Payments to Michigan Tribal Casinos Are Declining for the Second Year in a Row
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For the second year in a row, the 23 tribal casinos in Michigan reported lower gaming payments in 2023.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board’s 2023 Tribal Gaming Report states that payments made by the state’s tribal casinos to local governments decreased by 1.4% in the previous year.
Of the 26 casinos in Michigan, tribal casinos include 23 of them. The other three are situated in downtown Detroit. The tribes’ contributions to local state government entities, which are derived from slot income from their Class III machines, are revealed in the revenue report.
Tribal Casinos in Michigan Will Pay out 1.5% Less Than in 2022
Tribal casinos only provide statistics on income in the form of the MGCB report. Roughly 2% of each tribe’s annual net gain at the casino is represented by the payments they make.
The second year in a row sees a modest decrease in payouts.
The Sault Ste. Marie, MI Tribe of Chippewa Indians is the largest operator of casinos with five, out of the twelve tribes operating in the Great Lakes State.
In 2023, tribal casinos paid out $30.4 million, as opposed to $30.8 million in the previous year.
Eight casinos had a decrease in their 2% payouts in 2022. Even though there were just four this year, one tribe saw a sharp decline.
Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians: This tribe, which owns three Four Winds Casinos, had the largest decline, at 12%. Pokagon Band also revealed the biggest decline in 2022, at 8.9%.
The second biggest loss, at 4%, belonged to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which owns three Saganing Eagles locations.
The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians had a 1.5% decline in operations at Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet compared to 2022. Compared to the 6.1% decline from 2022, it was an improvement.
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community: This tribe is the owner of the Ojibwa Casinos in Baraga and Marquette and saw a 1.3% decline.
