Answers: practical questions about casino visits in Michigan
Short answers to practical questions people raise about visiting a casino in Michigan, such as travel distance, parking, smoke, crowds and rewards programs. For adults 21+.
What this page is
- Grouped by theme, not by venue. Answers cover common problems in general. We do not name, rank or review individual casinos.
- Where the questions come from. We read public discussions by hand and summarize recurring themes in our own words. We do not copy or quote reviews. A theme is treated as a hypothesis until it shows up repeatedly.
- How answers are checked. Every fact in an answer links to at least one official source, such as the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) or Michigan law, with the date we last checked it. Each answer is reviewed for accuracy and responsible-gambling standards before it is published.
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Answers
How can I check whether an online casino site is licensed in Michigan?
Check the Michigan Gaming Control Board's public list of authorized online gaming and sports betting platform providers, which names each licensed operator, its platform provider and the website addresses the board has authorized.
Michigan law requires licensed internet gaming operators to display evidence of their license in a clear, conspicuous and accessible manner. Only licensed operators and their platform providers may accept internet wagers, and the board can issue cease and desist orders against unlicensed sites offering internet gaming in the state. If a site does not appear on the board's list, it is not among the platforms the board shows as authorized.
Sources: Michigan Gaming Control Board, Authorized Online Gaming and Sports Betting Platform Providers in Michigan · Michigan Legislature, MCL 432.311 (Lawful Internet Gaming Act, sec. 11) · Michigan Legislature, MCL 432.304 (Lawful Internet Gaming Act, sec. 4) · Michigan Legislature, MCL 432.309 (Lawful Internet Gaming Act, sec. 9) (last checked )
Is smoking allowed on casino gaming floors in Michigan?
It can be. Michigan's smoke-free air law bans smoking in public places, including workplaces, but it lets casinos that already existed when that section took effect on May 1, 2010 allow smoking in their gaming areas.
Outside the gaming area, those casinos must follow the smoking ban, including posting no-smoking signs. The law's definition of a casino excludes tribal casinos operated under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and we did not find an official state source on their smoking rules. We could not confirm each venue's current smoking policy from an official source.
Sources: Michigan Legislature, MCL 333.12606b (casino gaming areas) · Michigan Legislature, MCL 333.12603 (smoking in public places) · Michigan Legislature, MCL 333.12601 (definitions) (last checked )
What accessibility protections apply to casinos and casino websites in Michigan?
The Americans with Disabilities Act bars businesses open to the public from discriminating against people with disabilities in the full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services and facilities. The law's list of covered businesses includes places of entertainment, recreation, lodging and food or drink service.
Justice Department guidance says businesses open to the public should also make their websites accessible, and it gives examples of barriers such as poor color contrast or pages that cannot be used with a keyboard. We could not confirm from an official source how these rules apply to any specific Michigan venue or platform.
Sources: ADA.gov, The Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12181) · ADA.gov, Businesses That Are Open to the Public (Title III) · ADA.gov, Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA (last checked )
Where are Michigan's casinos located?
The Michigan Gaming Control Board lists three state-licensed commercial casinos, all in Detroit, and reviews and renews their licenses each year.
Michigan also has 24 tribal Class III casinos across the state, the result of gaming compacts between the state and 12 tribes. The board publishes a map and full list of their locations. Tribal casinos operate under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and are regulated by the National Indian Gaming Commission and the tribal government, not by Michigan gaming laws. We could not confirm travel times or routes from an official source.
Sources: Michigan Gaming Control Board, Detroit Casinos · Michigan Gaming Control Board, news release on annual license renewal for Detroit's three commercial casinos (Sept. 9, 2026) · Michigan Gaming Control Board, Tribal Casinos · Michigan Gaming Control Board, Tribal Casino Locations in Michigan (map and complete listing) · Michigan Gaming Control Board, 2025 Tribal Gaming Report (regulatory framework and list of tribal Class III casinos) (last checked )
Can people under 21 go into a Detroit casino's gaming area?
No. Michigan's gaming law says a person under 21 is not permitted in an area of a casino where gaming is being conducted, and is not permitted to place a wager. This law governs Detroit's three state-licensed commercial casinos.
The law makes one narrow exception, for employees of the gaming operation aged 18 or older, and an employee under 21 may not perform any function involved in patrons' gambling.
We could not confirm from an official source the age rules for non-gaming areas in these buildings, such as hotels, restaurants or event spaces.
Sources: Michigan Legislature, MCL 432.209 (Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, sec. 9) · Michigan Gaming Control Board, news release on annual license renewal for Detroit's three commercial casinos (Sept. 9, 2026) (last checked )
Help and responsible gambling in Michigan
Gambling is for adults 21+ and should stay optional. If it stops feeling that way, help is free and confidential.
- Call 1-800-GAMBLER (24/7), or chat at 1800gamblerchat.org.
- MGCB responsible gaming line (business hours): 888-223-3044, or see MGCB responsible gaming for Michigan self-exclusion programs.
- Our responsible gambling guide explains limits and statewide self-exclusion.
Page last reviewed .