Michigan Retail Casinos
Michigan is “Pure Magic” for residents and visitors. Bordered by the most beautiful lakes in the world, Michigan is full of colorful splendor every season.
Michigan is also home to a thriving retail and online casino industry. Both Michiganders and Michigan visitors should spend some time having fun. Our goal on this page is to give you the best places to go when you’re ready to play some of the world’s best slots, poker or table games in Michigan. We will keep things pure and honest.
Michigan retail casinos and the law
Michigan casinos come in two distinct forms: commercial casinos governed by the laws of the Michigan Gaming Control Board and tribal casinos run by one of the various Native American tribes that exist in the state.
Tribal casinos have existed in Michigan since the early 1980s. These are sometimes smaller (although the biggest casino in Michigan is a tribal casino) and have fewer offerings than the larger retail ones. Each tribe signs a separate contract, known as a compact, with the State of Michigan, allowing it to operate a casino within Michigan borders on tribal land. Tribal casinos are regulated by the National Indian Gaming Commission and the government of the local tribal community.
In 1997, Michigan passed the Gaming Control Act opening the door for three casinos to launch in Detroit.
Michigan is also one of only a handful of states that allow for iGaming or internet gaming, where players within the state of Michigan (checked by a geolocation software) can play casino games online through a secure connection. Michigan online gambling revenue was $2.3 billion in 2023.
Retail casinos by location
Michigan is home to 23 different tribal casinos run by 12 different tribes and three commercial casinos. The Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, with five different locations, owns the most casinos of the tribes.
There are 10 retail casinos in the Upper Peninsula (UP), with several on the shores of Lake Superior. There are 13 tribal casinos in the Lower Peninsula (LP), with many nestled on the beaches of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Finally, the three Detroit casinos are all within three miles of one another, inside I-75 and I-375.
Let’s break Michigan’s retail casinos down into three categories based on location.
Detroit
The capital of the Michigan retail casino industry is Detroit. Motown. Home of the Detroit Lions. The automobile center of America.
Detroit has three world-class commercial casinos, featuring industry titans BetMGM, FanDuel and PENN Entertainment. Each property offers its own distinctive Detroit style.
Upper Peninsula
The UP is a vibrant hub of casino activity with 10 different spots located within its borders ranging from the West Coast (Northern Waters Casino) to the East Coast with three of the Kewadin Casino group. Almost all of the U.P. casinos are waterfront, or water adjacent, so if the weather is warm, pack a bathing suit.
Here are some of the Upper Peninsula casinos you’ll want to see.
Here’s a listing of the rest of the casino establishments on the UP:
- Northern Waters Casino Resort – Watersmeet
- Ojibwa Casino Baraga – Baraga
- Ojibwa Casino Marquette – Marquette
- Kewadin Casino Christmas – Christmas
- Kewadin Casino Manistique – Manistique
- Kewadin Casino Sault Ste. Marie – Sault St. Marie
- Kewadin Casino Hessel – Hessel
Lower Peninsula
Now we’re going down to Lower Peninsula of Michigan, also called The Mitten, with the eastern part called “The Thumb”. It’s significantly bigger than its brother to the north with 13 vibrant casinos dotting the shore line and central areas. You’ll want to get your hands all over these casinos in the Lower Peninsula.
Here’s a listing of the rest of the casino establishments on the Lower P.
- Odawa Casino Mackinaw City – Mackinaw City
- Odawa Casino Petoskey – Petoskey
- Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge – Peshawbestown
- Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel – Williamsburg
- Little River Casino Resort – Manistee
- Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel – Standish
- Soaring Eagle Slot Palace – Mt. Pleasant
- FireKeepers Casino Hotel – Battle Creek
- Four Winds Casino Hartford – Hartford
- Four Winds Casino Dowagiac – Dowagiac
Planning an overnight stay? Enjoy the ideal mix of gaming and comfort by exploring our guides to the Top 10 amenities at Michigan casinos and which Michigan casinos deliver the best hotel experiences.
Must See Stops in Michigan
Remember, the best way to enjoy casino gambling is responsibly. It’s important to take breaks when you’re at one of Michigan’s world-class retail casinos and there’s plenty of other things to see and do while you’re in the Great Lakes state. In between throwing some dice or playing the slots, check out these Michigan landmarks, you’ll be glad you did.
When You’re in A Detroit Casino
Supino’s Pizza
- 2457 Russell Street
After you’ve had your fill at one of the Detroit casino’s exquisite steakhouses, take the short trip to famous Supino’s, right by Ford Field. They have build-your-own red or white pizza. The famous pizza is the “City Wing Thing” which is topped with smoked turkey, smoked gouda and roasted garlic. You’ve never had anything like it.
Motown Museum
- 2648 Berry Gordy Jr. Boulevard
Founded by the sister of Motown Records executive director Esther Gordy Edwards, the Motown Museum shows you just how and where Detroit became synonymous with rockin’ soul music. This is where you’ll see the original Hitsville USA Studio A and plenty of original Motown artifacts.
The Eastern Market
- 2934 Russell Street
Featuring food and vendors from all over Michigan, the Eastern Market is a food-lovers paradise of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and fish, floors and decorative items. The list goes on and on. The Saturday Market opens at 6 a.m. with 225 vendors that draw almost 40,000 visitors.
When You’re in the Upper Peninsula
The Mackinac Bridge
- Between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City
Before the Mackinac Bridge was built in 1957, the only way to cross from the Upper Peninsula to the Lower was by plane or boat. The towering edifice is the seventh-longest suspension bridge in the world and looks like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, but maybe prettier. The Kewadin Casino St. Ignace is just over the northern edge of the famous span.
Sault Ste. Marie
- I-75 Business at W Spruce Street
Just minutes away from the Kewadin Sault Ste. Marie, this town is the second largest in the U.P. and the oldest city in Michigan settled in 1668. It features the engineering marvel The Soo Locks, where ships go from Lake Superior to Lake Huron and beyond. Make sure to visit in the spring and summer. This is one of the snowiest places in the lower United States, getting an average of 120 inches per year.
Clyde’s Drive-In
- 178 US-2 St. Ignace
Serving burgers and malts since 1949, Clyde’s is a piece of true American history. They serve breakfast in the spring and fall from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Call ahead and put your order in so you can have it hot and delicious when you pull in. Clyde’s is on the way to Kewadin Casino Hessel or get a double order and take it on the 45-minute ride up to Bay Mills.
When You’re in the Lower Peninsula
Silver Beach Carousel
- 333 Broad St. St. Joseph, MI.
Silver Beach amusement park is a 35-minute ride north of Four Winds Casino New Buffalo and the one place you have to see is the Silver Beach Carousel, a vintage carousel ride that starring rolling in 2010 in place of the original one that dates back to 1910. The lead horse is named Marcie, and they still have some of the first horses used on display.
Ocqueoc Falls
- Ocqueoc Township, MI 49759, United States
Ocqueoc Falls is an hour ride from Odawa Casino in Petoskey, but well worth the trip. It’s the largest waterfall in the Lower Peninsula and is the only universally-accessible waterfall in the U.S. Walk along the trails and take a dip in some of the cool, clear waters.
Ella Sharp Museum
- 3225 4th Street, Jackson MI
About 40 minutes away from FireKeepers Casino Hotel, the Ella Sharp Museum in Jackson is named for the local women’s rights and civic advocate in the late 19th Century who led the city to install public drinking fountains and hire a district nurse. But the crowning glory of the museum is the “Big Old Shoe” outside the front door. It’s a seven-foot tall boot, jokingly called a Size 236, that pays homage to her spirit and perseverance.
Michigan Retail Casinos FAQ
No. The three casinos in downtown Detroit are commercially owned, while the rest of the state’s 23 retail casinos are owned by various Native American tribes, with the casinos existing on tribal lands and are subject to tribal laws and policies. The Michigan Gaming Control Board has direct oversight of the three Detroit casinos, while the Native American casinos all answer to their separate constituency.
Michigan poker enthusiasts have a wealth of options to explore. All three downtown Detroit casinos, the MGM Grand, the Hollywood Casino at Greektown and the MotorCity Casino have large poker rooms. Outside of the city, there are poker rooms at the Gun Lake Casino, FireKeepers Casino Hotel and the huge Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. The Odawa Casino in Petoskey has a poker room open on Fridays and Saturdays. Many of the other casinos in the Upper and Lower Peninsula have video poker games, but not dedicated poker rooms.
There are three prominent Michigan casinos south of Grand Rapids and an easy drive. The Gun Lake Casino is 24.1 miles away from the city center. FireKeepers Casino and Four Winds Hartford are each 82 miles away from Grand Rapids. You can’t make a wrong choice.
The Ojibwa Casino Marquette lies right along Route 28 in Marquette and is the only casino located within city limits. The Kewadin Casino Christmas is 37.8 miles away from the city. If you’re looking for more of a getaway casino experience from Marquette, head south about 80 miles to the Island Resort & Casino establishment.
Yes, Michigan has one of the top online casino markets in the world, but there are rules and regulations governing where and how you can play. If you have an established account at one of the online casinos you can only play through a secure connection verified by geolocation software that proves you are within Michigan borders (this is usually determined by your cell phone or wifi signal). You can not play at a Michigan online casino if you’re outside the state.
Resources
- Aroundmichigan.com
- www.michigan.gov/mgcb (Michigan Gaming Control Board)
- www.americangaming.org
- www.UPtravel.com
- ellasharpmuseum.org
- www.michigan.org
- www.roadsideamerica.com
Other Michigan pages
If you have questions about other types of gambling in Michigan, we’ve got you covered. Click one of the buttons below to visit one of our helpful informational pages.
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