William Hill is gearing up to launch a sportsbook in northern Michigan’s Turtle Creek Casinos. The Traverse City property will soon be home to the Onyx Sports Bar & Grill by William Hill. The plans also include a satellite location at Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown.
William Hill and Turtle Creek originally planned to open the Michigan sportsbook prior to the NFL season kickoff, but Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos CEO Michael Schrader, speaking with The Record-Eagle, said the properties are waiting on internal approvals before the official grand openings.
Once the Onyx Sports Bar & Grill opens, William Hill will operate a retail sportsbook in 11different states. Turtle Creek’s sportsbook will be Michigan’s sixth retail sports betting location.
Sportsbook Details
Bettors 18 and older will be able to visit the William Hill sportsbook and place bets. This is due to regulations that allow Michigan’s tribal casinos to set a gambling age of 18, 19, or 21. Bettors can wager at betting windows or self-service kiosks once the sportsbook opens.
The sportsbook will be open for self-service betting from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily at Turtle Creek. Staff will be on-site for reduced hours:
- Monday through Thursday: 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Capacity will be limited to 60 people and face masks will be required in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Online On The Way?
Michigan also allows for online casinos and sports betting, but regulations have been moving slowly. William Hill’s sportsbook at Turtle Creek is likely just the beginning, and the company is expected to launch an online offering as soon as state laws allow.
The Great Lakes State is welcoming online gambling on a broader scale than most jurisdictions, opening up opportunities for big operators to offer full-service retail sportsbooks, land-based casinos, online sports betting, and online casino sites. Once online gaming launches in Michigan, the state is likely to become a midwestern gambling hub.
About the Author
