Casinos in Michigan

The Best Casinos in Michigan

MGM Grand Detroit is the leader on our scoreboard, mainly due to the diversity of slots gaming and venue popularity. The name of the popular gambling operator speaks for itself, often associated with tradition and prestige, making this an all-round fantastic venue to spend time and enjoy the rich programme of special events.

The Biggest Casinos in Michigan

The biggest casinos in Michigan are where you can enjoy comfort, good company, a prepossessing atmosphere, and thrive as a high stakes player. There’s even more to be found there for the average gambler. Namely, copious amounts of table games, Size doesn’t always matter, but in this case, the most expansive land-based casino venues in Michigan certainly deliver. Whether it’s the vast choice of gaming options or the sheer scale of these gambling facilities, you won’t be disappointed when exploring these stylish and grand venues.

Are There Tribal Casinos in Michigan?

Yes, there are more than 20 diverse Tribal casinos in Michigan, owned and operated by a variety of different tribes. These casinos are open to absolutely everyone, providing they meet minimum age requirements, however they do not have to abide by state regulations. Tribal casinos can be impressive and are known for providing superb gambling experiences. Check out three of the best below.

Racinos

Racinos are casinos built at racetracks, combining the fun of playing casino games with the excitement of betting on horses. Despite there being racetracks in Michigan, there aren’t any racinos in the traditional sense of the word. However, there are casinos also have sports betting available, kindly brought to them by their sportsbook partners.

Cruise Ship and Riverboat Casinos in Michigan

Riverboat casinos are not permitted in Michigan. In fact, only one state bordering Lake Michigan – Indiana – allows riverboat casinos. This means that all gambline venues are on dry land, compared to the floating variety found in other states.

Full Michigan Casino Directory

Below, you’ll find all the important details regarding every legal gambling location in the state, which is certainly helpful when you’re looking for a casino venue with the gaming entertainment you enjoy.

Future Developments and Trends

Currently, there are major casino projects in the pipeline, given that recent attempts have failed to convince state lawmakers. This includes the $180 million Lakeshore Casino Resort project, which is frustrating news for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, given their proposals now appear to be dead in the water.

Gambling in Michigan

The first product to hit the legal Michigan gambling scene was pari-mutuel horse racing in 1933. The state lottery was launched next after the signing of the McCauley-Traxler-Law-Bowman-McNeely Lottery Act in 1972. This followed an important step for casinos, with the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act of 1966, providing the legal right to operate three commercial casinos in Detroit. Consequently, the Michigan Gaming Control Board was founded, and the minimum gambling age was set. Here are the key facts summarized:

Casino Games in Michigan

You won’t get bored when it comes to gambling in Michigan, given that casinos in the state offer pretty much every kind of cash game you can think of. The casinos we’ve highlighted above offer the greatest variety of gaming options, which makes it worthwhile taking a closer look at those, below.

Legal Gambling Situation in Michigan

Taxation of Winnings

There is taxation of gambling winnings in Michigan, both on a federal and state level. Those winning money in Michigan will have to pay a tax of 4.25% to the state, regardless of the prize amount. There’s also the requirement to pay standard federal tax of 24% on any money won over the threshold, which varies for different games, or on any winnings worth 300x the bet amount or more.

Michigan Gambling Laws

Casinos on Indian reservations were made legal in the federal ruling of 1988, but commercial casinos were only permitted in the mid-1990s. Below, you’ll find some of the most important legislature related to gambling in Michigan.

History

Michigan has a long history when it comes to gambling. You can see some of the key dates for gambling in Michigan below.

• 1933: The Racing Act of 1933 gave those in Michigan the chance to bet for the first time, allowing pari-mutuel horse racing betting.
• 1972: The Charitable Gaming Act was passed, allowing charitable organizations to raise funds via bingo, raffles and some other specific forms of gambling.
• 1972: Voters approve a constitutional amendment to create a state lottery.
• 1984: Kings Club Casino in Brimley becomes the first tribal casino not just in Michigan, but in the whole of the United States.
• 1993-1998: 11 tribal compacts are signed allowing for tribal casinos in Michigan.
• 1996: Michigan voters authorize three commercial casinos to be opened in Detroit. These were Greektown, MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity.
• 1996: Michigan saw the introduction of The Big Game, a multi-state lottery game. It is now called Mega Millions.
• 2019: Sports betting is legalized in the state, giving casinos the chance to offer sports betting areas to their visitors. Online betting, poker and casinos were also legalized.

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

Due to the success of online casino and sports betting, finding ways to wager is easier than ever before in Michigan, although that does have some impact on land-based venues that haven’t caught the online gaming train. Changes in gambling taxes continue to grab the attention of lawmakers in the state, although thankfully, moves to increase taxes have failed recently.