To slow the spread of coronavirus, Detroit’s three casinos — MGM Grand, Greektown and MotorCity — closed for two weeks, starting Monday, March 16, following Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s call to end gatherings of 250 people or more. “It is not time to panic. This is about saving lives,” Whitmer said. She noted casinos are “where there are masses of people who congregate.” Whitmer said she discussed the situation with other governors. Following the initial 2-week closure period, casino officials said they will re-evaluate.
In a statement, MGM Grand Detroit said, “As we continue to navigate through this unprecedented health crisis, we will close for the safety of our employees and the community.” Casino officials said full-time employees would be paid two weeks’ salary.
Penn National Gaming, owners of Greektown, issued a statement noting the casino would continue to pay salaries and benefits for its 1,650 employees during the closure. Greektown’s and MGM Grand’s hotels will be closed during the 2-week period. MotorCity Casino’s hotel will remain open. Sportsbooks at the three venues closed within days of the shutdown of most sports.
Prior to the closings, the Detroit casinos closed buffets, set up temporary partitions throughout their properties, disabled some slot machines to make more space and increased chip washing.
In addition to the three commercial Detroit casino, 12 Native American tribes operate 23 casinos, regulated by the National Indian Gaming Commission. Nine of those had closed their gaming operations as of March 20.
The largest tribe east of the Mississippi River, the 44,000-member Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians shut down its five Kewadin casinos and hotels in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula between March 18 and March 22. Reopening currently is set for April 6. Tribal Chairman Aaron Payment said employees will be paid during the closure.
Bay Mills Indian Community Tribal Chairman Bryan Newland said its Bay Mills Resort and Casinos in Brimley would be closed from March 20 through April 10. Newland said the casino is reviewing options for paying its 600 workers but can’t afford to do that across the board. “A tribe like Bay Mills has very little margin on our cash flow, and very limited cash reserves. Full shutdown, while paying workers, could dry us out very quickly,” he said.
The Gun Lake Tribe announced it was closing the Gun Lake Casino temporarily through March 30. Casino officials said the entire facility will be deep-cleaned during the closure period.
FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians, also closed on March 16 and may reopen April 13.
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians closed all of its Four Winds Casino locations in New Buffalo, Dowagiac and Hartford as well as South Bend, Indiana on March 17 through March 30. Employees will continue to be compensated during the closure.
Other closures include the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians’ Turtle Creek and Leelanau Sands casinos; the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel and the Slot Palace & Bingo Hall; the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians’ Little River Casino Resort in Manistee; and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians’ Odawa Casino locations.
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community reduced the hours at its Ojibwa Casinos, closing nightly from 2:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. until further notice.
