Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said the health of the community is more important than casino revenue during a coronavirus update to the press Wednesday. (Image: ClickOnDetroit)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAsked to put a time line on that, Duggan said he would be \u201csurprised\u201d if a successful vaccine is developed within a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we’re going to have to deal with it,\u201d Duggan said. \u201cDo the casinos end up reopening with 25 percent or 30 percent capacity? I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duggan\u2019s stance is aligned with Michigan\u2019s Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer, who was sued Wednesday by the state\u2019s Republican-led legislature over her orders that non-essential businesses must remain closed.<\/p>\n
Last week, armed protesters rallied in the capitol building in Lansing demanding an end to lockdown.<\/p>\n
Cash Cows Sacrificed<\/strong><\/p>\nDetroit\u2019s three casinos, Greektown, MGM Detroit, and Motor City Casino have been a cash cow for the city. But they were closed March 15 and have furloughed most of their workforces.<\/p>\n
Greektown and Motor City have agreed to continue paying benefits up until June 30 and MGM Resorts through August.<\/p>\n
But MGM warned its 63,000 furloughed employees across America this week that some of them may be laid off after August 31. These layoffs could last over six months or become permanent, the casino giant said.<\/p>\n