Introduction to Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Michigan slot machine casino gambling consists of three commercial casinos in Detroit and 23 tribal casinos throughout the state. Caesars Windsor is also nearby, just across the border from Detroit in the Canadian Province of Ontario.
Detroit’s commercial casinos have a minimum theoretical payout, while tribal casinos have none. Neither type of Michigan casino has return statistics publicly available.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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![Detroit’s River Walk [Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/1-michigan-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Michigan*
The minimum legal gambling age in Michigan depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 18/21
- Poker Rooms: 18
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
The minimum legal age for gambling is 21 if the casino serves alcohol. Further, the minimum legal age for gambling at Caesars Windsor is 19 years old. Be aware that, at Caesars Windsor in Canada, all bets and winnings are in Canadian currency.
In 1996, Michigan voters approved three licensed casinos for Detroit via the Michigan Gaming Control & Revenue Act.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
![Portage Canal Lift Bridge, Hancock [Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2-michigan-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Michigan
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in Michigan if it is 25 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in Michigan
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) within the Michigan Department of Treasury regulates commercial casinos in Detroit. Further, the MGCB provides compliance oversight authority for tribal-state compacts with Michigan’s federally-recognized tribes.
Federally-recognized American Indian tribes are sovereign nations. As such, the State of Michigan does not have general regulatory authority over tribal casinos, although the state has oversight authority of compliance with state-tribal compact provisions.
Instead, through the federal IGRA of 1988, Michigan’s tribes have tribal-gaming compacts in place to allow Class III games-of-chance slot machines. Therefore, the National Indian Gaming Commission and each tribal government regulate Michigan’s tribal casinos.
Otherwise, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), a crown agency of Canada, and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) regulates gaming at Caesars Windsor in Canada.
![Lake Superior at Sunset [Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/3-michigan-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Casinos in Michigan
There are three commercial casinos and 23 tribal casinos in Michigan.
The largest casino in Michigan is MGM Grand Detroit with 3,500 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort with 3,330 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in Michigan
Detroit’s commercial casinos, including the popular Caesars Windsor in Canada, include:
- Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino across the Canadian border from Detroit in Windsor, Ontario.
- Greektown Casino-Hotel
- MGM Grand Detroit
- MotorCity Casino Hotel
Tribal Casinos in Michigan
Michigan has tribal-state compacts with 12 American Indian tribes, which have produced 23 tribal casinos. At the end of 2017, these tribal casinos had a total of 21,976 Class III, Vegas-style gaming machines.
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.
Michigan 23 tribal casinos are:
- Bay Mills Resort & Casinos in Brimley located in the upper peninsula 53 miles north of Mackinaw City
- FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek located 113 miles west of Detroit
- Four Winds Casinos Dowagiac located 21 miles north of South Bend, Indiana near the Indiana border
- Four Winds Casinos Hartford located 50 miles north of South Bend, Indiana
- Four Winds Casinos New Buffalo located 34 miles northwest of South Bend, Indiana near the Indiana border and Lake Michigan
- Gun Lake Casino in Wayland located 172 miles west of Mackinaw City
- Island Resort Casino in Harris located in the upper peninsula 160 miles west of Mackinaw City
- Kewadin Casinos Christmas in Munising located in the upper peninsula 129 miles northwest of Mackinaw City on Lake Superior
- Kewadin Casinos Hessel located in the upper peninsula 41 miles northeast of Mackinaw City
- Kewadin Casinos Manistique located in the upper peninsula 89 miles west of Mackinaw City
- Kewadin Casinos Sault Ste. Marie located in the upper peninsula 59 miles north of Mackinaw City on the Canadian border
- Kewadin Casinos St. Ignace located in the upper peninsula 12 miles north of Mackinaw City
- Kings Club Casino in Brimley located in the upper peninsula 56 miles north of Mackinaw City
- Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Peshawbestown located in the lower peninsula 20 miles north of Traverse City
- Little River Casino Resort in Manistee located in the lower peninsula 58 miles southwest of Traverse City
- Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet located in the upper peninsula 268 miles west of Mackinaw City near the Wisconsin border
- Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey located in the lower peninsula 38 miles south-southwest of Mackinaw City
- Odawa Casino Mackinaw located in Mackinaw City
- Ojibwa Casino Marquette located in the upper peninsula 158 miles northwest of Mackinaw City on Lake Superior
- Ojibwa Casino Baraga located in the upper peninsula 239 miles northwest of Mackinaw City on Lake Superior
- Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel in Standish located in the lower peninsula 158 miles south-southeast of Mackinaw City on Lake Huron
- Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant located in the lower peninsula 157 miles northwest of Detroit
- Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in Williamsburg located in the lower peninsula 11 miles east of Traverse City
![Map of Michigan Casinos [Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/4-michigan-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Michigan slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Michigan is:
- North and East: The Canadian Province of Ontario
- South: Indiana Slots and Ohio Slots
- West: Minnesota Slots and, across Lake Michigan, Illinois Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Michigan.
![Michigan Slots Community on Facebook [Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/5-michigan-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Our Michigan Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Michigan? If so, join our new Michigan slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Michigan. Join us!
Payout Returns in Michigan
Detroit’s commercial casinos have a minimum theoretical payout of 80%. In addition, they have a maximum theoretical payout of 100% unless otherwise approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Further, Class II skill-based electronic gaming machines at non-tribal casinos also have these payout limits when played perfectly. Return statistics from Detroit’s casinos are not publicly available.
Otherwise, there are no payout limits for Class III Vegas-style, games-of-chance slot machines at Michigan’s tribal casinos nor are return statistics made publicly available.
Finally, Canadian casinos in Ontario such as Caesars Windsor have a minimum theoretical payout of 85% and a maximum theoretical payout of 99.1% for Class III Vegas-style games-of-chance. However, Class II competition-style games-of-skill machines such as video poker have a minimum theoretical payout of 88%.
According to their OLG gaming control board from their Slots Brochure, Canadian casinos in the Province of Ontario have a single return statistic: Their average return is 91.8%.
![Michigan Coffee Mug [Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/6-michigan-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Summary of Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Michigan slot machine casino gambling consists of three casinos in Detroit and 23 tribal casinos throughout the state. Otherwise, Caesars Windsor in Canada, across the border from Detroit, is a popular casino destination.
Casinos in Detroit have a theoretical payout between 80% and 100%. Michigan’s tribal casinos do not have any theoretical payout limits for Class III slots. No return statistics are publicly available from Michigan’s casinos.
Annual Progress in Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Over the last year, there has been little change to the slots gaming industry in Michigan.
