Self-serve Caesars Sportsbook kiosks are available on the casino floor for retail sports betting (21+). Leelanau Sands’ sister property, Turtle Creek Casino, runs the tribe’s full-service Caesars Sportsbook window; that book operated as Onyx Sports Book under William Hill until Caesars’ 2021 acquisition rebranded it.
Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge sits on M-22 in Peshawbestown, in Suttons Bay Township, about 25 minutes north of downtown Traverse City. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians owns and runs it, the same tribe behind the larger Turtle Creek Casino in Williamsburg. I think of Leelanau Sands as the more intimate of the tribe’s two properties: a smaller gaming floor, a real bingo hall in the Birch Room, and a lodge built right onto the casino instead of down the road.
You need to be 18 to play the floor here. Sports betting at the on-site Caesars Sportsbook kiosks requires you to be 21.
Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge Quick Facts
| Address | 2521 N. West Bay Shore Dr., Peshawbestown, MI 49682 |
| Hours | Sun.–Thu. 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Fri.–Sat. 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. |
| Gaming floor | 25,980 sq. ft. |
| Slot machines | 350+ |
| Table games | Blackjack, craps, Louisiana stud, roulette, three-card poker |
| Bingo | Birch Room: Wed. & Fri. 6 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.; plus Big Bingo Saturdays (doors at noon) |
| Sportsbook | Caesars Sportsbook self-serve kiosks (21+) |
| Lodge | 50 rooms |
| Gambling age | 18 on the gaming floor; 21 for sports betting |
| Tribe / oversight | Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians; tribal-state compact with the State of Michigan |
Michigan Casinos in the News
Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge online gambling partnerships
In February 2020, Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge’s owner and operator, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, signed a long-term partnership with William Hill. The deal made William Hill the tribe’s exclusive provider of online sports betting and online casino gaming throughout Michigan, pending regulatory approval.
In addition to launching online casino and online sports betting products, the pair opened a retail book now called Onyx Sports Book by at Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in nearby Williamsburg in September 2020. A satellite sportsbook location also opened inside Leelanau Sands, featuring sports betting kiosks.
William Hill launched online casino gaming and online sports betting features in early 2021. In August 2021, the William Hill brand was reimagined under the banner of Caesars Sportsbook and Caesars Casino.
Getting there
Leelanau Sands is about 25 minutes from downtown Traverse City by car via M-22, and about 10 minutes north of downtown Suttons Bay. If you’re looking for a casino near Traverse City or a casino in Suttons Bay, Michigan, this is the closer of the Grand Traverse Band’s two properties (Turtle Creek is the other, in Williamsburg). Free parking is available on-site.
On the gaming floor
- Leelanau Sands runs more than 350 slot machines, including Dragon Link, Lightning Link, and Cleopatra, across a 25,980-square-foot floor.
- Table games include blackjack, craps, Louisiana stud, roulette, and three-card poker.
- A single 10-seat No-Limit Texas Hold’em table runs Fridays starting at 4 p.m.
- Euchre games run every Monday.
- Bingo is one of the things that sets this property apart from its sister casino.
- The Birch Room hosts regular sessions Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
- A dedicated Big Bingo Saturdays event at noon.
What to know about Leelanau Sands Casino
Sportsbook
Grand Rewards Players Club
The rewards program spans both Leelanau Sands and Turtle Creek. Five tiers, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Pinnacle, and Onyx, raise your promotional bonus multiplier from 2x up to 7x at the top tier, along with escalating discounts on rooms and dining.
| Tier | What it unlocks |
|---|---|
| Sapphire | Entry tier; base point earning and bonus multiplier |
| Ruby | Higher bonus multiplier; early access to select promotions |
| Emerald | Room and dining discounts added |
| Pinnacle | Larger discounts and multiplier |
| Onyx | Top tier: highest multiplier (up to 7x) and deepest discounts |
Lodge & amenities
The lodge has 50 rooms, recently renovated with bay-view and woodland-view options, walkout patios or balconies, mini fridges, microwaves, and Keurig coffee makers. Big Dex’s serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with grab-and-go options and monthly specials; some property materials also reference a Maple Bar cocktail lounge. The 1,000-seat Showroom hosts touring concerts and events throughout the year, and the on-site Eyaawing Museum & Cultural Center covers the Grand Traverse Band’s history. A complimentary shuttle connects Leelanau Sands and Turtle Creek Casino.
Online Gambling
Leelanau Sands doesn’t run its own online casino or sportsbook. For the Michigan online products tied to this tribe’s market access, see PlayMichigan’s Michigan online casino and Michigan sports betting guides.
History of Leelanau Sands Casino
Leelanau Sands started as a bingo palace in 1984, making it one of Michigan’s original tribal gaming venues. It became a full casino after a 1995 renovation, and a $2.5 million redesign in 2013 added stained-glass woodland murals and custom chandeliers reflecting the region’s natural scenery.
Regulation
Leelanau Sands operates under a tribal-state gaming compact between the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the State of Michigan. The Michigan Gaming Control Board coordinates regulatory oversight alongside the tribe’s own gaming commission.
FAQ for Leelanau Sands Casino
Sunday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 a.m.
No. You can play slots, table games, and bingo at 18. Sports betting at the on-site Caesars Sportsbook kiosks requires you to be 21.
The casino’s address is in Peshawbestown, within Suttons Bay Township, about 10 minutes north of downtown Suttons Bay.
About 25 minutes by car, north on M-22 along Grand Traverse Bay.
Leelanau Sands has its own on-site lodge with 50 rooms. Traverse City has additional hotel options about 25 minutes south.
Yes, self-serve Caesars Sportsbook kiosks are on the casino floor for in-person sports betting (21+).
