Land-based casino gambling is considered legal in the state of Michigan, although, it is more of a grey area. It is primarily carried out in the establishments ran by the Native tribes and a few ones owned by large corporations. What you can expect while reading this article is detailed information about all the games and casinos that are available in the state, such as Tribal Casinos, Resorts and others. Below, we would like to showcase to you what we consider to be the best casinos in Michigan.
- Fire Keeper’s Casino
- Four Winds Casino
- Island Resort & Casino
- Soaring Eagle Casino
- MGM Grand Detroit Casino
In the coming sections, we will be going over all the casinos and their types, which you can visit and gamble at in the Michigan state. Additionally, we will be mapping them out showing you their exact locations, so that you can plan your next trip. If you would like to see them all, then refer to our Michigan casinos list section.
Michigan State Casinos
Contents
As we mentioned earlier, there are a lot of land-based casinos in Michigan. In total, they are 26, out of which 23 are Indian and the rest three are corporation-owned. Those three commercial casinos are located in the Detroit area of the state, while the rest are spread around the territory. You can find slots and video poker games at every casino, while table games are present at any bigger Michigan casino. Recently some of the larger brands are also hosting their own sportsbooks, where you can place your wagers on your favorite teams. The 23 tribal casinos are owned and operated by twelve different Indian tribes and are not subject to regulatory disclosure.
What you can expect to find in terms of games at the Michigan casinos is pretty much everything. In total, there are over 31,000 slot machines spread between then 26 establishments and countless video poker machines. As we mentioned earlier, not all casinos offer table games as they are located in the larger examples. There are also a few resorts, where except for gambling you can enjoy some leisure time in the numerous SPA and wellness facilities located in their hotel parts. Of course, there is no shortage of tournaments and events that are held in the casinos of Michigan.
Michigan Land-Based Sports Betting
Sports betting has become legal in a lot of states in the USA, including Michigan. The state also has a long history with horse racing and gambling. A lot of the larger casinos offer a dedicated sportsbook on their grounds for the sports fans to wager on their favorite teams. With the passage of MI’s new gambling bill, we can expect all land-based gaming locations to offer betting. Keep a lookout for our Michigan sports betting guide in the future.
These are the available Michigan sportsbook options:
- Scientific Games Sportsbook at Fire Keeper’s Casino (Battle Creek)
- Sportsbook at Greektown Casino Hotel (Detroit)
- Bet MGM at MGM Grand Detroit (Detroit)
- FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino (Detroit)
- Pointsbet Sportsbook at Northern Waters Casino (Watersmeet)
- FOX Bet Sportsbook at Odawa Casino (Petoskey)
- William Hill Sportsbook at Turtle Creek Casino (Williamsburg)
- William Hill Sportsbook at Leelanau Sands Casino (Peshawbestown)
Indian Casinos in Michigan
There are 23 Michigan casino establishments that are owned and operated by twelve different Indian tribes. There are some major differences between tribal and commercial casinos that you should be aware of. Commercial casinos are owned by a corporation or individual and pay state and federal taxes. Indian casinos in Michigan are owned by a tribal nation and are not subject to such taxes. Although they do pay some fees to the state, they don’t fall under the same regulatory regiment as commercial ones. There is no difference in the games that they offer, except for the addition of some unique Indian table games that are based on classic titles. These casinos are located in the cities of Brimley, Battle Creek, New Buffalo, Hartford, Dowagiac, Wayland, Bark River, Christmas, Hessel, Manistique, Sault Sainte Marie, St Ignace, Suttons Bay, Manistee, Watersmeet, Petoskey, Marquette, Baraga, Standish, Mt. Pleasant and Williamsburg.
What You Can Do Except For Gambling?
There are a few Michigan casinos that are not just casinos and offer more than just gambling to their guests. Establishments like Bay Mills, Four Winds, Greektown Casino, Island Resort, Kewadin and more are actually casino resorts. This means that they have a hotel part that also offers much other leisure and fun activities. You can find a multitude of SPA and Wellness facilities, as well as golf courts, other sports facilities, events and more. A lot of them also offer children facilities, where you can make a family trip without worrying about your young ones while you are gambling.
Locations of Michigan Land-Based Casinos
You may already know this, but the location of a land-based casino is very important for its success and overall quality of the experience. That’s why most casinos in Michigan are located near big cities, landmarks, parks, tourist spots or in general beautiful locations. As an example, one of the largest casinos named Kewadin in the town of Christmas is located right next to the shore and near the Grand Island. It is placed near numerous cottages and the Bay Furnace Ruins. Another priority for any land-based casino is to be easily accessible via at least road transport.
Michigan Casino Resorts or Casinos with Hotels
Even if a casino does not feature a hotel on its grounds, in almost all cases there is one that is close by. Having a place to stay, especially if you are not from around the area where the casino is located is a necessity. This will also give you the opportunity to plan a whole holiday there or a family trip. If the establishment does have a hotel in the building, then it is considered a casino resort and they are considered the most convenient casinos for the family or for a long holiday. In the case of Michigan, all casinos either have hotels on their grounds or nearby with organized shuttle transport, so you have nothing to worry about.
Dining and Events at Michigan Casinos
If you are tired of gambling and want to enjoy other activities, then events, such as concerts or shows, and dining are a great choice. Any reputable casino operator will have multiple restaurants or buffets on grounds and some even feature fine dining alternatives. In the case of events, it is the same. Almost all larger Michigan casinos have a plethora of entertainment options for their guests. They could be shows, concerts or even just great live music at their bars and lounges. You can expect regular guest stars and varied programs.
Final Thoughts
As our article is coming to its end, we would like to give you a short overview of everything that we have said thus far. You have a plethora of choices for land-based casinos when you visit Michigan state. There are 26 casinos in total and 23 of them are operated by Indian tribes, while the rest are corporate owned. You will have a great time planning a holiday or a family trip that involves gambling, as there are plenty of casino resorts available and hotels near every establishment. You can enjoy thousands of slots and video poker machines as well as table games at the larger casinos.
Full List and Michigan Casino Map
As an ending topic, we would like to give you a complete list of all casinos based in Michigan state. Additionally, we will provide you with a map, where we have pinged each establishment’s location for your convenience. We are hoping that this would ease the planning of your next trip and also help you visualize the location. If you’d like to see non-casino gaming options in the state, check out our guide to Michigan gambling Here is a complete Michigan casinos map:
Complete list of all casinos in Michigan:
- Bay Mills Resort & Casino
- FireKeepers Casino Hotel
- Four Winds New Buffalo
- Four Winds Hartford
- Four Winds Dowagiac
- Greektown Casino Hotel
- Gun Lake Casino
- Island Resort & Casino
- Kewadin Casino – Christmas
- Kewadin Casino – Hessel
- Kewadin Casino – Manistique
- Kewadin Casino, Hotel and Convention Center
- Kewadin Shores Casino – St. Ignace
- Kings Club Casino
- Leelanau Sands Casino
- Little River Casino and Resort
- MGM Grand Detroit
- MotorCity Casino Hotel
- Northern Waters Casino Resort
- Odawa Casino Resort
- Ojibwa Casino – Marquette
- Ojibwa Casino Resort – Baraga
- Saganing Eagles Landing Casino
- Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
- Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel