Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2017

Introduction to Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2017

Michigan slot machine casino gambling consists of three casinos in Detroit and 22 tribal casinos throughout the state. A popular casino for Michigan residents, the Caesars Windsor, is located across the Canadian border from Detroit.

Tribal casinos in Michigan are a thriving business, and many major expansion projects are underway throughout the state. This is especially true for casinos in northern Michigan.

This post continues the weekly blog series “Slot Machine Casino Gambling, State-By-State“, a year-long online resource project dedicated to guiding slot machine gambling enthusiasts to success.

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Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling: Tabletop counter with Michigan coffee mug.

Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Michigan*

The minimum legal age for gambling is 18 years old.

In 1996, Michigan voters approved three licensed casinos be built in Detroit, which was later improved, strengthened, and signed into law as the Michigan Gaming Control & Revenue Act.

Michigan is home to 12 federally-recognized Indian tribes with their own status under federal law and treaties. Federally acknowledged tribes are not merely organizations of citizens who happen to be of American Indian descent.

American Indian tribes are sovereign nations. As such, the State of Michigan does not have general regulatory authority over Indian casinos, although the state has oversight authority of compliance with state-tribal compact provisions. Tribal casinos are regulated by the National Indian Gaming Commission and the government of the appropriate tribal community.

Therefore, the tribes in Michigan are not required to release information on their slot machine payback percentages. However, according to officials at the Michigan Gaming Control Board, responsible for overseeing the state-tribal compacts, “the machines must meet the minimum standards for machines in Nevada or New Jersey.”

The Nevada minimum payout percentage is 75%. The New Jersey minimum payout percentage is 83%. Therefore, to comply with state-tribal provisions, Michigan’s tribal casinos must have a minimum payout percentage of 75%.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws apply to various forms of gambling. This information is not intended to provide legal advice.

Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling: Mackinaw Bridge at night beneath green Northern Lights.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Michigan

It is legal to privately own a slot machine in Michigan if it is 25 years old or older.

Gaming Control Board in Michigan

The Michigan Gaming Control Board states in their mission statement that they

“…shall ensure the conduct of fair and honest gaming to protect the interests of the citizens of the State of Michigan.”

The Control Board serves Michigan citizens by:

Licensing and regulating commercial casinos in Detroit, including their suppliers and employees;
Regulating pari-mutuel horse racing;
Licensing and regulating “millionaire party” charitable gaming; and,
Overseeing American Indian tribal casinos compliance with provisions of the state-tribal compact.

Casinos in Michigan

The slot payout percentages at the three commercial casinos in Detroit are not made available to the public.

To comply with state-tribal provisions, Indian casinos in Michigan must have a minimum payout percentage of 75%.

The largest casino in Michigan is the MGM Grand Detroit, a commercial casino. It has 4,000 Vegas style gaming machines and 98 table games. The second largest casino is Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, a tribal casino. It has 3,330 Vegas style gaming machines and 60 table games.

A list of all Michigan casinos, including the popular Caesars Windsor in Canada:

Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley, a tribal casino.
Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, a commercial casino.
FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, a tribal casino.
Four Winds Dowagiac in Dowagiac, a tribal casino.
Four Winds Hartford in Hartford, a tribal casino.
Four Winds New Buffalo in New Buffalo, a tribal casino.
Greektown Casino in Detroit, a commercial casino.
Gun Lake Casino in Wayland, a tribal casino.
Island Resort & Casino in Harris, a tribal casino.
Kewadin Casino – Christmas in Munising, a tribal casino.
Kewadin Casino – Hessel in Hessel, a tribal casino.
Kewadin Casino – Manistique in Manistique, a tribal casino.
Kewadin Casino – Sault Ste. Marie in Sault Ste. Marie, a tribal casino.
Kewadin Casino – St. Ignace in St. Ignace, a tribal casino.
Kings Club Casino in Brimley, a tribal casino.
Lac Vieux Desert Casino in Watersmeet, a tribal casino.
Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Peshawbestown, a tribal casino.
Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, a tribal casino.
MGM Grand Detroit Casino in Detroit, a commercial casino.
Motorcity Casino and Hotel in Detroit, a commercial casino.
Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey, a tribal casino.
Ojibwa Casino – Marquette in Marquette, a tribal casino.
Ojibwa Casino – Baraga in Baraga, a tribal casino.
Saganing Eagles Landing Casino in Standish, a tribal casino.
Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant, a tribal casino.
Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in Williamsburg, a tribal casino.

Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling: Michigan's recreational winters. — Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling: Michigan’s recreational winters.

Summary of Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2017

Michigan slot machine casino gambling consists of three casinos in Detroit and 22 American Indian tribal casinos throughout the state. A popular casino for Michigan residents, the Caesars Windsor is located across the Canadian border from Detroit.

Michigan tribal casinos are a thriving business, and many major expansion projects are underway throughout the state.