Detroit's MotorCity Casino could be able to take sports betting under proposed rule change

MLB proposal could loosen casino and sports team owners restrictions over sportsbooks

"The safeguards would essentially ensure that there is no controlled input whatever from the club to the betting operator, has to be a completely independent betting operator,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
2020-02-10
Reading time 1:08 min
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the rule contemplates exceptions "provided that there are certain safeguards built in." The Ilitch family owns Detroit’s MotorCity Casino and the Detroit Tigers.

Major League Baseball (MLB) may alter its regulations on team owners and casino gambling in a manner that could impact the Ilitch family in Detroit.

Marian Ilitch, the wife of late Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, owns Detroit’s MotorCity Casino. Her youngest son, Christopher, is controlling owner of the Tigers.

"The general rule will remain that if the club has an interest in a sportsbook, it can't take bets on that club," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said after an owners meeting Thursday, the Associated Press reports. 

The rule does contemplate that there could be an exception provided that there are certain safeguards built in. The safeguards would essentially ensure that there is no controlled input whatever from the club to the betting operator, has to be a completely independent betting operator,” he added. Manfred said the rule changed have not been finalized.

Marian Ilitch invested in the casino in 1999, became sole owner in 2005 and presided over an expansion to the MotorCity Casino Hotel. Without the MLB rule change, MotorCity Casino would be at a competitive disadvantage, unable to offer the sports betting options of rivals MGM Grand and Greektown casinos.

Greektown was once owned by Detroit entrepreneur Dan Gilbert, who also owns the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. He sold his interest in the casino in 2018.

Christopher Ilitch was promoted to the MLB owners’ executive council along with Los Angeles Dodgers chairman Mark Walter. The group also includes Houston Astros owner Jim Crane; San Diego’s Ron Fowler; Milwaukee’s Mark Attanasio; Jerry Reinsdorf of the Chicago White Sox; Boston’s John Henry; and Colorado’s Dick Monfort.

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