Detroit

Detroit Area Casino Hotels

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Casino Windsor opened its temporary structure in 1994, drawing huge numbers of Metro Detroiters across the river. Detroit took notice, and, after prolonged consideration, voters approved three casinos for the city. While temporary casinos opened in 1999 and 2000, owners were required to build permanent casino/hotel complexes within the decade. The initial plan was to cluster them at the river front. When this proved too complicated, the three casinos made plans at or near their temporary sites.

Casino Windsor

Casino Windsor first opened in 1994 to overflowing crowds. A permanent casino, complete with headline entertainment, followed in 1998 and has been continually successful. With several permanent casino/hotel complexes planned for Detroit, a $400 million expansion was announced in 2005 that includes an additional 400-room hotel.

Casino Windsor will become Caesars Windsor in 2008 when its expansion is unveiled. Its already achieved a high level of excellence, evidenced by its many "best of" awards and CAA/AAA Four-Diamond standing. It also has the advantage of a legal gambling/drinking age of 19.

A 2006 Ontario smoking ban and the falling value of the American dollar in Canada, however, may prove a disadvantage.

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MGM Grand Casino Hotel

Photo © Laura Sternberg, Licensed to About.com

The MGM Grand is consistently the revenue leader of the three downtown Detroit casinos. Name recognition may be a factor, but its temporary location (in the former Federal Building) near area freeways was also a benefit. Its permanent location was built just a few blocks away, but better reflects its parent company's commitment to elegance and majesty. The MGM casino is spacious and "grand," lacking the level of smoke that seems to relentlessly hover at its competitors' casinos. The MGM, however, also lacks the signature design elements of the MotorCity and the ethnic identity of the Greektown neighborhood.

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MotorCity Casino Hotel

Photo © Laura Sternberg, Licensed to About.com

MotorCity's casino is housed in the former Wonder Bread Factory, located just outside the downtown area in a relatively isolated section. Even so, the temporary casino's revenue approached that of MGM's most months. When it came time to build its permanent complex, MotorCity chose to expand on and redesign its existing site.

With its future-retro design, MotorCity arguably has the most style and flare of the three Detroit casino/hotels. Its location, however, continues to work to its disadvantage, as does its multiple-floor casino; while gaming space has been added with lofty ceilings and signature design elements, other areas of the casino suffer in comparison with smoky, low-ceiling rooms.

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Greektown Casino

Greektown's temporary casino is housed in a former multiple-floor, indoor mall known as "Trapper's Alley." Initially, its location within Greektown proved advantageous in that it was part of a thriving neighborhood and on the People Mover route. It also had an already existing hotel, the Athenian, adjacent. Even so, it consistently lagged behind the other Detroit casinos in terms of revenue and permanent casino plans. This is arguably because the area is difficult to access and relatively confined in terms of expansion and parking. A new parking garage with a connecting skyway to the casino helps, as will the casino expansion and 30-story, 400-room hotel slated for completion in 2008.