MGM Grand Detroit and Four Winds Casino Added To Our Companion Site

We have added information regarding Four Winds Casino and the permanent MGM Grand Detroit Casino, which is adding a poker room for the first time, to our companion site, Michigan Poker Resources. We will be adding important new content and information to Michigan Poker Resources in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

State of Michigan Files Emergency Appeal of Temporary Restraining Order Preventing Closure of Casinos

The State of Michigan filed on Friday, September 28, 2007 an emergency appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals, seeking an immediate hearing to vacate the Temporary Restraining Order issued earlier that afternoon by Wayne County Circuit Judge William Giovan.

The Detroit Free Press account does not indicate when a response from the Court of Appeals can be expected. The Detroit News account indicates that the Court of Appeals is expected to review the matter on Monday, October 1, 2007, based upon a quote from a spokesperson for the Michigan Attorney General's Office. Michigan Poker Blog has investigated the docket entries on the Michigan Court of Appeals' website, and learned that an answer is due from the casinos before 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 1, 2007. Such a scheduling demand from the Court of Appeals Clerk's Office indicates that a response can be expected from the Michigan Court of Appeals on the same day.

Casinos To Remain Open, Judge Rules

Judge William Giovan issued a temporary restraining order preventing the State of Michigan from ordering the three Detroit casinos to close in the event of a government shutdown. That state government shutdown looks more likely, as 35,000 state employees received layoff notices this afternoon.

Hearing Scheduled For 2:00 p.m. Today On Casinos Suit

A hearing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. this afternoon before Wayne County Circuit Judge William Giovan on the three Detroit casinos' request to enjoin the Michigan Gaming Control Board order to shut down unless there is a resolution to the state budget impasse.

Casinos To Sue State To Stay Open

All three Detroit casinos have indicated they will file suit against the State of Michigan this morning to obtain an injunction allowing the casinos to stay open in the event the state government shuts down at midnight on Sunday.

Standish Casino Receives Name

The new Indian casino being built in Standish, Michigan, by the Saginaw Chippewa tribe (operators of Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant) has been named Saganing Eagle's Landing Casino. It is unlikely the new casino will feature a live poker room at its opening.

MGM Grand Plans To Open Hotel And Restaurants Even If Casino Forced To Close

In the event the state budget impasse causes a government shutdown, which would cause the three Detroit casinos to be forced to close, the MGM Grand Detroit hotel and restaurants would open on Wednesday, according to a casino spokesperson.

Detroit Casinos (And ONLY Detroit Casinos) May Close If State Government Shuts Down

As part of the budget impasse confronting the State of Michigan, it is possible (now approaching likely) that the State of Michigan governmental services may shut down on Sunday, September 30, 2007 at midnight.

If that occurs, the State has indicated that the Detroit Casinos, which are overseen by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, would be required to shut down on October 1, 2007.

Among other impacts, this would likely delay the grand opening of the MGM Grand Detroit casino, currently scheduled to open at 11:59pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2007.

Because the Indian casinos do not have oversight by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, all Indian casinos would be allowed to remain open.

New MGM Grand To Feature Live Poker Room

MGM Grand becomes the last of the three Detroit casinos to open a live poker room. In its new casino, the MGM Grand will feature a non-smoking poker room featuring eight tables, located on the third floor of the new casino. Although the common consensus is that MGM Grand will dominate the Detroit casino scene in overall revenues, an eight table poker room will still place MGM Grand firmly in third place in its dedication of space to live poker, as both Greektown Casino and MotorCity Casino feature significantly larger live poker rooms.

New MGM Grand Detroit Casino To Open At 11:59pm on October 2, 2007

The "temporary" MGM Grand casino in Detroit will be closing at 6:00pm on Sunday, September 30, 2007, and the permanent casino, named the MGM Grand Detroit Casino, will be opening across the street two days later. The Detroit Free Press has a good rundown of the new casino's details. The Detroit News has a brief Q & A with a publicist for the casino.