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Kewadin Casinos in Michigan

Numerous casinos are located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but no brand has more locations than Kewadin Casinos. Michiganders can find at least five Kewadin properties scattered across the U.P.

The Kewadin Casinos are owned and operated by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and each of the five locations maintains its own amenities, features, and identity. All casinos have an age requirement of 19 or older.

Of the five, the largest and most notable is the casino in Sault Ste. Marie. The venue boasts more than 800 slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno, and bingo. You can also stay in Sault Ste. Marie’s 319-room hotel, gather in the 30,000-square-foot convention center, or see a show in the DreamMakers Theater.

The five Kewadin Casinos opened sports betting kiosks at all five locations in December 2020. Also worth noting, all Kewadin Casinos became smoke-free in late 2024.

Kewadin Casino – Sault Ste. Marie

  • Address: 2186 Shunk Rd., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
  • Owner/Operator: Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
  • Hours: Open 24 hours/7 days a week
  • Casino games: Slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno, bingo
  • Sports betting kiosks: Opened on Dec. 14, 2020
  • Poker: Cash games and tournaments — hours limited to the weekend only
  • Legal Gambling Age: 19+ for casino; 21+ for sports betting

Other locations

Kewadin Casino – Christmas

  • Address: N7761 Candy Cane Ln., Christmas, MI 49862
  • Owner/Operator: Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
  • Hours: 9 a.m. – 1 a.m. ET daily
  • Casino games: Slots, blackjack, Let It Ride
  • Sports betting kiosk: Opened Dec. 14, 2020
  • Poker: No

Kewadin Casino – Hessel

  • Address: N. Three Mile Rd, Hessel, MI 49745
  • Owner/Operator: Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
  • Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET, Friday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. ET
  • Casino games: Slots
  • Sports betting kiosk: Opened Dec. 14, 2020

Kewadin Casino – Manistique

  • Address: 5630 W. US-2, Manistique, MI 49854
  • Owner/Operator: Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
  • Hours: 9 a.m. – 1 a.m. daily ET
  • Casino games: Virtual table games only
  • Sports betting kiosk: Opened Dec. 14, 2020
  • Poker: No

Kewadin Casino – St. Ignace

  • Address: 3015 Mackinac Trail, St Ignace, MI 49781
  • Owner/Operator: Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
  • Hours: Open 24 hours/7 days a week
  • Casino games: Slots, blackjack, roulette, craps
  • Sports betting kiosks: Opened Dec. 14, 2020
  • Poker: No

Kewadin Casinos online gambling partnership

Kewadin Casinos has entered the online sports betting and online casino market in Michigan. The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians announced in April 2020 that it had reached terms on a partnership with gambling software developer GAN.

In addition to GAN’s assistance with online casino software, the company is aiding the tribe in retail sportsbooks at all five casino locations. The kiosks opened on Dec. 14, 2020. There are three kiosks at the Sault Ste. Marie location, two at the St. Ignace location and one apiece at the three others. The tribe initially partnered with Wynn in this endeavor, but in 2024, Caesars Entertainment acquired the contract.

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Kewadin Casinos sports betting

The five Kewadin Casinos locations all opened sports betting kiosks on Dec. 14, 2020.

  • In Christmas, there is one sports betting kiosk at Frosty’s Pub ‘n’ Grub
  • At the Hessel location, the one kiosk is in the bar area
  • The Manistique location has one sports betting terminal at Team Spirit Bar
  • In Sault Ste. Marie, the three kiosks are in the Rapids Lounge and Superior Bar
  • At St. Ignace, there are two sports betting kiosks at the Whitetail Sports Bar

Kewadin Casino Sault Ste. Marie

Of the five Kewadin casinos, the location at Sault Ste. Marie is the largest and most extensive in terms of its offerings. It is home to more than 800 slots, and slot players can make use of the machines at any time, day or night.

There are also numerous table games located at Kewadin – Sault Ste. Marie. Players can find blackjack, roulette, craps, and keno games. However, unlike the slot machines, these games do not run 24 hours a day. Instead, table games at this location operate under the following schedule:

Table games

  • Sunday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. ET
  • Friday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 a.m. ET

Keno

  • Thursday – Sunday: 1 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET
  • Monday – Wednesday: CLOSED

Kewadin – Sault Ste. Marie runs a bingo hall where players can relax and try a game at a more deliberate pace. Games begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 2 p.m. on Thursdays, and the hall is closed otherwise.

Finally, Kewadin – Sault Ste. Marie is the only casino in the group to offer a poker room. The six-table room offers cash games and tournaments. Unless specifically indicated, all games in the poker room are no-limit Texas Hold’em.

Like the other table games, the poker room operates with a more limited schedule than the casino overall or the slot machine section. It’s best to call ahead to be certain, but the poker room’s typical hours of operation are:

  • Friday: 6 p.m. – 4 a.m. ET
  • Saturday: Noon – 4 a.m. ET
  • Sunday: 6 p.m. – 2 a.m. ET

Kewadin Casino Christmas

KewadinChristmas is one of the three smaller casino venues in the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa portfolio. However, the casino manages to incorporate its natural theme into an appealing operation for visitors. Patrons to the Christmas location will find hundreds of slot machines available for play. The casino itself will welcome your business anytime between 9 a.m. and 1 a.m. daily.

Kewadin – Christmas also offers some limited table games for those who prefer a different experience. The location offers both blackjack and Let It Ride between 4 p.m. and midnight on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. All of this gaming takes place in a pleasant, Christmas-themed environment. There’s even a giant statue of Santa Claus welcoming you to the casino out front.

Kewadin Casino Hessel

Kewadin CasinoHessel is the smallest of the five in the Kewadin group. It is also the only casino of the bunch to focus entirely on slot machines. You can find several of your favorite slot titles at this low-key establishment. Play begins at 9 a.m. every single day and lasts into the night.

Kewadin Casino Manistique

Kewadin CasinoManistique occupies an interesting spot in the Kewadin constellation of casino properties. Like all locations owned and operated by the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa, you can find a selection of slot machines available for play at the Manistique location. However, Kewadin – Manistique goes a different direction when it comes to table games.

In fact, the location is the only one of the five to offer virtual table games. Each table can seat five players, and every aspect of the game is automated, including gameplay.

The nice thing about the virtual machines, however, is that they are far easier to staff and maintain than the live tables. As a result, both the slot area and the virtual tables operate on the same hours. You are able to bet until your heart’s content from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

Kewadin Casino St. Ignace

If the Sault Ste. Marie venue is the king of the Kewadin group, St. Ignace location is certainly the prince. The property, located near the Mackinac Bridge that connects the U.P. to the lower peninsula, has nearly as many options, amenities, and features as its sister property to the north.

In terms of the casino itself, there are over 700 slot machines available for play. Kewadin – St. Ignace is also the only other Kewadin casino besides Sault Ste. Marie where you can play these machines 24 hours a day. For table games, St. Ignace takes a meat-and-potatoes approach. You can take part in blackjack, roulette, or craps, the three stalwarts of most casinos’ table games rosters.

The table games are limited in their hours, however. They are only available between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m. daily, so plan accordingly.

Northern Rewards Club

Retaining a customer is always cheaper than acquiring a new one, so it’s no surprise that the Kewadin casinos have a loyalty program to reward frequent visitors. The loyalty program is the aptly-named Northern Rewards Club.

There are many benefits you can earn with your club membership. Possible redemption options include free hotel stays, free dinners, free tickets to shows and other entertainment, discounts on merchandise, and invitations to special events, contests, and promotions.

Of course, the benefits you are entitled to are determined by your program tier. The Northern Rewards Club has four regular levels: Green, Silver, Gold, and Black. In addition, the club offers the Valor card, available to active and honorably discharged military members, as well as police, fire, and EMS personnel.

With the exception of the Valor card, all tier statuses are determined by how many tier points a player earns through his or her play. You can earn one tier point for each of the following actions:

  • $4 in slot play
  • $8 in video poker play
  • $1 in keno bets
  • $10 in table games wagers

Each tier requires several thousand tier points in order to grant access. Furthermore, your tier status will be reviewed every six months. So, you will have to play often to progress beyond the Green tier.

At the same time that you’re earning tier points, you will be earning club points. These points are the ones that can be used as a pseudo-currency while you’re onsite at a Kewadin casino. They are redeemable at a cash equivalent rate of 100 points per dollar, although it’s impossible to cash out your points at any time. However, you can simply swipe your card in order to pay for items at Kewadin casinos with your points. Along with all the goodies you can buy, you can potentially secure several dollars in free play, too.

Finally, Kewadin casinos understand that you might have to drive quite a distance in order to visit one of their properties. Furthermore, it can get quite expensive if you have to pay a bridge toll to do so. Kewadin has pledged to reimburse you with $8 in credits if you happen to cross the International Bridge or Mackinac Bridge en route to a Kewadin casino. There’s no point requirement to redeem this feature, and you don’t have to show a receipt. Just stop in and receive your reimbursement.

Since it’s free to join this club, anyway, it seems silly not to take advantage, particularly if you were planning on visiting a Kewadin location. Make sure you don’t miss out on all the goodies.

Amenities at Kewadin Casinos

Hotel

Only two of the Kewadin casinos have on-site hotels. The rest rely on nearby lodging or are designed with local traffic in mind. However, both Kewadin hotels offer a pleasant respite from the gaming action nearby.

Sault Ste. Marie Hotel

The largest of the Kewadin casinos naturally has the largest on-site hotel. Guests can choose among 319 rooms. There are three different types of rooms available for rental. You can choose a standard room, or kick things up a notch with a suite or whirlpool room.

Standard rooms are what you might expect and come with an in-room coffee maker for your convenience. However, guests who choose a suite will be pleasantly surprised to find a living room, a separate bedroom, a kitchenette, and a jetted bathtub.

Whirlpool rooms go even further and provide you with your own in-room whirlpool. As comfortable as these rooms are, the biggest concern is how pruned your fingers will be when you finally get out. All guests at the Sault Ste. Marie Hotel has access to the indoor pool and fitness center. In addition, the site features a game room to entertain families with children.

St. Ignace Hotel

Visitors to the St. Ignace property will largely find the same level of service as in Sault Ste. Marie. Though the hotel has just 81 rooms, all of them are well-appointed for guests’ comfort.

The room types are the same as above and feature the same amenities. However, St. Ignace does not offer a whirlpool room option, so you’ll have to choose between standard rooms or suites. Each room comes equipped with its own microwave.

Like its sister property, St. Ignace offers an indoor pool and whirlpool for guests. In addition, you can make sure to keep in shape in the property’s fitness center. However, the main attraction for hotel guests at St. Ignace has to be the view. The hotel overlooks beautiful Lake Huron.

Dining

Regardless of where you stay the night, you have to eat. All five of the Kewadin casinos have at least one place to grab a bite.

Sault Ste. Marie dining

The flagship Kewadin location unsurprisingly offers the most dining options of any of the five casinos. There are three different food locations on-site to choose from for your meals. Plus, Sault Ste. Marie’s location is the only one to offer room service for hotel guests.

The Dreamcatchers Restaurant is the main location for getting something to eat when you’re at this property. The venue is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a selection of breakfast classics, burgers, baskets, and steaks. Look for the low-priced breakfast special every Tuesday that includes two eggs, bacon or sausage, toast, and fries.

Finally, if you want a bit more specialty food, you can give the Trail Deli a try. In addition to the obvious sandwiches you can order, Trail Deli can also offer hot wings, omelets, and even ice cream for those who want a different approach.

St. Ignace dining

Like its larger sister property, Kewadin – St. Ignace also offers a selection of dining choices for visitors to the second-largest casino in the Kewadin family. There’s just no room service at this venue since there are only 81 guest rooms.

Nevertheless, patrons can eat a sit-down meal anytime between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the Horseshoe Bay Restaurant. This top location offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with spectacular views of Lake Huron. St. Ignace’s watering hole is the Whitetail Sports Bar. There is room for 80 guests in this comfortable location, and you can grab a tasty meal, a refreshing beverage, or just watch a game here.

St. Ignace also offers the Campfire Deli as its own version of Sault Ste. Marie’s Trail Deli. Like its counterpart, you can order sandwiches, wings, and ice cream in this casual venue.

Christmas dining

The Kewadin – Christmas location is smaller and offers only a single option for grabbing a bite to eat. However, the one dining area at this casino faithfully keeps to the venue’s theme. You can get all kinds of greasy goodies, snacks, and beverages at Frosty’s Pub ‘n Grub.

Manistique dining

Kewadin – Manistique boasts a rather quaint location, and its lone food option takes full advantage of the aesthetic while serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can satisfy your palate at the Mariner’s Cove Restaurant, a cozy 60-seat venue that serves all manner of comfort food. You can also play trivia, hear music, or watch a comedy show at Manistique’s Team Spirits Bar. Needless to say, you can also wet your whistle there, too.

Hessel dining

Kewadin – Hessel is probably the most casual of the five casinos in the group. Its low-key food option, the Northern Nook Bar & Grill, fits that vibe perfectly. The restaurant is quick and easy, and it serves its entire menu all day.

Entertainment

Three of the casinos in the Kewadin family offer independent entertainment options for patrons. After all, it’s possible that you might want to take a break from the casino and see a concert, show, or comedy act.

Sault Ste. Marie entertainment

There are three distinct entertainment venues at Kewadin – Sault Ste. Marie. The most significant of the three is the DreamMakers Theater, which is a traditional concert and theater auditorium. You can see acts as diverse as Black Label Society, Candlebox, and a Hee Haw retrospective here.

For those who want a calmer musical vibe, try the Rapids Lounge, which is next door to the Huron Gaming Room. This area is designed to showcase newcomers in musical genres such as jazz, reggae, and country. If you’d rather be more personally involved, head on over to the Signatures Lounge. Along with occasional in-house entertainers, Signatures offers the only karaoke option.

St. Ignace entertainment

Kewadin – St. Ignace boasts two different venues for performers and entertainment. The first is the event center, which hosts musical acts in a traditional stage setting. Most of the acts that visit the event center are country or rock, but check the box office for a list of upcoming shows.

You can also see smaller shows or sing some songs of your own at karaoke in the Northern Pines Lounge. This area is in the center of the casino. Just listen for people struggling to sing on-key, and you won’t miss it.

Manistique entertainment

The Team Spirits Bar at Kewadin – Manistique is a great place to grab a beverage if you’re a fan of the sports bar. However, Team Spirits also hosts comedy acts, trivia nights, and sports events on its big screens during the week. If you’re looking for a break from the action in the casino, head over there and see what’s happening.

Kewadin Casinos history

The story of the Kewadin Casinos and the Sault Ste. The Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has involved struggle. Though the tribe’s people have inhabited the area surrounding what would become Sault Ste. Marie, for hundreds of years, the tribe itself was not recognized as a unique entity until the 1970s. However, the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa has quickly risen to prominence. This rise is, in no small part, fueled by the success of its casino properties.

The first casino opened in 1984, and the tribe’s fortunes skyrocketed. There are now five Kewadin casinos, and the profits generated from them have allowed the tribe to expand into 15 other businesses, too. By 2005, roughly 30 years after gaining recognition, the tribe gained another bit of notice. Thanks to its many businesses, it employed more than 2,000 people and was, thus, recognized as the largest employer in the entire Upper Peninsula.

The casinos and other businesses continue to serve as the tribe’s wellspring of support for its people. The tribe has indicated an interest in opening more locations in the state, although, for now, it is mostly focused on expanding the current venues.

About the Author
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As a college athlete, Alec Cunningham played Division II golf at Tusculum University. She graduated in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Professional Writing. She then returned to her love of written word in 2020 after working in the music industry as a concert promoter, tour manager and artist developer.  As a journalist, she’s covered a variety of industry-related topics for Catena Media in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Virginia. Cunningham is especially passionate about the ever-evolving role of women in the gambling industry. Most recently, she provided insight on the topic via a panel at the 2022 All-American Sports Betting Summit. 

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