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MotorCity Casino is one of three 75,000 square-foot (6,900 m2) casinos located 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. It is reported that the gambling palace nets its owners more than $500 million in annual profit.
Ownership Interests & Activity
Marian Ilitch, a founder of MotorCity Casino, purchased controlling interest from various minor stakeholders and Mandalay Resort Group/MGM Mirage Resorts in 2005. 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.
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 (only) 100% female-owned casino enterprise in the United States.
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 from 2002-2005 inidicate Ilitch family members and business partners contributed more than $380,000 to political campaigns and PACs.
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.
Permanent casino
The MotorCity permanent casino proposal will use the existing casino space, an expanded parking structure 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 12,000-square-foot ballroom.
External links
"MotorCity Casino"