Casinos in Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Legality of Gambling in a Casino in Grand Rapids

To learn if gambling is legal in Grand Rapids, you need to learn about its legality in the state of Michigan.

Gambling is legal in Michigan.  In 1997, Governor John Engler legalized table games and slot machines. That’s when it all started. In 2021, a law was finally passed to legalize online gambling. Today, the major land-based casinos in the state all have online platforms that you can join and start gambling. In addition to Michigan online gambling at local casinos, you can also play at off-shore casinos.

While the state is never mistaken for Las Vegas or Atlantic City, it’s the home of some amazing establishments. The gambling scene has progressed a lot since 1997, and even more since online gambling became a reality.

To gamble in Michigan, you need to be of legal age. Horse race betting and lottery games are available from the age of 18, while to gamble at casinos and bet on sports, you must be at least 21 years old.

The gambling in the state of Michigan and all of its cities, including Grand Rapids, is regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act.

While you don’t need to be a resident of the city or state, you need to be within its borders to access its online casinos and gamble under MI jurisdiction. The casinos use geo position to check your location and make sure you’re based within the Michigan borders.

Best Land-Based Casino in Grand Rapids MI

Are you looking for some gambling action? For starters you should know that there’s no casino club in Grand Rapids. If you are searching for casino hotels in Grand Rapids MI, there’s none. Even so, Michigan has 24 casinos, and you can visit one of them. The 21 tribal casinos are sprinkled throughout MI, while 3 commercial casinos are based in Detroit.

The closest casino to Grand Rapids is Gun Lake. You’d have to drive for 30 minutes from GR. To get there, use the 131 south and take the Wayland exit. In this casino, you’ll find slots, table games, a poker room, and can even do some sports betting.

Here is a list of the best casino hotels in Michigan near Grand Rapids:

• Gun Lake

With over 2,200 slot machines, 47 table games, and a luxurious hotel, Gun Lake Casino offers a world-class gaming experience.

Address: 1123 129th Ave, Wayland, MI 49348

• Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort

Soaring Eagle is within 1.5 hours northeast from Grand Rapids. It’s a place where you’ll find all forms of gambling, starting with slots to table games to bingo to poker and ending with sports betting.

Address: 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd. Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

• Hartford Four Winds

This is one of the Four Winds casinos, based in Harford, Michigan. The casino is spread across 18,000 square feet and has over 450 slot machines, video poker, progressives, roulette, and more. You can choose between 7 blackjack tables, and even bet on sports.

Address: 68600 Red Arrow Hwy 49057, Hartford, MI

• Four Winds New Buffalo and Dowagiac

If you drive southwest from Grand Rapids for around 1.5 hours, you’ll get to the famous Four Winds New Buffalo. This is a more intimate casino with a single dining option and a great game selection.

Address: 58700 M-51 S, Dowagiac, MI 49047

• FireKeeper’s Casino Hotel

FireKeepers is the smallest of the four casinos around Grand Rapids, but it’s still a world-class establishment. The small hotel is accompanied by a grand casino area, both modern and luxurious. It’s an hour drive from Grand Rapids, based in Battle Creek.

Address: 11177 E. Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, Michigan 49014

As for a new casino in Grand Rapids, there’s no announcement for one being built any time soon. Still, even though there’s no new casino in Grand Rapids MI, these four choices are pretty close and frequently visited by residents of GR.

Gambling Online: Best Casino in Grand Rapids

If you don’t want to travel to nearby casinos and would prefer to gamble from the comfort of your own home, online casinos are a very good option in Grand Rapids. Michigan online gambling is legal and regulated in the entire state. You can play online poker, table games, slots, live dealer games, and bet on sports online – both in local and offshore casinos.

Online casinos and sportsbooks are among the most successful in the country. When in Michigan, you can access and play at top-rated casino sites and download apps from the BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, and more.

To help you narrow down the choices, we selected a few casinos that we think might interest you based on their bonuses, popularity, and game selection.

Golden Nugget casino MI

Golden Nugget offers you a $1000 in match bonus on your first deposit. You’ll also get 200 bonus spins to use on the popular 88 Fortunes game. During your gambling on this site, you’ll get access to hundreds of games from top developers like Microgaming and Evolution Gaming. You can immerse yourself in live dealer gameplay for a grand experience, and use a variety of payment methods for your transactions.

Michigan Draft Kings casino

Draft Kings casino gives you three offers when you sign up. You can claim a 100% deposit bonus match up to $2000 with a minimum $5 deposit. You can choose a match up to $100 in casino credits. Or, if you plan to deposit more money, over 2k, you can talk to the support and get a custom offer. This casino is one of the best you can play at, offering hundreds of games, frequent promotions, and excellent support service.

Fan Duel casino

In Fan Duel, you can earn a $2000 bonus called Play it again to use in the first 24 hours after you sign up. There’s an app you can download for easy access, and you can also do sports betting on this website. On Fan Duel, you’ll be able to gamble with as little as $5 and get access to hundreds of games from the best developers on the market.

BetMGM MI

BetMGM has quickly become one of the top Michigan online casinos, and most of it is because of their amazing Rewards program. You can redeem the rewards at the casino for exclusive benefits, and even stay at BetMGM resorts or dine in one of their restaurants. When you sign up, you get $25 as a no deposit bonus. After that, you can get a second bonus with your first deposit for a 100% match up to $1000.

Caesars Sportsbook and Casino

The Caesars online casino is very generous to its players. It gives a 100% bonus match up to $200 to be used on selected games. Their Rewards program is widely recognized and used by many. This casino offers over a thousand games, has a non-stop support, and a very good mobile app.