Casino Table Games in Michigan

Table games are a great way to pass the time but can be an overwhelming experience if you’ve never played one before. Both online and in-person casinos offer various games and each has individual and sometimes complex rules.

When it comes to gambling, you want to make sure you understand the rules of the game you choose. The diversity of table games available and varying factors for each can make that a difficult task.

Some games, like slots, require a different approach when compared to table games, like three-card poker, which require a lot of strategy and game knowledge. Thankfully, some are easier to learn than others, and we are here to help you sort through them. 

Live Table Games vs Online Table Games

Michigan has several forms of legal gambling. Both in-person and online gambling is legal in the Great Lakes State, though the latter is still in the process of being available to the public. The Michigan legislature passed an online gambling bill in 2019, which was then signed into law by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

That made online casinos legal in the state, though the rules and regulations for online gambling are being written, and the licensing process is still underway. At best, online casinos could make an appearance in Michigan by late-2020, but more likely sometime in 2021. 

At this point, only existing Michigan casinos, including Detroit’s three commercial casinos and 23 tribal casinos across the state, can get a state online casino license.

Those that do procure a license will be able to legally offer online casino table games to anyone age 21 and up and currently inside state lines.

The following forms of online gambling are legal in Michigan:

  • Online lotteries run by the state of Michigan, which is designed to help fund public schools. The Michigan online lottery has Fantasy 5, Powerball, Lotto 47, and Mega Millions, and all are available now.
  • Wager on horses using a feature known as off-track betting that allows gamblers to log onto a website or use apps and bet on horses. Wagering on greyhound racing is not available however.
  • Table games, online poker, and casino gambling are also legal. When online casinos begin to open in Michigan, you will be able to log onto virtual casinos and play various games.
  • Sports betting is also legal online and you can soon bet on sports like football and basketball at online sportsbooks. Since sports are played year-round, sports betting is as well. 

The following forms of in-person gambling are legal in Michigan:

  • Horse racing has been available for in-person betting in Michigan for decades. However, dwindling popularity in the sport has seen a decline in betting as markets shift to other sports.
  • Charity betting is also legal in Michigan and is common in the form of bingo, raffles, casino nights and poker tournaments, among others. It’s designed to raise money for a good cause, but charity betting is also a great way to practice gambling.
  • There are numerous casinos located throughout Michigan that are owned by various Native American tribes. These casinos feature big floors with lots of table games and slot machines in addition to often also having bars and restaurants onsite.

Can You Play Table Games Online In Michigan?

When online casinos begin to operate in Michigan, there will no doubt be a variety of table games on the various sites, in addition to slots and other offerings. 

One important caveat is you must be in Michigan state lines to gamble on these sites, which will require verification of your location before you’re allowed to play.

At the moment, the only online casinos you can use in Michigan are sweepstakes casinos. These casinos use a dual currency known as gold coins and sweeps coins. Gold coins hold no monetary value, while sweeps coins can be obtained for free and traded for real prizes.

Typically, it works like this:

  • Join a sweepstakes casino like Chumba and Luckyland and receive your free sweeps coins.
  • Decide if you want to play casino games using gold coins or sweeps coins.
  • If you’re lucky enough to win using sweeps coins, you convert the coins into real prizes.

Gambling with sweeps coins is pretty easy and is legal in Michigan due to the sweepstakes nature of the site. You don’t need to purchase anything and can even send a self-addressed stamped envelope to both Chumba and Luckyland requesting free sweeps coins.

Sweeps are also awarded when you purchase gold coin packages through either site.

Best Casinos For Table Games

Many brick-and-mortar casinos feature a nice selection of table games. Here are a few Michigan casinos that feature table games.

  • Firekeepers Casino
  • MGM Grand Detroit
  • Little Rivers Casino Resort
  • Saganing Eagles Landing Casino
  • Four Winds Casino Resort

Popular Table Games Available In Michigan

While this is by no means a comprehensive list, the five table games listed below are some of the most popular available at Michigan-based casinos. Before you head to any casino, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the various games you’re interested in playing. 

Even if you’re just planning to play a few games and not gamble much of your bankroll, it’s still a good idea to know the basics before making your first real-money wager.

Three-Card Poker

Three-card poker is a popular table game found at most casinos. It is one of the hotter games available to play because it’s not only easy to learn, but it’s fun too. The goal, as you may have guessed, is to create the best poker hand possible using just three cards. If your hand is higher than the dealer’s, then you win. 

There are sometimes variables at play, too, and you can find casinos that allow side bets to make the game more dynamic. 

In addition to being offered at most in-state casinos, three-card poker is typically available at online casinos. 

Blackjack

Does blackjack need much of an explanation? It’s not only the most popular table game in the entire country, but it’s been around since likely being invented in the 17th century. 

Your goal when playing blackjack? Get closer to having a total of 21 points than the dealer without going over. 

The game has a fast pace of play and that’s one of the reasons it’s become so popular among players. While there are a few exceptions, the player typically has two options to consider: hit or stand.

Since the game is boiled down to such simple elements, it’s also easy to learn. Beginners can quickly learn it and play alongside veteran players. A strategy is important, and we recommend you spend some time playing and learning before sitting down to make your first real-money bets.

Roulette

Roulette came from France, and its name means “little wheel” in French. Roulette is one of the only casino games featuring a ball. It has a greater house edge than most table games and tends to be fairly fast. 

There are several variations of roulette, but the two most popular are American and European, known as double-zero roulette and single-zero, respectively. The bet combinations are far and wide and each with their own strategies, so don’t expect to understand every aspect of the game before you start playing. It’s fun, it’s fast-paced, and winning can sometimes lead to a significant payout. 

Craps

This popular game has origins in London before coming to New Orleans and spreading across the US. There is little doubt a newbie can find it rather intimidating, but don’t let that stop you from learning. 

Sure, it feels like there are hundreds of various bets you can make, and the slang that veteran players use can come across like you’re trying to learn a second language. The pace is fast, the bets are dizzying, and in a busy casino, the table can quickly become raucous. 

Don’t worry, that’s how everyone feels when they first start playing. You can either start playing craps online to learn more about the game, though many players say it’s not the same and lacks the authenticity of the table game. Another suggestion would be to find a casino that offers the game, go during non-peak hours, and learn as much as you can from the table’s dealer and others who are playing the game. It is going to cost you money via bets, but learning hands-on is often the quickest way when it comes to craps. 

Casinos can be a community. When it comes to the more complicated games, don’t be afraid to ask if the action is slower than normal and the place isn’t packed. 

Baccarat

Baccarat is one of the simplest table games to play, but just because it’s simple doesn’t mean there’s not a layer of complexity. Baccarat involves betting significantly as players must choose to place their wager on the dealer’s hand, the player’s hand, a tie, or an even bet on all three.

The winning hand will be the hand closest to nine and there are some unique rules with how the cards are measured in comparison with most other card games. 

As you’d expect, the cards are measured based on their numerical value, so two equals two, three equals three and so on. However, face cards are worth zero and aces are worth one, so they don’t affect the final total as much as numbered cards do.

Since the goal is to get to nine, anything over that total will have 10 subtracted from the sum. If you draw a six and an eight, then your 14 total points would have 10 subtracted, leaving you with four. 

Where To Play Table Games In Michigan

Table games are available at many casinos across the Wolverine State. Many of these casinos also feature sportsbooks, video poker, and slots.

If you’re looking for table games to play, then use our list below to find where all the casinos are located in Michigan:

BAY MILLS RESORT AND CASINO

  • Address: 11386 W. Lakeshore Dr., Brimley, MI 49715

FIREKEEPERS CASINO

  • Address: 11177 E. Michigan Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49014

FOUR WINDS DOWAGIAC

  • Address: 58700 M-51, Dowagiac, MI 49047

FOUR WINDS HARTFORD

  • Address: 68600 Red Arrow Hwy., Hartford, MI 49057

FOUR WINDS CASINO RESORT

  • Address: 11111 Wilson Rd., New Buffalo, MI 49117

GREEKTOWN CASINO-HOTEL

  • Address: 555 E. Lafayette St., Detroit, MI 48226

GUN LAKE CASINO

  • Address: 1123 129th Ave., Wayland, MI 49348

ISLAND RESORT AND CASINO

  • Address: W. 399 US-2, Harris, MI 49845

KEWADIN CASINO HOTEL AND CONVENTION

  • Address: 2186 Shunk Rd., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

LEELANAU SANDS CASINO

  • Address: 2521 N. West Bay Shore Dr., Peshawbestown, MI 49682

LITTLE RIVER CASINO RESORT

  • Address: 2700 Orchard Hwy., Manistee, MI 49660

MGM GRAND DETROIT

  • Address: 1777 Third Ave., Detroit, MI 48226

MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL

  • Address: 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI 48201

NORTHERN WATERS CASINO RESORT

  • Address: N5384 US-45, Watersmeet, MI 49969

ODAWA CASINO RESORT

  • Address: 1760 Lears Rd., Petoskey, MI 49770

OJIBWA II CASINO – MARQUETTE

  • Address: 105 Acre Trail, Marquette, MI 49855

SAGANING EAGLES LANDING CASINO

  • Address: 2690 Worth Rd., Standish, MI 48658

SOARING EAGLE CASINO AND RESORT

  • Address: 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858

TURTLE CREEK CASINO

  • Address: 7741 M-72, Williamsburg, MI 49690

What Table Games Have The Best Odds In Michigan?

Many people are unaware that almost all table games have better odds than slots. Players must understand these table games to a certain extent to take advantage of those odds, but slots are generally the worst odds available on the casino floor.

Blackjack is the best bet you can make at a casino as the odds only favor the dealer by about 1%. That means you have a 49% chance of winning a blackjack game, but that chance can be boosted by learning strategy and understanding the mechanics of the game.

Standing and watching a few rounds of blackjack will give you a good handle on how the game works.

While blackjack can be learned at a casino as long as you understand the basic rules of the game, poker is a game best practiced at home with your friends so you can learn all the nuances before sitting down at the felt table in a real casino.

There are many variations to the game — like three-card poker or Texas Hold’em — and a multitude of possible outcomes in every game, which can make it exciting, but can also overwhelm players who struggle to remember the rules and strategies.

The best first step for learning how to play poker is to familiarize yourself with the possible hands you can be dealt. Once a player learns all the combinations, they can move onto the more complex parts of the game, like holding, drawing and betting and then onto the advanced strategies. 

Craps is similar to blackjack in that the odds end up pretty close to 50% for winning and losing. Like anything else, practice will enable you to be a capable craps player.

It can be intimidating because there’s so much going on at the table, but that doesn’t make its odds any worse. Once you understand how the game works, you have a decent chance to win money, especially when compared to slots and some table games that favor the house.