Michigan's Biggest & Top Casinos Ranked: Detroit Will Surprise!

BetMichigan.com, a resource for Michigan sports bettors, today announced its inaugural list of top casinos across the state of Michigan. The rankings are a weighted result of three factors: Online review averages from Google, Yelp, and Trip Advisor; social media followings on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram; and total tracked check-ins.

Following the launch of online gaming, BetMichigan.com has rolled out a wealth of gambling resources to help residents navigate the new platforms. Its recent casino list provides users with a helpful tool when considering any upcoming action. Based on the weighted factors, the Michigan casinos are as follows and feature locations throughout the state:

1. MGM Grand Casino (Detroit)

MGM Grand tops our rankings, earning the highest number of online reviews by far. MGM Grand Detroit simply is one of the biggest and best casinos in Michigan, with nearly two dozen table games and around 3,500 video slots and video poker machines across its giant casino floor. With the adoption of online gaming in the state, MGM now features an onsite Sports Lounge and BetMGM online casino.

2. FireKeepers Casino (Battle Creek)

FireKeepers ranks second on our list, securing the highest average rating from patrons as well as the largest social following. FireKeepers Casino Hotel is one of Michigan’s older tribal resorts, opening in 2009 and operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians. The gaming floor is spread over a gargantuan 111,700 square feet and boasts 70 table games while also featuring 3,000 slot machines, including classic games and progressives. The casino’s Dacey's Sportsbook and Taphouse is one of Michigan's most exciting places to wager and watch all the big games.

3. MotorCity Casino (Detroit)

MotorCity boasts the honor of being Detroit’s sole locally owned casino and has a solid overall score to put it in our Top 3. The venue has the most Facebook check-ins across all Michigan casinos. MotorCity also recently opened its first legal sportsbook in conjunction with FanDuel Sportsbook.

4. Four Winds Casino (New Buffalo)

Four Winds New Buffalo is the largest property in the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians group of casinos. A short drive to the Indiana border, gamblers will find more than 2,600 video slots and classic slot machines across the gaming floor. Four Winds New Buffalo opened a retail sportsbook in July 2020, with Chicago Bears legend Steve McMichael making the first bet.

5. Gun Lake Casino (Wayland)

Gun Lake Casino is owned and operated by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians. The casino underwent a long construction process but now is up and running with table games and slots, as well as its new Stage 131 Sportsbook & Lounge.

6. Greektown Casino (Detroit)

Greektown Casino Hotel is one of three commercial casinos in Detroit. It’s also one of the largest casinos in Michigan, with 100,000 square feet of gaming space, 3,000+ video slots and more than 60 table games like roulette and blackjack. After Michigan relaxed its gambling laws, Greektown Casino Hotel opened The Sportsbook, one of the state’s first legal brick-and-mortar sports betting lounges.

7. Little River Casino (Manistee)

The first of the northern casinos on our list, Little River Casino Resort & Hotel is owned and operated by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. Gamblers age 18 or over can enjoy 1400+ slots, video poker or table games, or join the Players Club to earn points and cash. The River Rock Sportsbook & Grill is newly opened and offers retail sports betting on a range of U.S. and international sports.

8. Turtle Creek Casino (Williamsburg)

Continuing in northern Michigan, Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel is operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the owners behind the Leelanau Sands Casino. The 56,000-square-foot casino floor has several hundred video slots to suit all stakes and is one of the largest gaming floors across all the casinos in upper Michigan. Like the Leelanau Sands Casino, Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel also boasts a new retail sportsbook, Onyx.

9. Island Casino (Harris)

The Island Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Hannahville Indian Community, a recognized group from the Potawatomi Indian Tribe. It’s also one of the top casinos in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Located between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, the Island Resort & Casino boasts a 320-room hotel and RV park, plus more than 1,200 slots and table games like craps and blackjack. Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) in September announced the grand opening of its BetAmerica Sportsbook at the Island Resort & Casino.

10. Soaring Eagle Casino (Mt. Pleasant)

Soaring Eagle certainly is one of the best casinos in Michigan. It’s located north of Lansing up I-75, offering a wide selection of video slots, bingo and poker. The Soaring Eagle Bingo Hall is the biggest in Michigan.

With the continued momentum in new Michigan online casinos and online gaming, we are proud to present these inaugural rankings for casinos across the state of Michigan. Stay tuned to BetMichigan.com for all the latest info on Michigan’s gambling landscape.

Methodology:

Reviews were scored based on number of reviews by site — more emphasis was placed on Google as it has the highest number of reviews. More weight also was given to a review than a social like as it is a bigger step in the user journey to leave a review than to like/follow a page. Social check-ins (via Facebook) were weighed to prioritize the metric based on people actually being in the building. A check-in carried more weight as a proximity metric as customers playing games in the casino is a revenue driver. Social follows are distributed based on number of likes/follows by site — more emphasis was based on Facebook as it has the highest number of interactions. No additional weight was given as social pages have global presence and a like/follow is a low-cost interaction for people on Facebook.

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