(WXYZ) - For the first time, former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer is talking about his new role in the casinos that are coming to Ohio.
In an exclusive interview with Channel 7’s Chuck Stokes, Dennis Archer is now officially admitting that he is an investor in the casinos that will be opening in Ohio. But our former mayor won’t say what his financial stake is in this lucrative deal.
He was the mayor who brought casinos to Detroit.
[TV Ad] “Before we write a monopoly into our constitution, shouldn’t we know who will profit from Ohio’s gambling dollars?”
But when Dennis Archer started promoting the benefits of gaming in Ohio to allow casinos to open there, he took some heat here in Motown.
[Adolph Mongo/Political Consultant] “He’s Benedict Arnold. No question.”
During the campaign to change Ohio’s constitution, Detroit political consultant Adolph Mongo criticized Archer for using his star power in a neighboring state, a state that will now be in competition with Detroit’s casinos.
[Adolph Mongo/Political Consultant] “What bothers me is that we got a former mayor of this city, a city that’s in – on the verge of going under, and he’s somewhere else, trying to promote an industry that’s going to save Cleveland and Ohio itself? Shame on Dennis Archer!”
Archer is teaming up with two other high-profile Detroit boosters, Quicken Loans CEO Dan Gilbert, and former GM Executive Matt Cullen.
Now that the ballot initiative has passed, Gilbert’s team will operate casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati.
In an exclusive interview with Channel 7’s Chuck Stokes, Archer talks for the first time about being an investor in Gilbert’s two casinos.
[Dennis Archer/Former Detroit Mayor] “You can say investor, you can say – I wouldn’t use the term “owner” because it would be so diminimus as it relates to those who are really invested in it, and the like.
Chuck Stokes: Have you actually invested some of your own money at this point?
Archer: Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. But it’s been diminimus. Chuck: Ok, can you share with us how much? Archer: I can, but I won’t.”
Another company joined forces with Gilbert to bring gaming to Ohio, and that company will operate casinos in Columbus and Toledo. And it’s the Toledo location that will potentially draw gaming dollars away from Detroit.
But the former mayor says the bigger threat to Detroit’s three casinos is a possible ballot initiative here in Michigan that will allow eight more casinos in our state.
[Dennis Archer/Former Detroit Mayor] “The only thing, that in my view, will hurt the city of Detroit and the three casinos, is if we become over-saturated.”
Mayor Archer denies that he’s turned his back on Detroit.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON DENNIS ARCHER'S ROLE IN OHIO CASINOS
You can hear much more of Dennis Archer's interview with Chuck Stokes.. on Spotlight on the News.. Sunday morning at 9:30am.
