The Greektown casino was one of eleven applications submitted to Detroit mayor Dennis Archer. Michigan voters approved the law in November 1996. The petition drive and election campaign were financed almost entirely by the Sault Tribe and Atwater.

It included a preference for proposals that had already been approved by Detroit voters, making the Greektown and Atwater projects the 'presumptive choices' for two of the casino licenses. This law would allow up to three private, commercially operated casinos to be opened in Detroit. They partnered with the Atwater group to sponsor the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act. The tribe next turned to the ballot initiative process. Engler rejected the casino, citing potential proliferation of off-reservation casinos throughout the state. However, it also needed approval from Michigan Governor John Engler, because the IGRA required gubernatorial approval for gaming on lands added to a tribe's reservation after 1988. The plan was approved by the Secretary of the Interior later that month. ĭetroit voters approved an advisory referendum in favor of the casino in August 1994, as well as another casino proposed to be built at Atwater Street. Under the plan, Gatzaros and Papas's company, 400 Monroe Associates, would donate a 0.7-acre (0.28 ha) parcel of land in Greektown to become part of the tribe's reservation, and the tribe would build and operate the casino. In November 1992, they announced their plan publicly. Shortly after the enactment of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians began working with local developers Ted Gatzaros and Jim Papas to open a casino in Detroit. History and development Greektown Historic District Detroit is one of the largest American cities to offer casino hotels. Hollywood Casino is one of three casinos in the city there is also a casino in nearby Windsor, Ontario. In 2008, during the Great Recession, the casino went into bankruptcy and was sold. It was the only casino in Detroit controlled by a Native American tribe. The casino opened in 2000, under the majority ownership of the Sault Ste. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment. Hollywood Casino at Greektown, formerly Greektown Casino-Hotel, is a casino hotel in the Greektown neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan.

Novem 16 years ago ( November 15, 2007) (hotel tower) Novem 23 years ago ( November 10, 2000) (casino)

Casino hotel skyscraper in Greektown in November 2011

Greektown casino win loss