Guide to Michigan's Native American Casinos
Tribal gaming started as early as the 1980s in Michigan. The Keweenaw Bay Tribe offered Bingo in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a means to bring in revenue for their people. The state felt they needed to be licensed and regulated by the Bureau of State Lottery, the tribe disagreed as they were deemed a sovereign nation. A court battle ensued.
A similar court case was underway in California. There’s the U.S. Supreme Court determined that states couldn’t enforce gaming laws or regulations when casinos were on tribal lands. This led to President Reagan signing the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988. It created a way for states to ensure casinos were fair and followed any state laws without restricting tribes from operating casinos on their land. This is how Michigan’s Native Americans are able to build and operate tribal casinos.
Three Classes of Casinos
There are three casino classes.
Class I – Social games and casinos where prizes are of minimal value.
Class II – Bingo, scratch cards, and lottery games played for money. Charitable games of Baccarat and Blackjack are also allowed for charity “Vegas Night” events.
Class III – Casinos can run full establishments with slots, video poker, etc.
The Native American casinos in Michigan are Class III.
Play at Almost Two Dozen Tribal Casinos
Michigan’s tribes operate close to two dozen casinos in the state as of April 2024. They are found throughout the Upper Peninsula. Explore what each one has to offer and where they’re located.
Bay Mills Resort & Casino
This Class III waterfront casino has an RV park and 143 hotel rooms for guests. During your stay, enjoy the three dining options, 18-hole golf courses, natural trails, ATV/snowmobile trails, and gaming floor. More than 600 video slot games, live dealer table games, a sportsbook, and live poker are available.
On-Site Restaurants: 3, but 1 is seasonal
No-Deposit Bonus: $5 in free play when you sign up for the free Funcard Players Club
Location: West Lakeshore Drive in Brimley
Age Restriction: 18 or older
FireKeepers Casino Hotel
With a four-diamond hotel providing accommodations, this casino is larger and resembles a Vegas casino, complete with an on-site sportsbook. Play more than 2,900 slot games, Keno, video poker, 63 table games, and a 26-table poker room. Live entertainment is another draw here. In addition to the land-based casino, FireKeepers offers an online casino and sportsbook for Android and iOS devices.
On-Site Restaurants: 8
No-Deposit Bonus: $5 free play for new Red Hot Rewards Club enrollees
Location: East Michigan Avenue in Battle Creek
Age Restriction: 21 or older
Four Winds Casino Dowagiac
With 350 slot machines, six table games, and a sportsbook, Dowagiac’s casino has plenty for guests to do. Players can also play on their mobile devices in the Four Winds Mobile Casino. Rodgers Lake is available for water activities and camping.
On-Site Restaurants: 1
No-Deposit Bonus: Free play upon enrollment
Location: M-51 S in Dowagiac
Age Restriction: 21 or older
Four Winds Casino Hartford
The Hartford location of Four Winds has an 18,000-square-foot gaming floor with more than 430 slots, 7 table games, and a sportsbook. Paw Paw Lake and its campgrounds are nearby.
On-Site Restaurants: 1
No-Deposit Bonus: Free play upon enrollment
Location: Red Arrow Highway in Hartford
Age Restriction: 21 or older
Four Winds Casino New Buffalo
New Buffalo’s Four Winds location is larger than the prior two options. It has a Silver Creek venue with live music from big names like Sister Sledge. There’s an on-site hotel with 414 guest rooms and suites, more than 1,900 slots, 41 table games, and a sportsbook. Finally, there are three gift shops available during your stay.
On-Site Restaurants: 5
No-Deposit Bonus: Free play upon enrollment
Location: Wilson Road in New Buffalo
Age Restriction: 21 or older
Four Winds South Bend
The South Bend location is the newest location and opened in 2018. There are more than 1,8000 slots, 12 live poker tables, 27 table games, and a sportsbook. The casino hotel also boasts the Cedar Spa, and there are retail stores on the grounds. Bravo Poker Live is also available for players who want to play poker from their Android or iOS devices.
On-Site Restaurants: 6
No-Deposit Bonus: Free play upon enrollment
Location: Prairie Avenue in South Bend
Age Restriction: 21 or older
Gun Lake Casino
A selection of more than 2,500 slots are on the gaming floor. There’s also the 131 sportsbook, a live poker room, and 50 table games. A hotel and spa is under construction and expected to open in 2025. PlayGunLake is the casino’s mobile casino.
On-Site Restaurants: 5
No-Deposit Bonus: Scan your rewards card each time you enter the casino and see if you win up to $50,000 in Bonanza BucksPlay.
Location: 129th Avenue in Wayland
Age Restriction: 21 or older
Island Resort & Casino
Book a room in the resort and enjoy spa services at Drift Spa. The casino resort also boasts award-winning golf courses, entertainment venues with live performances, and a gaming floor with 1,150 slots, live Bingo, sports betting, and table games. Kids love the on-site water park, Splash Island.
On-Site Restaurants: 8
No-Deposit Bonus: Not listed
Location: W 399 US 2 & 41 in Harris
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Kewadin Casino Christmas
This Christmas-themed casino boasts a gift shop, a Northern Lights gift shop, and a wide selection of slots, Blackjack, and Let it Ride. Table games are unavailable on Monday and Tuesday. It has partnerships with area hotels for discounted lodging.
On-Site Restaurants: 1
No-Deposit Bonus: Not listed
Location: Candy Cane Lane in Christmas
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Kewadin Casino Hessel
The Hessel location is near the Les Cheneaux Islands on Lake Huron. Slots are the main draw, and there are seasonal cabin rentals and tent sites available from May to November. If slots aren’t enough, you might want to choose one of the other Kewadin casinos.
On-Site Restaurants: 1
No-Deposit Bonus: Not listed
Location: Mile Road in Hessel
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Kewadin Casino Maristique
This casino doesn’t break down what games they have other than players can expect a Vegas-style experience. Surrounding the casino are groomed trails for snowmobilers and cross-country skiers. There’s also charter fishing and ice fishing available.
On-Site Restaurants: 1
No-Deposit Bonus: Not listed
Location: Easte Route 1 in Manistique
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Kewadin Casino Sault Ste. Marie
Sault St. Marie’s Kewadin Casino is one of two locations in this brand that offers an on-site hotel. There are 319 guest rooms with a spa and fitness center. Find Bingo, Blackjack, Craps, Let it Ride, and more than 800 slots here. There’s also a theater, a couple of bars, a gift shop, and an art gallery. Note that this location’s table games are closed on Monday and Tuesday.
On-Site Restaurants: 1
No-Deposit Bonus: Not listed
Location: Shunk Road in Sault Ste. Marie
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Kewadin Casino St. Ignace
Located on the shores of Lake Huron, the views here are breathtaking. Players have more than 700 slots available, as well as Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette. Table games are not available on Monday or Tuesday.
On-Site Restaurants: 2
No-Deposit Bonus: Not listed
Location: Mackinac Trail in St. Ignace
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge
Situated on the Leelanau Peninsula, this casino has a hotel, RV parking, and more than 350 slot machines. There’s also Bingo, a handful of table games, and sports betting kiosks. A mobile app is available for Players Club members to check the latest promotions.
On-Site Restaurants: 1
No-Deposit Bonus: Not available, but after earning 75 comp points, you get $10 in e-credits
Location: NW Bayshore Drive in Peshawbestown
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Little River Casino Resort
An RV park and casino hotel are part of the amenities found here. There’s also the Nectar Spa & Salon and Wolf River Golf Park. The casino provides table games, more than 1,100 slots, and sports betting. Plus, there’s an online casino available if you want to keep playing from your Michigan home or hotel.
On-Site Restaurants: 3
No-Deposit Bonus: Not listed
Location: Orchard Highway in Manistee
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Northern Waters Casino Resort
While this isn’t a large casino, it offers things to keep players happy, including a restaurant, a café with ice cream, and a sports bar. The 25,000-square-foot gaming floor has more than 500 slots, Keno, and video poker. Table games are offered Thursday through Sunday, and Bingo is available every third Saturday of the month.
On-Site Restaurants: 3
No-Deposit Bonus: Purchase 10 gallons of gas in the on-site station and get $12 in free play
Location: U.S. 45 in Watersmeet
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Odawa Casino Mackinaw City
Situated a mile from Mackinaw City, this casino is small but it has everything you need for a fun day out. There are more than 250 slot machines but no table games. As an added benefit, the casino has four EV fast chargers for players who want to charge their cars while they play.
On-Site Restaurants: 1
No-Deposit Bonus: Free slot play is offered to Pure Rewards members
Location: South Nicolet Street in Mackinaw City
Age Restriction: 21 or older
Odawa Casino Resort Petoskey
If you want table games, the Petoskey casino is a better choice. It has table games, slots, and live poker on Fridays and Saturdays. There’s also an on-site hotel and RV parking. Little Traverse Bay is a few minutes away if you want to go boating, fishing, or explore the lakeshore park.
On-Site Restaurants: 3
No-Deposit Bonus: Free slot play is offered to Pure Rewards members
Location: Lears Road in Petoskey
Age Restriction: 21 or older
Ojibwa Casino Baraga
Ojibwa casinos have been around since 1990, so they have an established history. Baraga has an on-site hotel and also partners with several area hotels with free shuttles. It also has a smaller number of slot machines at 320, but you also enjoy Keno and video poker. Table games are closed for now. Virtual golf is available in The Pressbox.
On-Site Restaurants: 1
No-Deposit Bonus: Weekend free play on Sunday to hot seat winners.
Location: Michigan Avenue in Baraga
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Ojibwa Casino Marquette
Marquette boasts more than 500 slots, and there are Keno and poker games, too. Table games are currently unavailable. The casino doesn’t have a hotel, but there is an RV park adjacent to the casino.
On-Site Restaurants: 1
No-Deposit Bonus: Weekend free play on Sunday to hot seat winners.
Location: Acre Trail in Marquette
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel
Of all the tribal casinos in Michigan, this one has some of the highest ratings around. The hotel accommodations are spacious and some suites offer views of Saginaw Bay. Thousands of slots are found on the casino floor, and there is the Creekside Lounge Sportsbook for betting. PlayEagle.com is an online casino that players can use if they’re within Michigan.
On-Site Restaurants: 3
No-Deposit Bonus: Not listed
Location: Worth Road in Standish
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Both table games and slots are found in this casino, and there’s the online PlayEagle.com casino, too. Play live poker each day between 10 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. in the poker room or check the schedule for Bingo games. If you want to bet on your team or a specific player, Ascend Sportsbook is also within the casino.
On-Site Restaurants: 7 and a food court
No-Deposit Bonus: Not listed
Location: Soaring Eagle Boulevard in Mount Pleasant
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Soaring Eagle Slot Palace
Slot Palace is part of the Soaring Eagle brand, but it’s only open from 8 a.m. to midnight. You will not find anything but slots on the gaming floor, and the slots-only casino specializes in new slots and high-limit games.
On-Site Restaurants: N/A
No-Deposit Bonus: Not listed
Location: Soaring Eagle Boulevard in Mount Pleasant
Age Restriction: 18 or older
Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel
The final Native American casino in Michigan is located a short distance from Traverse City, this casino has an online casino app for Android and iOS. The land-based tribal casino has a hotel with 137 guest rooms and suites, a gift shop, and RV parking. With 56,000 square feet of floor space, there are more than 1,000 slots, table games, video poker, and a Caesars sportsbook.
On-Site Restaurants: 3
No-Deposit Bonus: Sign up for the Player’s Club and get $5 in free play.
Location: M-72 in Williamsburg
Age Restriction: 18 or older