Detroit Casinos Sue State to Avoid Being Shut Down

Casinos in the Detroit area bring in an average of $400,000 daily in tax money that goes to helping balance the state budget.

Ironically, it's the state, the beneficiary of the money, that is looking to shut the casinos down if lawmakers cannot get a deal in place on a new budget by Monday.

If the state goes through with the shut down, it will be impossible for the casinos to stay open because each casino is monitored by a state employee 24 hours a day. The state, by not supplying the employees, would force the casinos to shut because they cannot operate without the state supervision.

The casinos are arguing in the lawsuit that the salaries of the state employees are being funded with casino money that is in a restricted account and is not part of the states general fund budget, which expires at midnight Friday.

If the casinos are shut down, it would affect nearly 7,000 employees and also the economy of Detroit, which is reliant on the casinos money.

Roger Martin is a spokesman for Greektown Casino claims the shutdown would be disasterous for the city, saying, "The purpose is to protect 7,000 jobs and tax revenue to Michigan schools." He was referring to the lawsuit in the statement.

September 28, 2007
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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