On November 13, the Detroit Casino Council (DCC), which represents thousands of workers at MGM Grand Detroit, Hollywood at Greektown and MotorCity, launched a boycott against online betting platforms FanDuel, ESPN Bet, Hollywood iCasino and BetMGM. The boycott does not include Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Palace Online Casino, WynnBET, DraftKings, Sports Illustrated Sportsbook and others.
More than 3,700 Detroit casino workers have been on strike since October 17, when contracts with the city’s three casinos expired.
In a statement, Nia Winston, president of UNITE HERE Local 24, said, “Online sports betting and online casino platforms like FanDuel, ESPN BET and BetMGM are critical sources of revenue for the companies that operate Detroit’s three casinos. Workers have been outside the physical locations 24/7 since going out on strike three weeks ago to win a fair contract. Now, they’re calling on the public not to cross their virtual picket line either and to boycott these apps until the strike is settled.”
Casino workers are seeking increased wages, better retirement benefits and protection for workers affected by new technology, particularly after experiencing the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Contract negotiations resumed on October 26 but a quick settlement does not seem likely, observers said.
After one month, the strike is causing the city to lose critical tax revenue. According to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), the strike has resulted in a 19 percent drop in revenue for October compared to October 2022. The three casinos generated $82.8 million in revenue for the month, with $81.7 million from table games and slots and $1.1 million from retail sports betting. In October, the casinos paid $6.6 million in taxes to the state of Michigan and $10.1 million to the city of Detroit. In September 2023, the casinos generated $101.6 million in aggregate revenue,
The DCC has reported that each day of the strike costs $738,000 in city and state tax revenue and $3.4 million in casino operator revenue.
Although casino officials continue to emphasize “business as usual,” several events have been canceled and some organizations have moved their events. For example, the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan relocated its Kidney Ball from MotorCity Casino to another venue.
The DCC council is composed of UNITE HERE Local 24, United Auto Workers, Teamster Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 32 and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters.
