Detroit Casino Employees Rally for Online Betting Boycott During Strike

Detroit casino workers are taking their strike to the digital front by calling for a boycott of several online betting platforms. A month-long strike by the Detroit Casino Council (DCC) has led to a boycott of online betting platforms like FanDuel, ESPN BET, Hollywood iCasino, and BetMGM. The DCC is set to launch a digital ad campaign on Nov. 13 to encourage users not to use these apps until the strike ends. Notably, the boycott does not include other platforms like Caesars Sportsbook, WynnBET, DraftKings, Sports Illustrated Sportsbook, and others.

The president of UNITE HERE Local 24, Nia Winston, explained that online sports betting and online casino platforms like FanDuel, ESPN BET, and BetMGM are critical revenue sources for the companies that operate Detroit’s three casinos. The workers are asking for public support in the form of a boycott to show solidarity with their strike.

The strike by casino workers began on October 17 after contracts with the three casinos expired. The DCC, comprised of UNITE HERE Local 24, United Auto Workers, Teamster Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 32, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, began negotiations with the casinos in early September. The workers are seeking wage increases, strengthening retirement, and securing protection for those impacted by the implementation of new technology.

The boycott, while aimed at supporting the workers on strike, has not affected the operations of other betting platforms not included in the boycott. The move to take the strike to the digital front demonstrates the workers’ determination to achieve a fair contract through all available means. The call for a boycott is part of a larger effort to raise awareness about the ongoing strike and garner public support for the workers’ cause.