Casinos on both sides of the Detroit River are preparing for the super unknown -- what kind of crowds will Super Bowl XL bring to their slots, baccarat tables and bars?
Casinos say they are ready for masses of celebrities, their loyal VIP players, high rollers from other states, NFL players and legions of fans in town to watch the game.
"It's going to be bananas," said Laquarius Gordon, who works in Greektown Casino's high roller Pantheon Club. "Even though I am not going to the game, I am going to be part of history in the making. All in all, it's going to be a nice experience for everyone."
While none of them can advertise that they will show the Super Bowl on Sunday, all plan to do just that on dozens of plasma and projector screen televisions around the casinos. NFL rules keep a fair distance between the league and any sort of gambling.
So the good news for gambling fans is they won't pay a cover charge to watch the big game at any of the area casinos.
Craig Ghelfi, chief executive officer of Greektown Casino, said the casino expects crowds starting today. While some Motown Winter Blast festivities will close streets north of Lafayette, people can get to the casino by exiting I-375 at Lafayette or by parking and riding the People Mover.
Ghelfi said he expects the extra traffic could mean roughly $3 million more in revenue for each Detroit casino; together, they draw $100 million in a typical month.
Greektown, in partnership with Harrah's, will host high rollers from New Jersey and Las Vegas in blocks of nearby rooms the casino reserved for them, he said.
"I can't tell you how many high rollers are going to be here," Ghelfi said. "The Super Bowl draws the demographic that does like to gamble and has the means to do so."
The casinos could be some of the best places in town for fans to take in festivities related to the game, because all four plan parties, entertainment and special giveaways this week.
"We feel so lucky to have it in our backyard. We will have so many international visitors," said Holly Ward, spokeswoman for Casino Windsor.
Casino Windsor is the only area casino that was built from the ground up like a Las Vegas casino. For example, MotorCity is in a former bread factory and MGM is in a former IRS building.
Ward said that a favorable exchange rate and short waits for border crossings should make Windsor a good choice for watching the game. Canada doesn't tax winnings, but Americans are expected to report them as income on U.S. tax forms.
If your game plan calls for spending Sunday evening at one of the casinos, plan to arrive early to avoid lines, said Jacci Woods, spokeswoman for MotorCity Casino.
"The host committee slogan 'the world is coming' is how we are looking at it," Woods said. "We have the opportunity to positively influence the experience people have when they come to Detroit. When people leave, we hope they have nice things to say about Detroit. That is our edict for the week."
Joaquin Littlejohn, 26, of Southfield, who frequents the MotorCity Casino's poker room, said he hasn't decided if he'll play during Super Bowl week.
"I don't know... maybe. I don't like congestion, or too long of a wait," said Littlejohn, a biology graduate student at Wayne State University.
But Lois Effinger, 37, of Detroit, who was playing video slots at MGM Grand Detroit Casino last week, said she wouldn't let the 100,000 people expected to come to town for the big game keep her away from the casinos. Effinger works for the Detroit transportation department and is a Super Bowl volunteer.
"To be honest, the casinos are packed here when we have something small ... like payday," Effinger said. "The Super Bowl is huge. But no, I wouldn't be scared by the crowds. I am a people person."
Bob Berg, spokesman for MGM Grand Detroit Casino, said the bottom line is that no one really knows what to expect.
"Ask me on the 6th of February," he said.