's April 2005 total
adjusted revenue was $38,345,124.70 compared to $40,858,085.97 in
March 2005; MotorCity Casino's April 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$38,478,711.84 compared to $40,308,616.23 in March 2005; and
Greektown Casino's April 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$26,993,224.06 compared to $28,109,572.86 in March 2005.
May 2, 2005
Detroit's City
Council approved the rezoning, which will allow Greektown Casino and
MotorCity Casino to continue with plans for permanent gaming
facilities and hotels. MGM Grand Detroit Casino previously completed
this process. Approval from the Michigan Gaming Control Board is
still necessary before construction of the permanent facilities can
begin.
April 28, 2005
In response to the
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals lifting the Lac Vieux Injunction
concerning the three Detroit casino operators building permanent
casinos, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick convened a 4:00 p.m. press
conference during which he told the media, "I want it to be a race
to see who finishes first." While the Mayor did not commit to a
timeline, he stated he expects the permanent casinos to open during
the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
April 28, 2005
The Sixth Circuit
Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio issued an Opinion which will
allow the construction of Detroit's three permanent casinos to move
forward. The decision was issued in the case of Lac Vieux Desert
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v The City of Detroit, et al.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals today held: 1) That the lower
court's approval of the Settlement Agreements and Consent Judgment
is affirmed; 2) That all of the remaining appeals of the parties are
dismissed; and 3) That the injunction preventing the construction of
the Detroit casinos is dissolved. The Court also let it be known
that it does not believe that a new selection process is warranted
for the MGM Grand Detroit Casino.
April 21, 2005
Now that the Illinois
gaming regulators have approved the MGM Mirage/Mandalay Resort Group
merger, the final steps of the $7.9 billion acquisition can proceed.
MGM reported to Gaming Wire that it expects to establish the escrow
account and close the Detroit MotorCity Casino sale on Monday, April
25, 2005, when the rest of the process is to be completed.
April 16, 2005
Chairman of The
Majestic Star Casino LLC Don Barden is seeking state approval to
become a one percent owner in Detroit's Greektown Casino. Majestic
Star currently operates four casinos in Indiana, Mississippi and
Colorado.
April 15, 2005
The Ontario Lottery
and Gaming Commission ("OLGC") announced the winning bidders of the
Casino Windsor $400-million expansion project are Eastern
Construction and WZMH Architects, the same companies that built the
existing Casino Windsor facility in 1998. With a May groundbreaking,
the project is expected to be completed in 36 months.
April 13, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board approved an Order allowing Marian Ilitch to purchase
her partners' interests in the MotorCity Casino. The Board's Order
contains certain conditions, but allows the ownership of Mandalay
Resort Group, 53.5%; Tom Celani, 10%; and the 11.5% of Atwater
Entertainment Associations, a group of 100 local investors, to be
transferred to Ms. Ilitch.
April 12, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the March 2005 Total Adjusted Revenue for the
three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's March 2005 total
adjusted revenue was $40,858,085.97 compared to $39,569,010.32 in
February 2005; MotorCity Casino's March 2005 total adjusted revenue
was $40,308,616.23 compared to $36,066,717.72 in February 2005; and
Greektown Casino's March 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$28,109,572.86 compared to $26,598,968.15 in February 2005.
April 8, 2005
Windsor Star
reported remodeling has begun on the Ontario Lottery and Gaming
Corporation ("OLGC") building near Casino Windsor. When the $6
million renovation is complete, it will house the administrative
staff of Windsor Casino Ltd., the company that operates Casino
Windsor for OLGC, and provide a training facility for Casino Windsor
employees.
March 23, 2005
MGM Mirage Inc. and
Mandalay Resort Group Inc. today announced that they have entered
into a definitive agreement to sell Mandalay's 53.5 percent interest
in MotorCity Casino L.L.C. to an affiliate of Marian Ilitch for $525
million. The agreement is subject to Michigan Gaming Control Board
approval.
March 21, 2005
MGM Grand Detroit has
initiated customer-attracting promotions and is asking for customer
feed-back. MGM Grand President and COO George Boyer told Crain's
Detroit Business that their customers frequent all four area casinos
and "we want to find out if we're their favorite, and why they
choose us."
March 16, 2005
MotorCity Casino has
received two purchase bids due to the necessity of its sale as a
result of the MGM Mirage and Mandalay Resort Group merger. Marian
Ilitch, who currently owns 25 percent of the MotorCity Casino,
offered Mandalay $525 million for its 53.3 percent of the Casino.
Peter Karmanos Jr. has entered a $563 million bid for Mandalay's
percentage. The sale will need Michigan Gaming Control Board
approval.
March
8, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the February 2005 Total Adjusted Revenue for
the three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's February 2005
total adjusted revenue was $39,569,010.32 compared to $38,958,376.75
in January 2005; MotorCity Casino's February 2005 total adjusted
revenue was $36,066,717.72 compared to $35,896,809.67 in January
2005; and Greektown Casino's January 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$26,598,968.15 compared to $25,786,446.28 in January 2005.
February 22, 2005
The Nevada Gaming
Control Board recommended approval of MGM Mirage's plan to acquire
Mandalay Resort Group to create one of the world's largest gaming
companies. The Gaming Control Board's recommendation now goes to the
Nevada Gaming Commission, which is expected to act on the matter
February 24, 2005.
February 16, 2005
The Federal Trade
Commission approved MGM Mirage Inc.'s purchase of Mandalay Resort
Group with a 5-0 vote and put no limiting conditions on the buyout.
Upon completion of this merger, MGM Mirage Inc. will be one of the
world's largest gaming companies. Regulatory approval will be
required from Nevada and several other states where the two
companies presently own properties, including Michigan. In Michigan,
state law forbids a greater than 10 percent interest in more than
one Detroit casino, and, as MGM Grand Detroit is an MGM property and
MotorCity a Mandalay property, one or the other will have to be
sold.
February 14, 2005
Ontario's Economic
Development and Trade Minister Joe Cordiano announced that
construction of additional facilities and a major renovation for
Casino Windsor are scheduled to begin in the spring with a projected
opening in 2007. The proposed new facilities, to be built just west
of the casino, include a 10,000-square-foot convention center, a
5,000-seat auditorium and a 400-room hotel tower 23 stories tall.
February 13, 2005
Greektown Casino has
requested approval from the City of Detroit to build a $10 million
parking garage half a block from the casino to park the cars of
patrons who use the casino's valet parking service. Hopes are that
the convenience of the proposed 650-car garage will lure more casino
customers to Greektown. While valet service is currently provided,
patrons' cars are parked at several different area lots, and valets
must endure local traffic backups and delays, which sometimes means
up to a 30-minute wait for customers using the service.
February 10, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the January 2005 Total Adjusted Revenue for
the three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's January 2005
total adjusted revenue was $38,958,376.75 compared to $36,175,953.73
in December 2004; MotorCity Casino's January 2005 total adjusted
revenue was $35,896,809.67 compared to $34,954,144.82 in December
2004; and Greektown Casino's January 2005 total adjusted revenue was
$25,786,446.28 compared to $24,663,519.76 in December 2004. When
January 2005 revenue is compared to January 2004 Total Adjusted
Revenue, each casino saw a revenue increase. MGM Grand Detroit
Casino's revenues increased by 17.47%, MotorCity Casino's by 2.51%,
and Greektown Casino's were up by 2.19%. The three Detroit casinos'
gaming taxes for January 2005 were $12.178 million, while January
2004 saw $7.567 million in gaming taxes from the three Detroit
casinos.
February 3, 2005
Counsel for the Lac
Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians notified the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit of its plan to file an
emergency motion to modify injunction. The tribe wishes to prevent
MGM from selling either of its properties prior to a resolution of
the tribe's 1977 lawsuit against the City of Detroit regarding the
City's selection and licensing of the three Detroit casino
operators. The proposed MGM / Mandalay merger necessitates MGM's
sale of one of its Detroit properties due to a Michigan law
preventing more than 10 percent ownership in more than one casino.
While MotorCity Casino and Greektown Casino reached Court-approved
settlement agreements with the Lac Vieux Band in 2004, the MGM Grand
Detroit Casino suit is pending with hearings set for later in 2005.
February 1, 2005
A Casino Windsor
press release announced the opening of its new poker room "Poker
Place" will occur on February 11, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. The new
facility will feature 10 tables, in 3,000 square feet of space, and
offer Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud and more. Bets will vary
from $3 to unlimited amounts.
January 26, 2005
According to an
estimate by Gaming Analyst Jacob Miklojcik of Lansing-based Michigan
Consultants, a quick response from the Ontario government to the
gaming market's need for non-gaming amenities, could mean additional
annual revenue of almost one-half a billion dollars for Casino
Windsor.
January 26, 2005
With the hope of
attracting new customers, Casino Windsor opened its luxurious
restaurant, Cache, built in 1999 for $15 million and previously
reserved only for the casino's high-roller clientele, to the general
public. In its 115-seat dining room and lounge, Cache offers $28 to
$55 sumptuous entrees and lavish ambiance.
January 26, 2005
Windsor Casino's
gross gaming revenue during the first nine months of 2003 was $318.4
million. A 46 percent revenue drop was seen in the first 2004-2005
quarter due primarily to the casino workers' strike. Second quarter
revenue was down 2.2 percent.
January
25, 2005
In 2004, Detroit's
three casinos' revenue was $1.18 billion. This is a 5.2 percent
increase from 2003's income. In 2004, MGM Grand Detroit and
MotorCity Casino saw profits increase by 7.4 percent to $433 million
and 8.6 percent to $436 million, respectively, compared to 2003.
Greektown Casino's 2004 revenue, which declined by 1.7 percent
compared to 2003, was $319 million.
January 20, 2005
According to Windsor
MPP and Cabinet Minister Sandra Pupatello, when Premier Dalton
McGuinty visits Windsor in two weeks, he will announce a
multimillion-dollar non-gaming development on vacant land west of
Casino Windsor intended to complement the gaming facility.
Provincial Trade Minister Joseph Cordiano also indicated his support
for expansion and instructed the Ontario Lottery and Gaming
Corporation to explore expansion possibilities.
January 18, 2005
The Venetian Group,
operators of the Las Vegas Venetian Resort and Casino and the Sands
Expo and Convention Center, spoke with Detroit officials and Mayor
Kilpatrick concerning the possibility of acquiring the Cobo Center
and expanding it to include a casino and hotel, resulting in the
Cobo expansion without taxpayer dollars. While the Group has no
Detroit casino license, MGM Grand Detroit's license will become
available with the finalization of the MGM/Mandalay Bay Resorts
merger. Deputy Mayor Adams told the Detroit Free Press this is one
of several options being considered.
January 14, 2005
The Greektown Casino
Management Board announced that Chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie
Tribe of Chippewa Indians Aaron Payment and Greektown Casino
management board member and property investor Marvin Beatty are to
be acting Co-CEOs during the search for a new permanent CEO for the
casino. These gentlemen replace Bernard Bouschor, previous Sault
Tribe Chairman and Greektown Casino CEO. The June 2004 tribal vote
resulted in Mr. Payment's election as Chairman of the Sault Ste.
Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
January 14, 2005
Governor Granholm
reappointed two Michigan Gaming Control Board Members whose terms
expired on December 31, 2004. The reappointed Board Members are:
Damian Kassab (R-Rochester) and Donald Robinson (D-Detroit). The
terms for Mr. Kassab and Mr. Robinson will expire on December 31,
2008.
January 11, 2005
The Michigan Gaming
Control Board released the December 2004 Total Adjusted Revenue for
the three Detroit casinos. MGM Grand Detroit Casino's December 2004
total adjusted revenue was $36,175,953.73 compared to $33,548,680.97
in November; MotorCity Casino's November 2004 total adjusted revenue
was $34,954,144.82 compared to $35,182,101.27 in November; and
Greektown Casino's December 2004 total adjusted revenue was
$24,663,519.76 compared to $24,719.193.14 in November. The three
Detroit casinos' 2004 Total Adjusted Gross Receipts totaled
$1,189,264,436.88 and the Total State Wagering Tax was
$111,410,426.51.
