Greektown Workers Ratify New Contract

With an 85% affirmative vote, unionized members at Greektown Casino became the third and final casino to approve a new four year contract with the casino. The contract includes 4% pay increases each year of the contract, enhanced 401(k) contributions, and a lump sum $1,200 bonus per worker.

Casino Windsor Lays Off 239 Workers

Blaming a smoking ban in the casino, and lower revenues, Casino Windsor has laid off a total of 239 workers, including 23 non-union workers and 206 unionized workers.

The casino's revenues have dropped from $440 million to $320 million annually in the past year.

A $400 million expansion, including a new hotel tower, is to open in 2008. The expansion is expected to create additional job opportunities.

More Details On Greektown's Garage

The new parking garage at Greektown Casino will open at 11:30am on Thursday, November 15, 2007. The $65 million, 13 story, 2,900 space garage will be the foundation for the 39 story, 400 room hotel that will open in 2008.

Unions And Greektown Casino Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

The Detroit Casino Council, a consortium of the four unions that represent workers at the three Detroit casinos, reached a tentative agreement with Greektown Casino.

The ratification vote of union members will occur on Thursday, November 15, 2007.

Two Bills In Congress Would Authorize New Indian Casinos In Port Huron and Romulus

The Natural Resources Committee will be holding hearings next week on two separate pieces of legislation that would give federal approval to the agreement signed by then-outgoing Governor John Engler and two Michigan Indian tribes in 2002. The legislation would authorize the opening of Indian-run casinos in Port Huron and Romulus.

The Port Huron casino would be owned by the Bay Mills Indian Community, which currently operates a casino in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The Romulus casino would be owned by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa, which currently operates the Greektown Casino in Detroit, as well as the Kewadin casinos in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Greektown Casino's New Parking Garage To Open November 15

Perhaps resolving one of its greatest competitive disadvantages, the Greektown Casino announced that its new 2,991 space parking garage, which will be directly connected to the casino by a covered walkway, will open on November 15, 2007.

The casino's 400 room hotel is being constructed above the parking structure. The hotel is tentatively scheduled to open in late 2008.

MotorCity Casino Hotel To Open November 28

Satisfying the marketing that has promised a "November" opening of the MotorCity Casino Hotel, it was announced that the hotel would open on November 28, 2007, nearly a month after the originally announced opening date of November 2, 2007.

The casino's new restaurants, nightclub, spa, and convention facilities are now scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2008.