20-year-old machine garnered international attention as jackpot mounted LAS VEGAS – Aug. 25, 2014 – A lucky couple has walked away the winners of a $2.4 million jackpot from the legendary “Lion’s Share” slot machine at MGM Grand Las Vegas. The machine hit the enormous jackpot just after 11 p.m. On Friday, Aug. One of the winners inserted $100 into the machine and was playing the.
A multitude of losing hands and stingy slots created a mountain of cash from Detroit's casinos since they were legalized 20 years ago today.
The city's three casinos contributed roughly $4.6 billion in state and city taxes on revenue since their operations began, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
After a signature from Gov. John Engler, the Michigan Gaming and Revenue Act took effect July 17, 1997, launching the commercial casino industry in Detroit, the control board said in a news release.
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Here are some more facts from the news release and the control board's 2016 annual report
:
- The first casino license in Detroit here was issued to MGM Grand Detroit on July 28, 1999.
- Detroit's casinos exist because voters approved a legislative initiative in November 1996 for up to three commercial gaming casinos in Detroit.
- In 2016, Detroit's three casinos generated about $1.4 billion in gross revenue from table games and electronic games, after winnings were paid out; 43% of that was from MGM Grand.
- More than 4,000 people have voluntarily banned themselves for life from Detroit's three casinos since a problem-gamblers' program was started in 2001.
- In addition to the three Detroit casinos, 23 tribal casinos can be found across Michigan -- all the way to the western Upper Peninsula, where you can visit La Vieux Desert Resort Casino in Watersmeet, about 550 miles from Detroit.
- More than 6,800 people are licensed to work in Michigan's casinos.
- In 2016, Detroit's casinos denied entry to minors 24,957 times, and 64 minors were either arrested or physically escorted from casino premises.
- The State of Michigan has received more than $1.9 billion in taxes for public education, and the City of Detroit has received about $2.6 billion in wagering taxes.
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Contact Robert Allen on Twitter @rallenMI or rallen@freepress.com.