Gun Lake Casino is one of the most well-known enterprises of the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians in Michigan (also known as the Gun Lake Tribe). Billed as an entertainment destination when opening, the casino features 76,000 square feet of gaming area with thousands of slot machines and dozens of table games like mini-baccarat, blackjack, craps, and roulette.
This casino was designed to be both comfortable and contemporary, with inspiration drawn from the culture of the Gun Lake Tribe. The designs were created by the Friedmutter Group, while Skanska USA and Station Construction LLC worked as general contractors to get things up and running.
| Year opened | 2011 |
| Phone number | 269-792-7777 |
| Address | 1123 129th Avenue, Wayland, Michigan, 49348 |
| Number of slots | 2,000 |
| Number of table games | 47 |
| Hotel? | No |
| Minimum age to gamble? | 21 |
Gun Lake Casino Online Gambling: Casino & Sports Betting
Gun Lake Casino is planning to offer both online casino and sports betting in the years to come. The casino partnered up with Parx Casino to offer these options in the future. The casino also partnered with Rush Street Interactive to offer a social casino and social sportsbook to help promote the Gun Lake brand. These platforms will not offer real money betting.
Stage 131, which is an entertainment venue inside of the hotel, will be the initial spot for sports betting and online gaming. The casino implemented a phased system to bring in the new offerings with onsite sports betting coming first and online gaming coming a bit later on. The online sports betting app, Play Gun Lake, officially launched at the beginning of 2021.
Once the online sportsbook is available, it will offer a range of sports to bet on, such as tennis, football, mixed martial arts, basketball, boxing, baseball, boxing, golf, soccer, and hockey. In the meantime, you can head down to the Stage 131 retail sportsbook, which officially opened its doors in October 2020.
Gun Lake Casino History
As mentioned above, the Gun Lake Casino first opened its doors in February 2011 through the Gun Lake Tribe. At that time, the entire property was about 83,000 square feet and had around 1,400 slot machines. The casino has grown and changed over the years to become a much larger property with additional gaming and dining options.
The first expansion to the casino occurred in 2017 and cost around $76 million to bring to fruition. Through the expansion, another 600 slot machines were added along with several thousand square feet of space. This created a more robust space for gamblers with additional gambling choices.
The slot machines were also joined by a new 300-seat buffet restaurant that offers lunch and dinner, along with specialty dining nights like crab legs and steak. A new State 131 bar also replaced the former one with more space and continued to offer local, live music every night of the week.
At the end of 2019, the Gun Lake Tribe announced that a second expansion would be happening soon. This $100 million expansion is expected to double the size of the existing casino. When the expanded casino opens, likely in 2021, it will have 450 additional slot machines, a larger non-smoking area, and 12 new table games.
Other additions coming to the casino include doubling the size of Stage 131 for the second time to offer better entertainment with more seating, a new dining service, and an outdoor patio area. There will also be two more upscale restaurants at the Gun Lake Casino following this expansion.
Gun Lake Casino Michigan Loyalty Program
At Gun Lake Casino, the loyalty program for casino patrons is called GLC Rewards. It lets you earn, use, and access points, comps, tier benefits, and other rewards instantly. Guests can see their comps and reward dollars whenever they like, experience earning periods of one year, and be part of one of five tiers to level up through.
The tiers offered with GLC Rewards include the following:
- Experience – 0 to 7,499 points
- Preferred – 7,500 to 29,999 points
- Reserve – 30,000 to 119,999 points
- Elite – 120,000 or more points
- Elite + – By invitation only
There are many ways to earn points through the loyalty program. Playing a dollar in slots or keno earns a point, as does playing two dollars in video poker. Points can also be racked up through playing table games, making gift shop purchases, dining at Harvest Buffet or Sandhill Café, and playing poker.
Redeeming points to play slots can be done at any slot machine. Points can also be redeemed at Appliques Gift Shop, Sandhill Café, or Harvest Buffet at the point of payment. Every 500 points on your reward card will offer you slot play, table game bets, tobacco products, and items at the gift shop or restaurants mentioned above.
Gun Lake Casino FAQ
February 2011. The Gun Lake Casino opened its doors with a building of 83,000 square feet in 2011. The casino also had a total of about 1,400 slot machines at the time of opening.
Twenty-one years old. While casinos can offer gambling in Michigan to those who are at least 18, it requires there be no alcohol served on the premises. Gun Lake Casino requires gamblers to be 21 years of age.
Yes. Gun Lake Casino now has a retail sportsbook, which opened in October 2020. It also launched an online sports betting app in partnership with Parx Interactive in late summer 2021.
There are two. Sandhill Café is open 24/7, while Harvest Buffet offers a selection of cuisines. Gun Lake Casino also has four bars, including On the Side Bar, Chill, Stage 131, and Crossroads.
No. Casual attire is permitted whether you’re there for gambling, events, dining, or drinks.