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As Michiganders eagerly anticipate the arrival of legalized online poker, a few may find it difficult to endure the wait due to the temporary unavailability of certain poker rooms at Michigan casinos.
Furthermore, poker players should be prepared to adhere to certain restrictions aimed at curbing the transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic, which will be in effect once the facilities reopen.
Which Michigan poker rooms are open right now?
Poker rooms have been among the slowest gambling areas to recover since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is due to the inherent high-risk nature of the activity. With players handling cards and exchanging chips, sitting in close proximity to one another, poker rooms become a breeding ground for potential viral transmission.
In reality, upon their limited reopening in August and December, all three Detroit commercial casinos made the decision to keep their poker rooms closed. Conversely, Las Vegas poker rooms opted for a different approach by reducing the number of players per table, implementing plexiglass barriers, and regularly refreshing chips upon reopening.
On January 15, both MGM Grand Detroit and Odawa Casino in Petoskey reopened their poker rooms. MGM Grand Detroit’s poker room is now available 24/7, with five tables that have been spaced apart. Plexiglass dividers have been installed to separate each player and the dealer at each table. Similarly, Odawa Casino in Petoskey also reopened its poker room on the same date.
The poker room at Greektown Casino in Detroit has been open since February 15th, while MotorCity Casino reopened their poker room on March 6th.
On February 26th, the Island Resort Casino in Harris made an exciting announcement regarding the reopening of its poker room.
On May 1, the poker room at FireKeepers Casino resumed operations.
Which Michigan poker rooms are currently open? Below is a breakdown of each facility:
| Casino | Location | Poker Room Open? | Days/Hours | Seats/Tables Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGM Grand Detroit | Detroit | Yes (Jan. 15) | 24/7 | 8 seats per table; 5 tables |
| Odawa Casino | Petoskey | Yes (Jan. 15) | Friday-Sunday/4 p.m.-midnight | 6 seats per table; 2 tables |
| Bay Mills Resort & Casino | Brimley | No | – | – |
| FireKeepers Casino | Battle Creek | Yes (May 1) | 24/7 | 6 seats per table; 13 tables; no tournaments |
| Greektown Casino | Detroit | Yes (mid-February) | Daily/10 a.m.-2 a.m. (until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday) | 4 tables |
| Gun Lake Casino | Wayland | No | – | – |
| Island Resort Casino | Harris | No (Feb. 26) | Friday-Saturday/11 a.m.-3 a.m. | Cash games only |
| Kewadin Casino | Sault Ste. Marie | No | – | – |
| MotorCity Casino Hotel | Detroit | Yes (March 6) | 24/7 | N/A |
| Soaring Eagle Casino Resort | Mt. Pleasant | No | – | – |
What to expect when Michigan poker rooms reopen
There are several casinos in Michigan that do not have a poker room. For instance, the three Four Winds properties only provide three-card poker as a table game. While certain facilities mentioned in the aforementioned list do offer video poker, it is important to adhere to safety protocols in order to participate.
The following are included:
- Following social distancing guidelines
- Playing while wearing face masks correctly.
- Before entering the playing floor, temperature checks must be conducted.
- Limits on capacity and limits on the number of tables/seats.
Casinos also have limited options for beverages and dining.
Regrettably, the reopening dates of these poker rooms remain uncertain. When they finally resume operations, they will probably encounter similar restrictions as those observed in other gambling jurisdictions. Unfortunately, it seems like the reopening is not expected in the near future.
COVID-19 pandemic not slowing in Michigan
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reports that the virus shows no signs of slowing down in the Great Lakes State. In fact, the number of cumulative confirmed cases and deaths among confirmed cases have reached record highs.
The closure of these areas in casinos is mainly aimed at safeguarding the well-being of both employees and guests from the virus. As 10 out of the 13 casinos listed are operated by tribal communities, they operate under their own regulations and are not bound by the state’s pandemic guidelines or the Michigan Gaming Control Board. This implies that tribal casino poker rooms may have the possibility of reopening before others.
At present, there is no indication that any of them will coordinate their actions. To determine the current situation, it is advisable to directly contact the casino. However, considering their equal concern for the pandemic compared to the state government, it could potentially take several months.
PokerStars Michigan was the first to launch real money online poker sites at the end of January. However, the experience of playing poker in-person cannot be fully replicated. Once it is safe, Michigan poker rooms will undoubtedly joyfully welcome players back.
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