FireKeepers Casino And Hotel Review

FireKeepers Casino and Hotel online gambling partnerships

On Jan. 15, 2021, FireKeepers Casino and Hotel announced it had struck a deal with Scientific Games.

As part of the agreement, Scientific Games launched retail sports betting in June at FireKeepers Casino Battle Creek as well as online sports betting and online casino products across Michigan, once state regulations are in place.

FireKeepers employs Scientific Games’ “OpenSports” modular sportsbook platform, including end-to-end retail sports betting solutions and a comprehensive data feed from Don Best Sports. 

Plus, the FireKeepers online casino will run on Scientific Games’ “OpenGaming” content aggregation platform.

FireKeepers’ CEO Kathy George said the company’s goal was to create a 360-degree entertainment experience online and live.

Scientific Games is a world leader in online gambling systems, services and games. It offers one of the gaming industry’s broadest and most integrated portfolio of game content, systems, platforms and professional services.

The casino branded the online gambling products under the FireKeepers name.

The casino at FireKeepers 

The 107,000-square-foot casino at FireKeepers is open 24 hours.

It features close to 3,000 slots and video poker games, 70 table games, a bingo hall and a poker room. Plus, the Aurora High Limit Lounge provides high-limit slots, table games and exclusive amenities, including a fireplace lounge.

There is a large selection of slots, the most popular table games, bingo and live poker action.

The casino at FireKeepers runs a variety of promotions, including:

• SUV, RV, car, truck and cash jackpot giveaways
• Trip giveaways
• Baccarat, slot, blackjack and keno tournaments
• Sports event specials and giveaways
• Holiday specials and giveaways

Slots

FireKeepers Casino hosts one of the most varied selections of slots in Michigan.

With 2,900 slot machines, you’ll find everything from penny slots to progressive jackpot slots and the most current video poker games.

Top slots at FireKeepers include:

• Fort Knox
• Hot Shot
• Jaws
• Monopoly Money Grab
• Sopranos
• Star Wars
• Wizard of Oz

Table games

FireKeepers Casino hosts 70 table games. Everything from casino classics to progressive jackpot games. 

It even offers free classes on table games. The one-hour instructional classes are every Monday through Thursday.

Table games at FireKeepers include:

• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Craps
• Mississippi Stud
• Crazy 4 Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em
• Let It Ride
• Three-card poker

Progressive jackpot games and side bets include:

• Three-card poker
• Carnival games
• Pai Gow
• Super 4

Keno

FireKeepers Casino runs keno out of a booth and keno writer station on the property. There are even weekly keno tournaments.

Bingo

The casino is also home to a bingo room with sessions held twice daily from Thursday to Monday. Games feature progressive jackpots and various promotions.

Red Hot Rewards loyalty program

Red Hot Rewards is FireKeepers Casino’s player loyalty program. Red Hot Rewards cards are free to anyone 21 years or older.

Members earn and redeem points with the card and enjoy shopping, food and fuel discounts.

Red Hot Rewards features three tiers of increasing benefits and earnings power. 

Earn 40,000 points in six months and jump to the top tier “Blazin’” card for the best available comps and rewards.

Higher-tier benefits also include:

• Complimentary dining, valet and coat check
• Access to the Aurora High Limit Lounge
• A 50% discount on alcoholic beverages
• Free ATM withdrawals and cash advances

Players can redeem points for Red Hot credits, table games match play in $25 increments, and food, drinks and merchandise.

FireKeepers’ sportsbook

With its big-screen TVs, fun and entertaining atmosphere, 42 taps and an extensive food menu, Dacey’s Taphouse at FireKeepers has always been a great place to watch a game. 

And then in 2020, it became a great place to bet on one at Dacey’s Sportsbook.

Scientific Games began to provide retail and online sports betting on the property at FireKeepers. On-site sports betting launched in June, with FireKeepers as the first Michigan tribal casino statewide with a sportsbook.

Despite the name change, it is far from a traditional Las Vegas casino and sportsbook. The casino essentially added a sportsbook to Dacey’s Taphouse, making sports betting a seamless addition to the existing sports bar environment.

In addition to the live betting windows, Scientific Games offers its Don Best Sports gambling data feed, helping MI players make bets and understand sports betting jargon.

FireKeepers Casino and Hotel poker room

FireKeepers is home to a newly renovated 26-table poker room that is one of the largest in the state of Michigan.

The room offers Texas Hold ’em and Pot-Limit Omaha poker cash games and tournaments.

The poker room is open 24/7, and promotions include a bad beat progressive jackpot and comps.

The daily tournament schedule is highlighted by $175 and $125 events on Saturdays and a $240 event every other Sunday.

Plus, two $1 million guaranteed Mid-State Poker Tour (MSPT) events annually.

The 2019 MSPT FireKeepers Casino $1,000,000 guaranteed main event in October 2019 set a record for the largest MSPT main event outside of Las Vegas, drawing 1,592 entries and creating a more than $1.5 million prize pool.

FireKeepers Casino and Hotel amenities

The FireKeepers hotel

FireKeepers is home to an eight-story, 243-room AAA four-diamond, award-winning hotel.

Hotel amenities include:

• Flat-screen TV, coffeemaker, safe and clock radio with iPod docking station in every room
• In-room dining
• Fitness center
• Multilevel indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room
• 24-hour business center
• High-speed internet access
• Valet parking

The pool is open seven days a week until 11 p.m. for registered hotel guests only. The fitness center is open 24 hours a day.

The tribe broke ground on an additional eight-story, 203-room hotel tower in June 2019, with plans to complete the project in late summer 2021.

The second tower will include a hotel lobby area, a signature restaurant, high-limit slot and table game areas and a VIP lounge. The 39,000-square-foot first level will consist of a lobby bar.

Rooms will feature upscale built-in decor, along with the latest in guest service technology.

NIBI, FireKeepers’ signature restaurant, will move into the tower with a new location featuring seating for approximately 125 people.

FireKeepers is also renovating its existing gaming space as a part of the project, including the addition of a new high-limit gaming section for slots and table games, plus a new bar and VIP lounge for select Red Hot Rewards club members.

Dining and entertainment

The FireKeepers Casino and Hotel offers a variety of dining options and entertainment surrounding the 2,100-seat FireKeepers Event Center.

Restaurants and bars on the property include:

• Mijem Buffet: Michigan’s Best Buffet.
• NIBI: FireKeepers signature restaurant serves up classic meals with a contemporary spin.
• Dacey’s Taphouse & Sportsbook: Battle Creek’s hottest craft beer experience meets great food and giant TVs. 
• Smoke ‘N Fire: Serves American fare with BBQ undertones.
• Cafe 24/7: Enjoy classic comfort foods in a dining room that never closes.
• Chi Mon-EE’s: The quick-serve eatery includes made-to-order artisan pizzas, deli sandwiches and burgers.
• Gapi Coffee & Sweets: Serves coffee and desserts.
• The Cake Shop: Create the cake of your dreams.
• The Poker Bar: A meeting place for drinks, video slots and people-watching, located in the center of the casino.
• Hotel Lobby Bar: Food and drink specials available during happy hour. Full Smoke N’ Fire restaurant menu is available.
• Kabaret: Drinks and more.

FireKeepers Casino and Hotel history

Shingobee Builders and Clark Construction began building FireKeepers Casino for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi in Battle Creek in May 2008. The $300 million casino opened on Aug. 5, 2009, with Gaming Entertainment Michigan, a joint venture between Nevada-based gaming operator Full House Resorts and real estate developer Robert Mathewson managing.

The organization had agreed to manage the casino through August 2016 for 26% of net income. The Nottawaseppi Huron Band bought out the agreement four years early in 2012 for $97.5 million and has managed FireKeepers ever since.

The casino has long featured 111,700 square feet of gaming space with 2,900 slots, 70 table games, multiple restaurants, a live poker room and bingo hall.

In March 2011, FireKeepers broke ground on a major expansion that included an eight-story resort-style hotel. The 243-room hotel opened on Dec. 12, 2012. The expansion also included the opening of a multipurpose event center and concert venue with seating for 2,000-plus.

More renovations came in 2016 when FireKeepers rebuilt its 24/7 restaurant. It is now an old-school diner with new modern features. Plus, it built a convenience store, car wash and gas station adjacent to the casino.

In August 2021, FireKeepers unveiled a second hotel tower as daredevil Nik Wallenda walked a tightrope across from the old hotel tower the new one.

Dacey’s Sportsbook

Dacey’s Taphouse, a craft-beer focused sports bar, opened in December 2016. In 2020, it became Dacey’s Sportsbook.

On June 17, 2019, FireKeepers broke ground on a new hotel tower and casino renovation project which opened in August 2021.

Construction provided an additional 203 hotel rooms, a transformed hotel lobby area, a signature restaurant, high-limit slot and table game areas, and a VIP lounge.

FireKeepers also signed an agreement with Scientific Games to provide sports betting and online gambling services for the casino. The casino branded the products under the FireKeepers name and launched such mobile ventures in June 2021.