MotorCity Casino

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**MotorCity Casino**

Number of rooms		400
Theme		Retro
Gaming space
Permanent show(s)
Signature attraction(s)
Notable restaurant(s)		Iridescence, The Classic Buffet, MotorCity Pit Stop, Grand River Deli
Owner		Marian Ilitch
Date opened		December 14, 1999
Casino type		Land-Based
Major renovation(s)
Previous name(s)
Casino website		http://www.motorcitycasino.com

MotorCity Casino & Resort (2008) is one of three casinos in Detroit, Michigan. The 4-story casino incorporates an Old Wonder Bread Building. It also has a 3500-spot parking structure. The casino is owned by Marian Ilitch. Forbes reported in October 2006 that the gambling palace has annual revenues of $400+ million and operating income of $125 million, expected to rise to $180 million under the change in tax structure following completion of the resort.^[1]

1 Ownership Interests & Activity
2 Casino resort
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Ownership Interests & Activity

Marian Ilitch, one of the founders of the MotorCity Casino, purchased controlling interest from various minor stakeholders and Mandalay Resort Group/MGM Mirage Resorts in 2005. ^[2] Michigan gaming laws prohibit one company from owning more than one casino property in a market, so to affect the Mandalay Resort/MGM Mirage merger the publicly traded companies had to divest MotorCity Casino, choosing to keep MGM Grand Detroit.^[3]

With Mrs. Ilitch as sole owner, MotorCity Casino is reportedly one of the largest independently owned casinos in the U.S. and likely the largest and only 100 percent female-owned casino enterprise in the United States^[4].

Ilitch and her husband Michael Ilitch are co-founders of Little Caesar's Pizza. They are vice chairwoman and chairman respectively of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. which includes the Detroit Red Wings NHL franchise and various food service and entertainment ventures. Michael Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers MLB franchise.

Mrs. Ilitch and a business partner, Michael J. Malik, Sr., pursue other casino gambling interests outside of Michigan. Among them: Gateway Casinos Resorts, LLC partnered with the Shinnecock Indians in the Hamptons, NY; and Barwest, LLC partners with the Big Lagoon Rancheria Indians and the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians to develop casinos in Barstow, California.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, reports required by the Federal Election Commission and the CA, MI and NY Elections Officials from 2002-2006 inidicate Ilitch family members and business partners contributed more than $880,000 to political campaigns and PACs.^[5]

Federal lobbying reports required to be filed with Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and compiled by The Center for Public Integrity indicate between $0.5-$1.3 million in was directed to Wheat Government Relations (former Congressman Alan Wheat) the primary D.C. lobbyist representing Ilitch and her various partners contract with to lobby Federal officials on gaming or related matters from 2002-2005.

[edit] Casino resort

The MotorCity Casino & Resort was constructed using existing casino space, an expanded parking structure with from 3500 to 4800 spots, a 16-floor hotel with 400 rooms, a 1800-seat performance theater, a 200-seat, 24-hour coffee shop, and a 50,000-square-foot convention center with a 12,000-square-foot ballroom. ^[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ Mark Tatge with Miriam Gottfried (10-09-2006).Encore Forbes.
^ Merger agreement Edgar-online (accessed 04-06-2007).
^ Mandalay Resort Group to sell holdings in Detroit casino Newsratings.com (03-24-2005).
^ Illitch Holdings, Inc. (accessed 04-06-2007)
^ [1](accessed 04-06-2007).
^ Michigan Gaming Control Board (accessed 04-06-2007).

[edit] External links

City of Detroit
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