16Oct
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Michigan Casinos and Gambling
Short Summary: This page looks at the different forms of gambling in the State of Michigan, discusses the legality of online gambling and gives a detailed listing of all of the Commercial and Tribal casinos in the state.
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Michigan casinos were approved by voters in 1996, and the industry has been growing at a steady rate ever since. In addition to this form of gambling, the state also permits pari-mutuel wagering, charitable games such as bingo, and the lottery. This makes the “Great Lake State” an excellent destination for gamblers, and the following article is devoted to providing you with more information on the subject.
The State of Michigan is one of the less restrictive states of the fifty when it comes to gambling, in general. This is not only because of the forms of gambling that are currently legalized and regulated, but also because how long those forms of gambling have been in place. Commercial Casinos, for one example, were authorized by the voters in the mid-90’s, so that is significantly earlier than was the case with many other states.
For 2018, the total of these 2% payments, was $30,139,824.95, so we can extrapolate from that Tribal Casino revenues were about $1,506,991,247.50, a little over 1.5 billion dollars. Clearly a substantial industry in the state and that doesn’t even consider Commercial Casinos.
In Michigan, there is a separate division called, “The Division of Charitable Gambling,” which is expected to be self-sufficient. As a result, they charge for licensing fees and even directly sell tickets themselves in order to make money. According to the 2017 annual report.
They took in $286,073,955 in revenues of which $192,148,103 was awarded in prizes. This represents an overall return-to-player of about 67.17%, so in general terms, not the best gamble. Of course, this is all run for charity, so most people don’t go to such events looking to clean the house out. The games available consist of Bingo, Raffles and Charity Events. The charity events offer a return of just slightly over 80% (taken as a whole) and large bingo offers player returns of just under 80%. It gets pretty bad from there.
Horse racing and pari-mutuel betting are perfectly legal in Michigan, while dog racing is against the law.
The Comprehensive Annual Report of the Michigan Lottery (which participates in the national Mega Millions and Powerball Draw Games) is available for 2018 here.
The bottom line is that the Lottery garnered 3.5919 billion dollars in revenues and paid out 2.2150 billion dollars in prizes. This represents an overall return to player of roughly 61.67%, which is kind of poor even by lottery standards. It appears that the money spent on draw games combined with national lottery, while less, is relatively close to the amount of money spent on instant games…so I would attribute this low return-to-player to the general fact that residents are playing the poor games at a high proportion. To wit, the instant games paid about 73.05% return to player, overall. Based on an estimated 2018 population of 9.996 million, about $137.70 was lost to the lottery per resident.
In total, the three Detroit Casinos brought in $1,444,099,783.79 in adjusted gross revenue. At a guess, I would think this simply means after accounting for free play being used. The Commercial Casinos get Detroit, the tribes get everywhere else, and judging by the close proximity of the numbers…this is as equitable an arrangement as any I’ve seen.
The Legality Of Online Gambling In Michigan
Update (dec 22): At the time this was originally published, Michigan had just passed their bill authorizing regulated online sportsbooks and casinos. As we enter into 2023, the state has about as many online casinos and sportsbooks that are regulated as can be found in states such as Pennsylvania. Given Michigan’s population, that makes total sense.
Of course, you might have played all of those already and are looking for some new bonuses. If that’s the case, then there are a wide variety of online casinos for you to choose from, so please check out our biggest recommendations above!
The state does not currently have any state-licensed and regulated online casinos, however, the Legislature is fairly confident that a bill will pass sometime this year.
Update: The bill was passed for legalized online gaming at the end of December 2019 with the first online casino apps launching by the end of 2020.
The main problem being suggested is that the state would be competing with itself in the sense that online gambling would take away from the lottery and Commercial Casinos such that the state could lose money overall. For those of you who think that sounds like absolute nonsense, I absolutely agree. I have never seen any numbers reflective of a state losing money overall when a new form of gambling has been authorized.
Michigan defines, “Illegal Gambling,” as any form of gambling not specifically regulated by the state or tribes. This would apply to online gambling theoretically and any wins over $50 could theoretically be met with a year in prison and fines up to $1,000. While technically a misdemeanor, wins under this amount do not appear to come with any sort of penalty.
Even with that, we have discovered no instance of anyone actually facing adverse legal consequences for gambling online as a mere player. This is the case almost everywhere.
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Land Casinos In Michigan
Between the Tribes and the Commercial Casinos in Detroit, the state has plenty of gambling options, so we are not going to be detailing any racetracks that do not have some sort of casino gambling, as well. With that, let’s list the state’s actual casinos:
Bay Mills Resort and Casino
The Bay Mills Resort and Casino is owned and operated by the Bay Mills Indian Community and is located in Brimley. The property is home to 143 hotel rooms and opened in 1995. It consists of about 17,000 square feet of gaming space which includes about a dozen table games and 900 slot, video poker and video keno machines. In addition to the hotel accommodations, the property also houses an RV park.
The dozen or so Table Games operate from 10a.m.-2a.m. and consist of the following: Craps, 2 and 6 Deck Blackjack, Three-Card Poker, Roulette, Let It Ride and Ultimate Texas Hold’Em. For games other than the big three, we recommend calling ahead for usual hours of operation as it is possible that not all of these games operate the entire time. There is also a poker room consisting of three tables as well as a portable fourth table, if needed, for a tournament. The poker room is not always open while table games are, so we must strongly recommend calling ahead if live poker is your game of choice.
Entertainment options vary and often include live bands or Karaoke, if this is important to you, we recommend searching their website or calling ahead.
Restaurant options include Sacy’s, which claims to offer an, “Upscale dining experience,” at prices that appear not to be so upscale. They are well known for steaks. Back Bay Grill is a sports bar and grill which has the sort of menu that you would expect, largely burgers and bar eats. Chums Cafe is located at the Kings Club Casino and is a casual restaurant with generous portions. The Loft is a casual restaurant located near the golf course and is open during the golf season, which starts in May. The Golf Course is called, “Wild Bluff.”
I don’t usually do this, but I want to take a minute to very highly compliment this casino on what I view as an extremely nice website.
The site is well-organized, very easy to navigate, doesn’t waste a ton of time with flowery language and pictures…and tells you everything you need to know quickly and efficiently.
Firekeepers Casino Hotel
Firekeepers Casino Hotel opened the casino area in 2009 and added the hotel in 2012. The gaming floor consists of 107,000 square feet of gaming space and is home to about 2,900 slot machines as well as 76 table games. The hotel is good for 243 guestrooms and suites and the property is located in Battle Creek, Michigan, the cereal capital of the world!
If you wonder whether or not this is a major property, consider that it has 3,000 total parking spots. It also features major national acts with acts such as (as of the time of this writing) Rob Thomas, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, John Fogerty and Dennis Miller set to appear later in 2019.
In addition to the 2,900 total video poker, slots and video keno machines, the property also features live keno with occasional tournaments. The property is also home to a bingo hall that apparently also offers online play. There are 70 gaming tables, but Firekeepers does not feel the need to list which ones on their website at this time, so we won’t here. The property also houses a 26 table non-smoking poker room.
Hotel amenities include an indoor pool with a whirlpool, sauna and steam room. There is a business center, complimentary valet parking and high-speed internet in all rooms. Finally, a fitness center is accessible to hotel guests.
Nibi is the fine dining establishment of this casino featuring the best of steak and sea. Dacey’s Taphouse features about fifty craft beers and the menu one would expect from such an establishment. Smoke ‘N Fire is a casual American restaurant that has BBQ undertones for many of its dishes. Mijem Buffet does what it says on the box and claims to feature International favorites. Cafe 24/7 is a casual restaurant featuring classic American food. Chi-Mon-EE’s is known for pizzas and sandwiches. Gapi Coffe and Sweets does what it says on the box and The Cake Shop offers a variety of desserts including custom cakes. Presumably, The Cake Shop works closely with wedding, convention and event planning.
The property is home to a gift shop as well as a Swarovski Jewelers. There are four bars throughout the property, but the site offers little guidance in terms of what entertainment can be expected. The Pit Stop is a gas station, convenience store and car wash located on the greater site, so that’s going to be extremely convenient for visitors and hotel guests who need some provisions.
Four Winds New Buffalo
Having opened in New Buffalo Township in 2007, Four Winds New Buffalo is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and is the flagship “Four Winds,” property. USA Today, in 2015, named it one of the ten best casinos outside of Las Vegas primarily for its architecture, amenities and overall feel of the property. In 2011, it would expand adding a hotel consisting of 250 guestrooms and suites. 250 rooms? Not enough! It added another 165 the very next year.
The gambling floor is good for 130,000 square feet and consists of over 2,600 slot machines and 49 table games.
The property also features an entertainment complex known as Silver Creek, featuring both nationally known comedy acts and bands. Just in May and June of 2019, they would welcome Carrot Top, Foreigner, Stone Temple Pilots and Todd Rundgren to the venue. The C Bar and outdoor pool area also feature live performances of various kinds from more local/regional acts.
The 2,600 slot machine, video poker and video keno selections range in denominations from pennies to C-Notes (hundreds) with the site proudly boasting of progressives that start at $100,000. The 49 table games consist of Baccarat, Blackjack, High Card Flush, Craps, Bonus Craps, Heads Up Hold ‘Em, Crazy 4 Poker, Mississippi Stud, Roulette, Three-Card Poker and Pai-Gow Plus. As always, if it is one of the less common games you’re looking for, we recommend calling ahead for operation times. The establishment also offers live keno with schedules available on their website.
The hotel also features an outdoor pool and pool bar.
Eateries include the buffet which is, appropriately enough, called, “The Buffet.” Copper Rock Steakhouse is a fine dining establishment and recipient of the 2018 Diners Choice Award from OpenTable. Hard Rock Cafe is a casual American restaurant as well as the only Hard Rock Cafe in the area. Timbers Fast Food and Deli is excellent for sandwiches and quick bites, while the White Birch Cafe features various coffees and grab and go foods.
In addition to the pool, family activities include Kids Quest which, in addition to being able to just go in there and play the games and other activities, also offers daycare service for kids six weeks to twelve years old by the hour. Cyber Quest is similar and is for adults to bring their kids.
There’s also a clothing store, the equivalent of two gift shops and a boutique.
Overall, this place is something of a destination and would be excellent for anyone who wants to take a trip of a few days, but maybe not a full-blown vacation. There are enough restaurants, sights to see and activities to take up a 3-4 day trip before you’ve done everything.
Four Winds Hartford
Located in Hartford, Michigan, this Four Winds is of course also operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and opened in 2011. Smaller in scope than the flagship, the casino floor consists of 22,000 square feet of gaming space, putting this most on par with just about any locals casino if you have one.
The property features a total of about 550 slot, video poker and video keno machines ranging in denomination from pennies to $25. There are six gaming tables including Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, High Card Flush, Mississippi Stud and Big Raise Poker. As always, if you’re looking for something outside of the big three, you would do well to call ahead and see when your game of choice usually operates.
There’s one eatery, Timbers, which reads like something between casual and fast food.
Four Winds Dowagiac
Four Winds Dowagiac, having opened in 2013, is operated by the same tribe and is an extremely small casino consisting of only 29,000 square feet of gaming space. Denominations range from pennies to $10 on the 400 machines and the property has a handful of table games including Blackjack, Mississippi Stud, Roulette, High Card Flush and Three Card Poker. You might want to call and make sure they are open if planning a same day trip. It’s not unusual for such a small casino to shut it down early if nobody is playing.
This Timbers location is a thirty seat restaurant (your average Wendy’s has more seats) adjacent to a fifteen seat bar.
Greektown Casino Hotel
Located in Detroit, the Greektown Casino Hotel is the first state-regulated Commercial Casino on this list and is one of the three in Detroit. The hotel consists of 400 rooms and this sizable property features 100,000 square feet of gaming space.
As of 2018, Vici Properties owns the physical property, which it leases to Penn National Gaming, who bought out the gaming business aspect of the operation.
Denominations of the 3,000 slot machines housed on the gaming floor range from pennies to $100, in addition to the slots, there are also a substantial number of video poker and video keno games. Table Games include Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, Baccarat, Mississippi Stud, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Let it Ride, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em, High Card Flush and Fortune Pai Gow Poker. For games that are not the big three, we recommend calling ahead of time to get the usual hours that a specific game runs. The non-smoking 12 table poker room spreads Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha.
The sizable high-limit room consists of 90 machines and, “Dozens,” of table games.
Eateries include the Monroe Market, which is a fancy way of saying, “Food Court,” that houses American Burger Bar, Basil Leaf Pizza, Tia Loca, Pit Boss, Southern Fry and Josephine’s Bakery. Noodle Art features Japanese Ramen, “With a Detroit Twist,” if you want to know what the Detroit Twist is…go and find out! Prism is the fine dining restaurant known for steaks, seafood and pasta. Bistro 555 features a buffet for brunch and lunch, and finally, Stack’d is a casual place for quick eats.
Gun Lake Casino
Located in Wayland, Michigan and operated by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, Gun Lake Casino is another casino comparable to any number of locals places. The property features 2,000 machines consisting of slots, video poker and video keno games. There are also 47 gaming tables, but the website does not appear to deign to offer a comprehensive list of games available, so neither will we. The fourteen table poker room is entirely non-smoking and spreads Omaha and Texas Hold ‘Em.
The Sand Hill Cafe is a great stop for quick and casual bites that are wallet-friendly while the Harvest Buffet is also open during select hours. There are four total bars and the one known as Stage 131 offers live entertainment. Okay, I have to mention this, if you go down to Front and Center, it’s karaoke, only with a live band playing for you! I’m sorry, but that’s just neat.
The property has no hotel of its own, but has a few hotel partners featured on the website.
Island Resort and Casino
Located in Harris, Michigan and operated by the Hannahville Indian Community, Island Resort and Casino is another modestly-sized property, but good for a visit if you’re in the area or doing a, “Staycation,” type thing. In addition to the RV Park, there are 326 guestrooms and suites. Amenities include and indoor pool and whirlpool, a nail salon and the Paradise Bay Gift Shop.
Club Four One is an entertainment venue offering either live music or comedy depending on the calendar. The Island Showroom seats 1,315 and features a wide variety of well-known national acts.
There are over 1,200 machines consisting of slots, video poker and video keno. Table Games include Blackjack, Craps, Spanish 21, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em, Let It Ride and Roulette. If you want to play any of the games outside of the big three, we always recommend calling ahead and getting the hours individual games generally run. Poker operates from Wednesday-Sunday and mostly consists of Texas Hold ‘Em. Live Bingo operates during select hours on those same days.
Dining includes the casual upscale 5 Bridges Steak and Seafood House as well as accompanying 5 Bridges Pub. Apparently, the3se are called such due to the presence of five historic bridges in the area. Firekeeper’s Restaurant is a casual dining establishment featuring a varied menu. Coral Reef Grille is a quick bites place. Signature Subs and Pizza does what it says on the box. T. McC’s Sports Bar is named after the deceased former general manager of the property (that’s very nice-honestly) and consists of pub fare and drinks. Coffee and Custard Shop is just that and ice cream selections.
Kewadin Casinos-Christmas
Located on Candy Cane Lane in Christmas, Michigan (I’m not kidding), this casino is owned and operated by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. (You thought they’d be called the Kewadin, didn’t you? Yeah, me too.) The Christmas location does not have a hotel, but fear not, for the casino partners with a number of hotels in the Christmas area.
Table games include Let it Ride Bonus, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Blackjack, Craps, Live Poker, Roulette and Three Card Poker, but the availability and operating hours vary by which Kewadin Casino is being discussed. They also said that Kewadin Casinos (plural) have 2,200 slot machines, but the website does not say how many are at each individual location. Live Keno is available only at the Sault Ste. Marie location while bingo is available both there and St. Ignace.
Frosty’s Pub and Grub is the Christmas eatery and features casual and quick bites.
Northern Rewards is the Players Club program for all five Kewadin properties.
Kewadin Casinos-Hessel
Located in Hessel, this property features an RV Park and Cabin in addition to the casino.
Table games include Let it Ride Bonus, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Blackjack, Craps, Live Poker, Roulette and Three Card Poker, but the availability and operating hours vary by which Kewadin Casino is being discussed. They also said that Kewadin Casinos (plural) have 2,200 slot machines, but the website does not say how many are at each individual location. Live Keno is available only at the Sault Ste. Marie location while bingo is available both there and St. Ignace.
Northern Nook Bar and Grill features casual sandwiches, pizza, burgers, all-day breakfast and bar eats.
Northern Rewards is the Players Club program for all five Kewadin properties.
Kewadin Casinos-Manistique
Kewadin Casinos Manistique is located in Manistique (appropriately) and does not have accommodations, though foes partner with nearby hotels.
Table games include Let it Ride Bonus, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Blackjack, Craps, Live Poker, Roulette and Three Card Poker, but the availability and operating hours vary by which Kewadin Casino is being discussed. They also said that Kewadin Casinos (plural) have 2,200 slot machines, but the website does not say how many are at each individual location. Live Keno is available only at the Sault Ste. Marie location while bingo is available both there and St. Ignace.
The casual sixty seat Mariner’s Cove Restaurant is a casual eatery and has a full-service menu available during all operating hours.
Kewadin Casino Hotel and Convention Center
Located in Sault Ste. Marie, this is the flagship property of Kewadin Casinos. The Sault Ste. Marie location has a total room count of 319 guestrooms and suites. Amenities include an indoor pool, fitness room and arcade.
Table games include Let it Ride Bonus, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Blackjack, Craps, Live Poker, Roulette and Three Card Poker, but the availability and operating hours vary by which Kewadin Casino is being discussed. They also said that Kewadin Casinos (plural) have 2,200 slot machines, but the website does not say how many are at each individual location. Live Keno is available only at the Sault Ste. Marie location while bingo is available both there and St. Ignace.
DreamCatcher’s Restaurant features a buffet on weekends, full-service menu and daily breakfast buffet, it comes in at 260 seats, which is fairly sizable. Signature Lounge is good for quick sandwiches and appetizers. Finally, The Trail Deli is a quick place for soups, sandwiches and breakfast.
Kewadin Shores Casino-St. Ignace
Located in St. Ignace, this casino property features an 81 room hotel with an indoor pool, fitness center and arcade.
Table games include Let it Ride Bonus, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Blackjack, Craps, Live Poker, Roulette and Three Card Poker, but the availability and operating hours vary by which Kewadin Casino is being discussed. They also said that Kewadin Casinos (plural) have 2,200 slot machines, but the website does not say how many are at each individual location. Live Keno is available only at the Sault Ste. Marie location while bingo is available both there and St. Ignace.
Horseshoe Bay Restaurant is a casual place featuring a daily breakfast buffet, full buffet on weekends and full-service menu otherwise. Whitetail Sports Bar consists of eighty seats and features the bar food one would expect, while Campfire Deli is the go-to for quick soups, sandwiches and breakfasts.
Kings Club Casino
The Kings Club Casino is located and Brimley, Michigan and is known as the first tribal casino to open in the United States; they opened their doors to the public back in 1984. Owned by the Bay Mills Indian Community, this somewhat small property only consists of 7,500 square feet of gaming space.
The gaming area consists of 280 combined slots, video poker and video keno machines. There is an eatery known as Chum’s Cafe as well as a full-service bar.
Leelanau Sands Casino
Located in Peshawbestown, Michigan, Leelanau Sands Casino and is owned by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The gaming floor includes a combined 350 slots, video poker and video keno games. Table Games are available at this casino, but as of right now, only during certain hours Thursday-Sunday and has apparently been the case since 2018.
Perhaps surprisingly, this small property does feature a showroom that often has national acts, such as Criss Angel and Daughtry, as guests. Small? Not really, 1,000 seats. The hotel is pretty basic and consists of about fifty rooms. Dex’s Restaurant is the only eatery, but it is casual, affordable and operates for all three meals of the day.
Little River Casino and Resort
Owned by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and located in Manistee Michigan, this sizable property features a hotel consisting of 292 rooms as well as a 95 space RV Park. Amenities include a boutique, a spa and salon, two indoor pools an outdoor pool and a fitness center.
The casino floor consists of over 1,400 combined slots, video poker and video keno games. The website claims Table Limits range from $1-$5000, but this often either refers to $1 side bets or placing $1 on a single number on Roulette. When it comes to the Roulette, many casinos require that you make a total of at least $5 in bets on the number bets, but they can be for $1 each. Table Games include Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em, Craps, Let It Ride, Three-Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Roulette and Crazy 4 Poker. Games outside of the big three may not always operate while other table games do, so we recommend calling ahead for the usual operating hours of your game of choice.
The property is home to a theater that occasionally features national acts, here is a link to the event calendar.
Dining includes The River Rock Sports Bar and Grille, which has what you would expect a place so named to have. Rapids Bistro is open around the clock and has soup, salad, sandwiches, grab and go items as well as pizza. The property has a buffet which is called Big Lake Buffet.
MGM Grand Detroit
We’re onto the second state licensed and regulated Commercial Casino on this list, which is the MGM Grand Detroit. The property is owned and operated by MGM Resorts which makes it part of the national MLIFE players club program and has been open since 1999. The 1999 structure was a temporary casino and the property would open its permanent location in 2007, which consists of an eight-story parking garage, 401 hotel rooms and suites as well as 100,000 square feet of gambling space. The property is also home to a 1,200 seat theatre featuring a wide range of acts.
This property is home to 3,500 combined slot, video poker and video keno machines. It also has a unique device with the Konami Fortune Cup, a horse racing game that is similar to Sigma Derby but also has a video board that shows the action as if it were live racing. The 150 Table Games include Baccarat, Big Six, Blackjack, Craps, Criss Cross Poker, Four Card Poker, High Card Flush, Let It Ride, Mississippi Stud, Pai-Gow Poker, Roulette, Single-Zero Roulette, Spanish 21, Three Card Poker, Two Way Monte and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em. If you’re looking for one of the less common of these games, we always recommend calling ahead and getting the usual hours your game of choice operates. The Poker Room spreads Limit Texas Hold ‘Em, No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha while conducting frequent tournaments.
Entertainment includes Axis Lounge, which often features live music. The property is also home to a TopGolf Swing Suite, which is a really fun virtual golfing simulator.
The hotel includes a fitness center and pool for guests, is home to a salon and spa, the aforementioned virtual golf suite and a gift shop known as MGM & Co.
There are a number of dining options, including fine dining with Wolfgang Puck Steak. Palette Dining Studio is an extremely fancy way of saying, “Casino buffet.” TAP at MGM Detroit features a taphouse and the usual eats one would expect from an American style pub. The Roasted Bean is the property’s coffee shop with some grab and go choices. Finally, the Breeze Dining Court (food court) includes: Detroit Wing Company, National Coney Island (hot dogs), Red Sauce (pizza place) and Bamboo (Asian place).
Ultimately, this is a great place to go if you are in Detroit, but actually kind of small compared to the Las Vegas MGM Properties, if those are what you are used to. It’s not really a destination unto itself as the amenities are fairly limited compared to other MGM Properties, but a good stop for a couple nights or if you’re in Detroit anyway.
MotorCity Casino Hotel
The third and final of the state regulated and authorized Commercial Casinos on this list is the MotorCity Casino Hotel, also located in Detroit. This casino consists of 100,000 square feet of gaming space, 2,800 combined slot, video poker and video keno games, 59 gaming tables and two poker rooms. The hotel consists of 400 guest rooms and suites and the property is also home to a theater with a capacity of 2,400 people. The owner and operator of the property is a company called IH Gaming.
Aesthetically, the casino floor is interesting for its incredible light display that is designed to look like a giant custom car radiator. The slot machines range in denomination from pennies to hundreds. Table Games include Blackjack, Spanish 21, Roulette, Single-Zero Roulette, Mini Baccarat, Craps, Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold Em, Criss Cross Poker and Casino War. As always, we recommend calling ahead if you want to play a specific novelty game as they may not operate around the clock. The poker rooms spread Omaha and Texas Hold ‘Em while hosting frequent tournaments.
The players club at this casino is known as Club Metro.
The hotel does not have a pool, though it does have a fitness center accessible to guests at no charge. The spa has a fee of $25, even for guests, but that fee gets waived if the guest spends $75 (or more) on spa treatments.
There are multiple eateries at this property with the fine dining establishment, Iridescence, boasting that they are the only AAA Four Diamond award-winning restaurant in the city of Detroit. There are six different bars/lounges on the property, some of which serve food. The food court also houses the casino’s buffet, known as the Assembly Line Buffet. Other food court options include Little Caesars Pizza, The Lodge Diner (casual), Grand River Deli (deli sandwiches and burgers) and a dessert place called Sweet Ride that also offers Starbucks coffee.
Live entertainment takes place at various venues throughout the property and a schedule can be found here.
There is also a separate schedule for Chromatics Lounge, should you choose to navigate to that page.
In terms of size, this sounds very comparable to the MGM Grand Detroit, but is aesthetically more unique and, at least according to what can be found on the websites, offers more live entertainment options.
Northern Waters Casino Resort
The Northern Waters Casino Resort is located in Watersmeet, Michigan and is owned and operated by the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. This property often features live music from local and regional acts. The hotel consists of a total of 132 guestrooms and suites. There is a golf course situated on the property called Lac Vieux Desert Golf Course and the property (naturally) offers room and golfing combination packages.
The property has a somewhat limited selection of 518 combined slot, video poker and video keno machines ranging in denomination from pennies to $10. Somewhat uniquely, they keep a listing of each type of machine easily found on the website.
Big props for the convenience factor!
There are three gaming tables (two blackjack and one three card poker) with minimums as low as $2 on Blackjack as of the time of this writing. Table games hours are available on their website, and as of the time of this writing, are 3:00p.m.-Midnight seven days a week. The players club is known as The Superior Club, which is likely a double entendre based on the lake of the same name.
The casual restaurant at this property is the Sugar Bush Restaurant, which features a soup and salad bar. The Northern Waters Cafe serves Starbucks coffee and has a variety of Grab and Go options while the NW Sports Bar occasionally features live entertainment and has drinks and bar eats.
Much of the entertainment is centered around the golf season, so your experience of this casino and its amenities is likely to vary depending on when on the calendar you go. It is not a destination unto itself, except maybe for the golfers, so mostly caters to them and locals. It is still likely worth a stop if you happen to be in the area anyway.
Odawa Casino Resort
The Odawa Casino Resort opened in June of 2007 and is owned and operated by the Little Traverse Bands of Ottawa Indians. The AAA Diamond Rated hotel consists of 137 guestrooms and suites while the property houses 50,000 square feet of gambling space. This is actually a replacement casino as this tribe also owned Victories Casino, but built and opened this one in favor of that.
Depending on the calendar, there is no shortage of entertainment as live acts can be found both at The Ovation Hall (concerts) as well as The O Zone Nightclub and a bar in the middle of the casino floor called Rendezvous. The O Zone Nightclub is also known for its flair bartenders.
Hotel amenities include an indoor pool and hot tub, continental breakfast, free wi-fi and a gambling package for players that comes with gambling-related coupons. The resort features some 1,000 slot machines, including a high-limit room and these range in denomination from pennies to $100. Video poker and video keno are also available.
Table Games include Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em. We suggest calling ahead for individual hours of operation for games other than Blackjack if you are looking for a specific game. Poker cash games are offered both before and after any tournaments as well as Fridays and Saturdays starting at 4:00p.m. This casino also once housed live bingo, but that is no longer the case and hasn’t been for a few years. The players club at this casino is known as Pure Rewards.
Dining options include an upscale eatery known as Sage. Other options are the Waas-No-De Buffet (translates to Northern Lights) and the Cooper Cafe for quick eats.
The entertainment options are pretty impressive for a property of this size, but make no mistake that this is very muchy a locals place or Staycation place rather than a destination unto itself.
Ojibwa Casino Marquette
The Ojibwa Casino Marquette is located in a city of the same name and is owned and operated by The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. While the casino itself does not have a hotel, it does offer shuttle service to any of the many hotels in the area. The property houses some 280 combined slot, video poker and video keno machines. Table Games include Blackjack, Let It Ride and Roulette…their own website says to check the pit for hours, which makes me assume they vary, so you will want to call ahead of time.
Judd’s Place is the bar on the property and the only eatery is the quick eats Marquette Snack Bar.
If you looked up, “Locals Place,” in the dictionary….nothing wrong with that, though.
Ojibwa Casino Baraga
The Ojibwa Casino Baraga is located in a city of the same name and is owned and operated by The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. (Does that sentence sound familiar?) Hotel guests in one of the forty rooms or suites have access to the indoor pool around the clock. Other property visitors may swim for free from Noon-5:00p.m. (that’s neat) and then have to pay for anything after 5:00p.m. As of the time of this writing, the fees are only $3.00 for kids and $4.00 for adults with annual passes available. There are bowling lanes at this property, an RV park, and hotel guests have access to complimentary wireless internet.
The players club is known as The Eagle Club and this casino features 340 combined slot, video poker and video keno games ranging in denomination from pennies to $5.00. Table Games include Blackjack and Let It Ride. The two eateries are the casual Lucky 7’s Restaurant Baraga as well as the Press Box Bar and Grill.
On a side note, I called and smoke to MacKenzie (sp?) because I was uncertain about what the pool policy was…whether the charge applied to hotel guests or the general public and I want to say that she was very nice. I call a lot of casinos when I write these, and I’ll generally not say anything bad about anyone (it’s usually a neutral experience) but I do like to point out when someone is exceptionally nice.
Ultimately, this is very much a locals/staycation place, but certainly worth considering if you are going to be in the area. If you’re travelling with kids, there are a few things for them to do (pool and bowling) so that’s always nice.
Saganing Eagles Landing Casino
Owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Council and located in Standish, Michigan, this is a modestly-sized locals casino that houses 34,000 square feet of gambling space. They do plan to expand by adding a 148 guestroom hotel which is nearing completion, at such time, 400 machines will be added. Currently, the gaming floor consists of just over 800 combined slot, video poker and video keno machines. There are no tables games currently, though they do have a few virtual table games. The Players Club is known as Access.
In addition to the soon to open hotel, the property is home to an RV park.
The Aerie Cafe is the casino’s only dining establishment which has quick bits and casual dining.
Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort
Located in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, this casino is also owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Council and is a huge property consisting of 200,000 square feet of gaming space. In addition to the hotel, the property features not one, but two major entertainment venues. The Entertainment Hall consists of a general admission capacity of nearly 3,300 with a similar number of reserved seats while the Soaring Eagle Outdoor Arena seats 11,000 for general admission and has just over 5,000 reserved seats.
There is an indoor pool at the hotel featuring music and lights as well as an indoor/outdoor hot tub. There is also plenty to do at this property for the kids as it features an arcade with Cyber Quest and Kids Quest, the latter of which offers hourly child care services. It is also home to a spa offering a few services for those looking to be pampered.
Other than to say that it has, “Thousands,” of slots, video poker and video keno machines, the website does not offer much in the way of an exact count. Similarly, no specific count is offered for table games, though they do include Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Let It Ride, Four Card Poker, Crazy 4 Poker, Mississippi Stud, Chase The Flush, Three Card Poker and Single-Zero Roulette. We recommend calling ahead for typical operating hours if you have a specific and less common game in mind. No surprise at this point, but there is nothing stated on the site as to the number of poker tables, though it does state that they offer Texas Hold ‘Em and conduct a number of tournaments. There is now a different bingo room than the original one (which was converted to The Entertainment Hall) and hours for that are available on their website.
In terms of the entertainment offered at the bars and other venues, a schedule is available here with many national acts to be seen around the calendar.
Ascend is a sports bar featuring the typically associated eats, any number of TV’s, craft beers and occasional live entertainment. Fine Dining includes the Siniikaung Steak and Chop House. Other dining includes Isabella’s (Italian), Legends Diner (Casual American), Aurora Buffet, Central Deli (sandwiches and hot dogs, mainly), Slice (pizza) and Native Grind Coffee Shoppe for coffees and desserts. Little Eagle Cafe is also good for quick bites and there is a convenience store on site called Miijim Store.
Wedding and conference facilities, along with catering, are available.
This property probably falls just short of being a destination unto itself other than for a Staycation, but should definitely be considered for anyone who is going through the general area. There’s plenty to do for the entire family, so killing a couple days here should be a non-issue.
Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel
Owned by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and located in Williamsburg, Michigan, this property features 56,000 square feet of gaming space and a hotel with a total of 132 guestrooms, junior suites and suites. Wireless Internet is complimentary and the hotel features a 24/7 fitness center for its guests.
The gaming floor houses 1,200 combined slots, video poker and video keno machines, a poker room and live blackjack, roulette and craps. Electronic games consist of those three as well as Baccarat. Given the size of the casino, we recommend calling ahead to make sure anything other than Blackjack is open. The site says games are available 24/7, but it could be using the electronic versions as a way to make that statement.
Until earlier this year (2019) there was a poker room, but that is no longer the case as of the time of this writing. The players club is known as Grand Rewards.
The website refers to nearby golf courses and a spa (with shuttle service to the spa) but these are not actually located on the property. Bourbons 72 is the steakhouse and bourbon bar and represents the property’s finer dining selection. The buffet is known as Seasons and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Deli is good for quick bites and Coffee Spoon is good for pastries, quick eats, coffees (obviously) and breakfast sandwiches.
All told, this place is mainly for locals and also people staying in the area for golfing or other activities. It is certainly not a resort property unto itself. It may be decent for something like a weekend staycation.
Pari-Mutuel Betting in Michigan
Only a few years ago, Michigan had seven different horseracing tracks spread across the state. This number has slowly dwindled, however, and facilities such as Jackson Harness Raceway, Great Lakes Downs, and Mount Pleasant Meadows have been forced to close for good.
Business was booming throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, but wagering and tax revenues from the sport started a noticeable decline in 1998. This downturn has been blamed on a number of factors, including legalized casinos, online gambling, and a younger generation seemingly uninterested in animal racing.
As of this writing, only two race tracks are available in the state. Fans of the “Sport of Kings” should see them while they can, as the sagging nature of the industry makes their continued existence uncertain.
- Hazel Park Harness Raceway – The site offers live thoroughbred racing every Friday and Saturday night from May through September. Simulcast betting on harness and thoroughbred races is available year round.
- Northville Downs – Live racing is held every Friday and Saturday night in April, and this gives way to Wednesday and Thursday races in the month of May. Admission is free, although anyone younger than 12 is prohibited from entering the building.
In addition to race tracks, some states also have off-track betting facilities that allow people to wager on horse or dog racing. While such possibilities do exist at the sites listed above, Michigan has no options entirely isolated from a track.
State Lottery in Michigan
The Michigan lottery started in 1972, and the first instant ticket was purchased in the state in 1975. Game revenue is used to fund the public school system, and over $14.5 billion has been raised since the appearance of the lottery. Part of the Multi-State Lottery Association, Michigan also offers nationwide favorites such as Powerball and Mega Millions.
The available games come in three styles of play: online games, pull tabs, and scratch-offs. Over 10,000 licensed retailers are available throughout the state, and customers must be at least 18 years old in order to make a purchase. Purchases can also be made online at michiganlottery.com who also offer generous welcome bonuses not available at retail outlets.
As of this writing, the following lottery drawings are available in the state:
- Club Keno – Drawing take place every four minutes, with players trying to match up to 10 numbers. The top prize for a $1 wager is $100,000.
- Mega Millions – Drawings are held twice a week, with a progressive jackpot that begins at $15 million.
- Daily 3 / Daily 4 – Players try to match 3 or 4 numbers in order to win a variety of cash prizes.
- Keno! – First seen within the state in 1990, this game requires players to choose 10 out of 80 numbers. 22 numbers are then drawn, and the player is paid based on the number of matches. Getting all 10 numbers results in a $250,000 payout.
- Powerball – Drawings are held twice a week, with a progressive jackpot starting at $40 million.
- Classic Lotto 47 – Drawings are held twice a week, with players trying to get as many matches as possible on six numbers. Jackpots start at $1 million.
- Fantasy 5 – This daily drawing requires players to pick 5 of 39 numbers and get paid based on the number of matches. The progressive jackpot begins at $100,000 and increases in increments of $5,000.
- Monopoly Millionaire’s Club – The jackpot begins at $15 million and maxes out at $25 million. If a jackpot is won, additional $1 million payouts are also made.
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Conclusion
Michigan is one of only five states where most major forms of gambling are available. Their casino industry is thriving despite the economic problems of Detroit and surrounding areas, and the same can be said of their state lottery. The pari-mutuel racing scene is slowly dying, however, and there’s a realistic chance that no tracks will be available within a decade. Still, the state includes a number of options for gamblers, whether they’re local residents or visitors from elsewhere in America.
References
- Michigan Gaming Control Board
- Michigan Lottery: Official Site
- Wikipedia: List of Casinos in Michigan
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You must be 21 or older to gamble in Michigan
