With the sale of Detroit's Greektown Casino to Penn National Gaming Inc. this week, the most significant change may be in the addition of a sports book.
Detroit Lions photo
Penn National has indicated it will seek to add the option, once the sale from local billionaire Dan Gilbert is complete, The Detroit News reports. As Gilbert is owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, having a sports-betting facility in his casino would have been far more complicated. It could require legislative OK, however, Breana Noble writes:
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in May that the federal government's ban on sports gambling in most states was unconstitutional. Pennsylvania this month issued its first sports betting license, joining six other states that have taken the next step to legalize it.
In June, the Michigan House passed a bill that would allow Detroit casinos to offer online gaming, though not sports gambling, as soon as next year. The bill would regulate online sports-betting, subject to the approval of the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Detroit-area gamblers currently must cross the river to Windsor to bet on American sports.
Penn National also indicated it plans "no significant changes" to the its workforce, and will honor all collective-bargaining agreements now in place.
