DETROIT (WXYZ) — The TVs are everywhere, the action will be everywhere, the action along with it and it you’re looking for a new place to catch the game, look no further than MGM Grand’s new sports lounge, Moneyline.
“So we’re always looking for opportunities to enhance our guest experience and the one thing we know about our customer base and Michiganders is that they’re passionate about sports and we thought this was kind of the natural fit,” MGM Grand Detroit president and COO Michael Neubecker said.
“This is a fun place to hang out, whether it’s before or after the game or watch a game and meet up and have some fun.”
The Moneyline Sports Lounge looks and feel like a sports book that you’d see in Las Vegas, and that’s the point. They wanted to bring that experience to Detroit and while sports gaming isn’t an option right now, that may not be the case for much longer.
“I’m looking to get this done as soon as possible, so if you could place a bet on the Super Bowl in 2020, that would be my goal,” Michigan house representative Brandt Iden said.
Iden has been pushing for legislative changes in sports betting for years. His efforts will go a long way in when money line will be able to achieve its full potential, as a Sports Book taking wagers for gamblers legally.
“Sports betting is taking place illegally. So we think it’s kind of a win-win to get it through the regulated channels, the state benefits from a taxation standpoint, we benefit from a business standpoint and it’s jobs,” Neubecker added.
Now this is the second time a major set of bills will be pushed to the floor, and while no time table is certain, surrounding states are already ahead of Michigan in legislation.
“I hope to be able to get this across the finish line by the end of the year, give something to the governor desk that she can accept and I want to work with the administration to make sure we get the right policy,” Iden added.
“It’s always gets down to the finer points, that first ninety-percent is always pretty easy, that last ten-percent gets a little more challenging but I think we’re headed in the right direction and I think that everyone sees that long term legalizing sports betting is the right thing."
"We’re working it everyday and hopefully come Super Bowl, and hopefully the Lions are in the Super Bowl so we can place a wager on them, it would be exciting,” Neubecker added.
