MotorCity Casino Hotel online gambling partnerships
MotorCity Casino Hotel is the only one of the three commercial casinos in Detroit that is locally-owned and operated. Local billionaire businesswoman, Little Caesars Pizza co-founder, and Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner Marian Ilitch was one of the original investors in the casino and bought it outright in 2005.
In March 2020, MotorCity Casino teamed up with FanDuel Group to launch sports betting and online casino in Michigan. The deal includes a FanDuel-branded retail sportsbook at the Detroit casino.
- Motor City Casino is not your kind of place. I have been to all three of the Detroit casinos many times, always with other people. I have also been to Caesar's in Windsor, Ontario at least as many times and to casinos elsewhere in the U.S. Canada, Asia and Europe.
- Motor City Casino is one of Detroit’s leading poker venues. A notably large band of staff ensures that Motor City has enough customer service personnel on hand to satisfy players at busy times. Motor City’s name makes reference to Detroit’s major status in the automobile industry, with factory workers and executives alike often populating.
The partnership brings a heavy-hitter to Michigan’s expanding gambling industry. FanDuel, owned by Flutter Entertainment, got its start in sports betting in New Jersey, where it is the top online and retail brand in that state.
It is expected FanDuel and its MotorCity market access agreement will produce similar dividends in Michigan.
The FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Casino are expected to launch end of 2020 if not early 2021.
The casino at MotorCity Casino Hotel
The 100,000-square-foot casino at MotorCity Casino Hotel is open 24 hours.
It features close to 2,00 slots and video poker games, 60 table games, and Detroit’s only poker club. That means the best of electronic gaming and slots, a diverse selection of table games, and some of the city’s best live poker action.
MotorCity Casino Hotel also hosts a smoke-free gaming area on the 2nd floor.
The casino at MotorCity Casino Hotel runs a variety of promotions, including:
- $50,000 Invitational Slot Tournament (February 2020).
- Bounce Back Bonus – Earn $10 or more in comps and get a Reward Play bonus of that same amount.
- Cupid’s Cash – A Valentine’s Day promo offering a chance at $1,000 CASH in hourly drawings, $10 in Reward Play, or a chance at a share of $500 CASH at slot tournaments held every 20 minutes.
- Double Play – Refer a friend for a new Club Metro account and earn your points, and your friend’s for 30 days.
- Early Bird – A chance to win $25,000 or up to $1,000 in Reward Play playing slots on a Sunday morning.
- New Members – Sign up for Club Metro and get $10 Reward Play. Get another $10 Reward Play by entering the secret code MOBILEAPP10 in the MYMotorCity mobile app.
- Night Owl – Invited Club Metro members have a chance to win $25,000 or up to $1,000 in Reward Play playing slots late on Saturday night.
- Secret Code Bonus – Invited Club Metro members can get a minimum of $10 in Reward Play by downloading the MYMotorCity Mobile App and entering their Secret Code.
- Sweetheart Slot Bonus – Another Valentine’s Day promo offering the chance to win up to $1,000 in Reward Play.
Slots
MotorCity Casino Hotel is home to 2,700 slots and video poker machines.
That means everything from traditional reel games to the newest five-reel and video games are available in denominations ranging from 1¢ to $100.
The slot area features an interactive audio/video system and the Lightning Link Lounge including 40 linked progressive jackpot slots.
Table games
MotorCity Casino Hotel doesn’t have the sheer number of table games you might find at the other Detroit casinos, but the list of different games is a lengthy and diverse one. They’ve got table games covered with 60, including everything from classic casino games to the latest trends.
Here’s a full list of the table games at MotorCity Casino Hotel:
- Blackjack
- Spanish 21
- TriLux Blackjack
- House Money Blackjack
- Super 4 Progressive Blackjack
- Buster Blackjack
- Roulette
- Single Zero Roulette
- Blaze Roulette
- Mini-Baccarat (Dragon Side Bet)
- Craps with Fire Bet
- Progressive Pai Gow Poker
- Progressive 3-Card Poker
- Progressive Mississippi Stud
- Progressive Ultimate Texas Hold’em
- Criss Cross Poker
- Casino War
Club Metro rewards program
Club Metro is MotorCity Casino Hotel’s player loyalty program.
The Program rewards members with comps for slots and table game play. Plus, it offers 3% comp back on most cash or credit purchases at MotorCity Casino Hotel.
Comps can be used for dining, shopping, spa treatments, and hotel getaways.
The Club Metro card also entitles users to a minimum 10% discount on food and retail purchases, hotel stays, shows at Sound Board, and spa treatment and services.
Every $15 in comps earned also entitles members to $5 in Reward Play.
Club Metro features four tiers all with increased earning potential, benefits, and discounts.
MotorCity Casino Hotel sportsbook
MotorCity Casino Hotel has a deep connection to Detroit sports as owner Marian Ilitch also owns the Detroit Red Wings (NHL) and Detroit Tigers (MLB).
The casino has long hosted viewing parties for Red Wings and Detroit Pistons games featuring food and drink specials and prize raffles.
Plus, it offers a free shuttle to home games at Little Caesars Arena and $10 in free Reward Play to anyone that visits the MotorCity Casino Hotel booth at the arena.
But with the FanDuel partnership, a retail sportsbook was bound to happen. And it did, opening shortly after the deal was announced. However, it also opened the week most sports canceled or postponed seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The gambling industry in Michigan eventually shut down completely for five months.
When MotorCity reopened in August, the two-story FanDuel Sportsbook was ready. MotorCity Casino Hotel converted its Chromatics and Spectators live music venues into a new sportsbook.
The two-story space features big screen TVs, plush seating, two bars, and several self-serve kiosks and betting windows.
MotorCity Casino Hotel poker room
MotorCity Casino Hotel is home to an 10-table poker room that offers Daily High Hand Jackpots, Bad Beat Jackpots, and No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em and Pot-Limit Omaha cash games and tournaments.
Poker Room promotions also include a gas gift card giveaway to players putting in 40-plus hours at the tables.
The regular tournament schedule includes Bounty and Deepstack events three days a week and monthly guaranteed prizepool tournaments.
You can find out what’s happening at the MotorCity Casino Hotel Poker Room through the Bravo Poker Live App for Apple and Android mobile devices.
MotorCity Casino Hotel awarded a record “Bad Beat” jackpot of almost $569,000 in 2016.
MotorCity Casino Hotel amenities
The hotel at MotorCity Casino Hotel
MotorCity Casino Hotel launched a 400-room hotel, including 33 suites, in 2007.
The hotel does not have a pool, but there is a spa and fitness center available to hotel guests. The fitness center is open 24 hours a day for hotel guests.
There is also more than 67,000 square feet of function and banquet space on the property.
MotorCity Casino Hotel offers hotel packages that include everything from rooms to spa credit, dining credit, and free slot play.
Dining and entertainment
MotorCity Casino Hotel offers a wide selection of dining and entertainment options, including:
- Iridescence: Award winning fine dining restaurant
- Assembly Line Buffet: Award-winning buffet featuring American and international cuisine
- Little Caesars: Genuine Little Caesars Pizza and menu items
- The Lodge Diner: Dine on Detroit history say, night or late night
- Grand River Deli: Deli fare including burgers, corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, homemade soups, and salads
- Sweet Ride: Fresh-made pastries, gourmet cupcakes, spectacular cakes, and Starbucks coffee
- Strut Bar: Bar-top video slots in the heart of the casino
- The Lounge: More than your typical hotel bar with craft beers and cocktails
- Overdrive: Sound Board pre-show spot
- Headlights Lounge: Bar in the center of everything
- MotorCity Pit Stop: Beer, wine, and cocktails in the food court.
- Iridescence: The bar at Iridescence
- Radio Bar: House DJs and live remote broadcasts from the Detroit’s top radio stations
- Sound Board: Live entertainment venue with space for 2,400
- Chromatics and Spectators: Live music venue about to become the new MotorCity Casino Hotel sportsbook
All Michigan Casinos and Sportsbooks
MotorCity Casino Hotel history
In 1996, Michigan voters approved a proposal to build three new commercial casinos in Detroit. In 1997, Michigan lawmakers passed the Michigan Gaming Control & Revenue Act giving three projects the go ahead.
The temporary MotorCity Casino facility officially opened on Dec. 14, 1999.
The temporary home incorporated a building that once housed the Wagner Baking Company, famous for making Wonder Bread.
Permanent hotel and casino
The MotorCity Casino ownership group included the Mandalay Resort Group, Little Caesars Pizza billionaire Marian Ilitch, a group of more than 100 local investors dubbed Atwater Entertainment, and local investor Tom Celani.
In 2005, MGM Mirage, owners of the MGM Grand Detroit, acquired Mandalay Resort Group. Because Michigan law prohibits the ownership of more than one commercial casino, MGM Mirage was forced to sell one.
Ilitch became the sole owner of the MotorCity Casino at that time, paying $525 million for Mandalay’s 53.5% stake, $106 million for Atwater Entertainment’s 11.5% stake, and purchasing Celani’s 10% stake for an undisclosed amount.
At the time, Ilitch claimed buying the casino was a part of her family’s commitment to Detroit’s economic revival.
She went ahead with a $300 million expansion project that included construction of a 400-room, 17-story hotel tower. The new Motor City Casino Hotel opened for business in 2007.
MotorCity Casino Hotel now boasts being the only locally-owned and operated casino in Detroit.
The three Detroit commercial casinos combine to post record revenues of $1.454 billion in 2019. MotorCity Casino saw its highest revenue totals ever, with $493.6 million in annual revenue, second only to MGM Grand Detroit’s $623.5 million.
Based on their upcoming plans, two of Detroit’s casinos are looking optimistically at gambling returning soon to the city.
MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino are now both accepting hotel reservations on their websites for Aug. 1 and beyond.
Detroit’s three casinos have been closed since March 16 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer may not ultimately grant the gambling houses permission to open, the pair is not sitting idly by.
Michigan still going backward in numbers, reopenings
Whitmer has pulled back some of the state’s reopenings this summer as COVID-19 death and infection totals have picked up.
On Tuesday, Michigan added 573 new cases and nine new deaths to the case count, with numbers picking up for people under 50.
Just like Detroit’s three casinos, Whitmer has not yet allowed gyms, movie theaters, and the state’s one horse racing track to reopen for several months.
Motorcity Casino Online Gaming
Whitmer allowed indoor bars to open, but she later shut them down again because of the rising virus numbers.
Meanwhile, all but one of Michigan’s tribal casinos have been reopened by their sovereign Native American operators.
MGM Grand will not open hotel if casino is closed
Residents can go online this week and book rooms at MotorCity and MGM Grand starting Aug. 1, which is a Saturday.
However, according to a statement from MGM Grand Detroit, the resort does not plan to open the hotel while the casino is still closed.
“Our reservation system has to be prepared to take bookings whenever the MGM Grand Detroit hotel reopens and therefore it sets target dates on the website, with the possibility it could change,” according to a statement from MGM Grand Detroit to PlayMichigan.
MotorCity did not return a request for comment.
Sportsbooks missing bets as pro leagues return
Motorcity Casino Online
Professional sports are ramping up restarts this week, meaning casinos will miss out on expected revenues from new sportsbooks inside the casinos.
MotorCity Casino is owned by Marian Ilitch, mother of Detroit Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch. The property opened its FanDuel Michigan Sportsbook right before the shutdown on March 12.
MGM Grand Detroit opened the BetMGM Sportsbook, and Greektown Casino-Hotel, the city’s third commercial casino, which is also not booking reservations, opened a sportsbook too.
No reopening in sight at Caesars Windsor
Meanwhile, across the Detroit River in Ontario, there is less optimism about Caesars Windsor opening soon.
It wouldn’t matter for most US citizens either, as the US-Canada border is closed through at least Aug. 20.
But Canadians hoping to make a bet soon are likely out of luck.
Windsor is in stage two of the province’s reopening plan, but stage three would only allow for a 50-person capacity during the reopening.
Motor City Casino Online
The vice president for the casino’s union said he would be opposed to such a small opening.
According to CKLW AM-800, Darryl Desjarlais of Unifor Local 444 said the 50-person limit would be in addition to staff.
“It’s not my call but I don’t think we’re going to open with 50 people, it’s not feasible,” he said.