In 1996 the Michigan legislature authorized three gaming casinos to be constructed in Detroit; they were intended to aid in generating revenues for the city and the state. The federally recognized Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians acquired a majority interest in the Greektown Casino, the third of these to open. Steelman Partners were the architects and interior designers for the original project. The Sault Chippewa Indians have a base at their reservation lands near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on the Upper Peninsula. The Greektown Casino opened in 2000, following two other privately held casinos that opened the previous year. In June 2006, site preparation began for a new hotel related to the casino. A city-owned parking garage was demolished to make way for redevelopment. Construction began in October 2006 and finished in 2009. The hotel tower rises 344 ft. with 30 floors. It opened November 15, 2007, and included a new 13-story, 3,500-space, free parking garage at Monroe and St. Antoine. In November 2008 of additional gaming space was completed and opened over Lafayette. Total gaming space comprised. An expanded and re-designed VIP gaming area opened February 16, 2009. In November 2009, of convention space opened with a newly designed poker room.
Changes in ownership
The federally recognized Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians had a majority interest in the Greektown Casino when it opened. In 2008, the year of the Great Recession, they filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. They were under deadlines from the state to improve their financial position but needed to invest additional money in the complex. Greektown Superholdings, Inc. and Greektown Newco Sub Inc., two investor groups, acquired the casino hotel after the bankruptcy filing. In January 2013, Rock Gaming, owned by Dan Gilbert, agreed to buy a majority stake in the Greektown Casino. This was part of Gilbert's plan of investment to help revitalize downtown Detroit. In February 2016, Rock Gaming announced that it was renaming the casino as "Jack Detroit Casino-Hotel Greektown". But plans for the name change were canceled in March 2018, after Gilbert agreed to sell the casino for $1 billion. In May 2019, Vici Properties and Penn National Gaming jointly bought Greektown from Jack Entertainment. Vici paid $700 million for the real estate assets, while Penn National paid $300 million for the operating business. It leased the property from Vici for $56 million per year.
