Michigan Tribal Casino Expansion, US Casino Market Study & More

This week’s casino news starts off in Michigan where the gaming market continues to thrive. One popular gaming venue in the state is set to begin a huge expansion, which is good news if you play in the Great Lake State.

Michigan Tribal Casino Plans Massive Expansion

Years of planning are finally going to be put to action very soon.

The Bay Mills Resort & Casino, which is located in Michigan, is set to embark on a tremendous expansion. It is supposed to start next spring and is approximately worth $65 million to create new employment opportunities and other things for their guests to enjoy.

There is reportedly going to be 134 additional rooms in the casino along with other places such as an arcade, fitness center, nail salon, storefront and a lot more. It was also said that the employee break room will be improved by providing more space and adding new amenities for the staff members working there.

The casino first opened all the way back in 1995. It employs over 200 people with more than 600 slot machines inside. They have a golf course, a hotel and even two restaurants. If that wasn’t enough, they are still working on a brand new DraftKings sportsbook that is set to release next month.

As many other casinos have been doing across the country, they’ve been growing from a gaming venue into an all-encompassing resort. That’s the plan here in Michigan as they hope to attract all types of tourism and not strictly bettors.

Alabama Attorney General Claims Victory Over Illegal Gambling

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall walks across the Supreme Court plaza following oral arguments in Merrill v. Milligan, an Alabama redistricting case that could have far-reaching effects on minority voting power across the United States, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

The Supreme Court in Alabama has decided that they are going to make White Hall, Southern Star, and Victoryland casinos cease gambling operations starting immediately. Attorney general Steve Marshall claimed that this decision is a major one for illegal gambling in the state.

It was ruled that all of these casinos were illegal gambling enterprises according to the case. The state requested that none of these properties offer electronic bingo, as they were calling it. It was reported that this was the second major gambling court case in the past three months. That one also saw the state come out on top.

On top of those, there is another gambling battle going down in court with a lawsuit against Greenetrack casino still being fought.

Alabama has long been against gambling in the state and now they are trying to stop any form of illegal gambling that they find. After all, there still isn’t any form of legalized sports betting available to their residents. Given how the casinos are being treated there, it doesn’t look like any form of sports betting will be arriving to Alabama anytime soon.

Study Releases Projection Of United States Online Casino Market 

Scientific Games, now known as Light & Wonder, has released a report which shows the potential of online casino gambling across the United States. Their goal was to demonstrate just how much growth there can be.

The study said that if all 42 states that allow land-based casinos would legalize online gambling, the countries gambling market has a chance to hit $30 billion. There are only six states that were offering online casinos in 2021 and they were Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey.

Two states that are on the brink of joining that pack are both New York and Indiana. New York, in particular, has the opportunity to drastically bump up the countries market if they start to legalize online casino gambling. They are one of the most populated states in the country after all. Indiana would also provide a substantial boost if they follow suit.

VIXIOP GamblingCompliance completed this study after being commissioned by Light & Wonder. It seems like their hope is to continue to encourage capital investment to flow in as there is plenty of growth opportunities available.