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When it comes to sports betting in Michigan, March Madness is good for business.
Three commercial casinos in Michigan increased their total retail sports betting handle by around 14% in March, month on month, thanks to increased betting because of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
Analyzing Michigan sports betting handle in March
In total, Michigan commercial sportsbooks generated $13,938,183 of retail handle in March. That figure represents a roughly 14% increase over February when total commercial sportsbook handle hit just over $12 million.
| Casino | March 2023 | February 2023 | January 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGM Grand Detroit | $4,051,375 | $3,739,141 | $5,695,124 |
| MotorCity Casino Hotel | $3,436,686 | $4,136,351 | $3,707,097 |
| Hollywood Casino at Greektown | $6,450,122 | $4,343,322 | $5,875,462 |
| Total | $13,938,183 | $12,218,814 | $15,277,683 |
While casinos saw month-on-month gains, which is typically the standard across the country from February to March, year-on-year handle was down.
Combined, MGM Grand, MotorCity, and Greektown casinos saw their retail handle halved thanks to the launch of mobile sports betting in January 2022.
Greektown, MGM Grand saw sports betting handle increase
In terms of individual retail sports betting handle, MGM Grand Detroit surpassed $4 million for the second time this year. However, like the state’s overall commercial sports betting retail handle, MGM Grand’s handle declined year on year.
Like MGM Grand, Greektown saw its handle jump month-on-month. The casino saw a more than $2 million increase in handle compared to February. However, its year-on-year total was down around $2 million.
Four Michigan teams in tourney likely added to March Madness betting fervor
Four teams from Michigan played in the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments.
Marquette lost in the first round of the women’s tournament, while Michigan lost in the Round of 32.
On the men’s side, Michigan State made a solid run to the Sweet 16, defeating its Upper Penninsula counterpart Marquette in the second round. However, Tom Izzo’s Spartans lost in the Sweet 16 to Kansas State and guard Markquis Nowell’s historic 20-point, 19-assist performance.
Also benefitting Michigan sportsbooks’ bottom line was #1-seed Purdue‘s early exit to #16-seed Farleigh Dickinson.
