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Michigan flush with new casinos

"Gaming experts predict the three casinos -- the others are near Grand Rapids and Battle Creek -- will increase Indian gaming revenue by about 60 percent a year, injecting new life into an otherwise flat industry by drawing new customers from southwest Michigan and bordering states. Revenue from the state's other 17 Indian casinos has hovered around $900 million for several years.

"...The expansion in Indian gambling comes as Detroit's three gaming operations prepare to open permanent casinos and hotel and entertainment complexes -- a $1.3 billion investment. Two of them -- MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity -- will open within the next three months.

"While the Detroit casinos also foresee revenue growth, gaming experts contend its three casinos will draw a different clientele than the Indian facilities. Their growth will come from business travelers and conventioneers who don't mind spending big money for luxury rooms and other amenities at their 400-room hotels and entertainment venues.

"...While the state might seem saturated with Indian casinos, some regions, including southwest Michigan, have been void of gaming operations.

"Michigan could easily handle 25 percent growth in the number of new casinos depending on where they are located, said Jacob L. Miklojcik, a Lansing-based gambling consultant..."

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