Roulette Games at Michigan Casinos

You can now legally enjoy online roulette games in Michigan. Live casinos from Detroit to Grand Rapids and Northern Michigan also have roulette tables. Add to this live dealer online games which are streamed to your home – and the options for roulette fans in the Great Lake State are worth checking out.

Roulette has branched off into multiple variations. Some of these have far better odds than others – in the form of a lower casino house edge. There are different wheels, different betting rules, plus entertaining online versions with multiple wheels and big money side bets.

This page has you covered for finding the best roulette games in Michigan – whether you are new to the game or an experienced gambler. You will an overview of the gambling laws, online and live casino roulette below. There is also a section on the bets, odds, and strategy.

Is roulette legal in Michigan?

Both live casino and online roulette are legal within Michigan. Brick and mortar casinos were made legal in 1996. This followed a referendum (Proposition E). This law licensed the 3 big land-based casinos in Detroit. It also allowed the many tribal casinos around the state to expand their gambling options to cover table games, including roulette, plus class 3 slots.

Online casinos are also now legal in Michigan. They can only be used within state lines. Geo tracking technology is used to ensure you cannot play outside of the borders. Roulette and table games were included in one of 3 bills which passed into law at the end of 2019.

BH 4311: Regulated Online Casinos and Poker Rooms
BH 4916: Sports Betting (online and live)
HB 4308: Daily Fantasy Sports

The first online casinos went live in mid-2020. Existing brick and mortar casinos (that can apply for licenses) have partnered with national and international online casino brands to provide legal casino apps and websites.

Playing roulette online in Michigan

All the online casinos in Michigan have roulette options. They range from regular American and European wheels to quirky bonus wheel games. You will also find roulette offered at live dealer casino rooms. Bet minimums are much lower online than you find in live casinos. Some software-based roulette games can be enjoyed for 10c per spin. High-rollers will have no issues betting in the $100’s.

Here are the types of roulette game you will find at Mchigan online casinos:

American Roulette: This is the regular US wheel, with two green zero slots (single and double). You can find ‘pro’ versions with enhanced 3D graphics at some online casinos.
European Roulette: This game dispenses with the double-zero, with only one zero slot. It has better odds than the American wheel.
French Roulette: The wheel used is the same as for European roulette. With French rules, you get 50% of your stake for 50/50 bets back if the ball hits the zero.
3 Wheel Roulette: This entertaining game has one ball and 3 concentric wheels. It enables side bets, for example all the wheels stopping on the same color.
Bonus Spin Roulette: A big bonus segment starts a second wheel spinning, hit both, and you could win a jackpot-sized prize.
Live Dealer Roulette: This online game uses a full casino roulette wheel and real croupier. You bet online, getting paid automatically when you strike lucky.
Auto-Roulette: An alternative live setup, instead of a dealer, these wheels (which can also be found in brick and mortar casinos) spin automatically.

You have two ways to access the roulette games at online casinos. You can download apps onto your smartphone/iPhone or tablet – or access the games via your web browser from a desktop/laptop. Some games, for example Yellow and Black Roulette, and mini-roulette, were designed specially with mobile devices in mind. Make sure you have the best Michigan casino bonus codes to take advantage of the latest no-deposit bonuses, matched welcome offers and loss-rebate deals.

Michigan online casino brands with roulette options

Here are some of the biggest and best online casino brands which are available in Michigan, along with the roulette games and bonus deals on offer:

BetMGM Casino: Licensed through the MGM Grand Detroit, this casino offers both American and European roulette with the ‘Pro’ label. These software-based games have enhanced graphics and realistic sound effects. Black and Yellow roulette is a smartphone/iPhone friendly option. Live dealer roulette is offered by MGM branded online casinos in other states.
FanDuel Casino: This huge DFS and sports betting brand also run an online casino. This is licensed through the MotorCity casino in Detroit. The casino includes IGT and NetEnt roulette games, including mobile friendly options. FanDuel Casino offer new players a loss rebate of up to $200 based on your first 24 hours of play.
Hollywood Casino: Greektown casino is operated by Penn National, who run the Hollywood online casino in Pennsylvania. This brand gives you a single (American) roulette table, along with a small selection of table games and bigger selection of slots. You can check out the games with both no-deposit and matched welcome bonuses.

Other online casino brands with partnerships in Michigan include Stars Group, Unibet, BetFair and SugarHouse.

Alternative legal online casinos: Sweepstakes gaming

As well as the casino brands licensed in Michigan, there are brands which work around the country. These casinos use laws which were set up for business marketing via sweepstakes contests. They are collectively known as ‘Sweepstakes Casinos’ and include brands like FunzPoints, Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots.

These casinos work by making their table games and slots into short sweepstakes contests. You have the opportunity to win real money – though cannot buy chips directly. They work by selling you ‘play money’ chips, then giving you chips that can be used to win real prizes. You can play for free with bonus chips – and get more by sending letters to registered addresses.

Sweepstakes casinos have a limited choice of games, though are and entertaining way to win real money prizes.

Roulette bonuses at Michigan casinos

All the Michigan online casinos offer bonuses for new players. Some of these are big – with matched welcome offers of over $1000 available. There are also smaller no deposit deals, and rebates of up to $200 on losses for your first 24 hours of play.

Casino bonuses need to be ‘cleared’. This means you need to play-through the bonus money a set number of times before it gets moved to your cash account. These play-through requirements vary between casino brands.

If you exclusively play online roulette, then you need to take ‘weightings’ into account when comparing casino bonuses. Those bonuses are primarily designed for slots. With table games, only part of your play contributes to your play through.

In the case of roulette, this can be as low as 10%. The reason is the lower house edge compared to slots – with the European wheel being 2.79% and the French version even lower (1.35% for your 50/50 bets).

Covering too many outcomes on a roulette wheel will often get your bonus removed. For example, covering both odd and even to meet play-through is not allowed.

There are plenty of excellent bonuses at online casinos in Michigan. It pays to read the terms and conditions to make sure that roulette is the right game to use for bonus clearing before you spin.

Michigan: Best live casinos for roulette

With more than 25 live casinos around the state, you have plenty of roulette options in Michigan. Here are the 5 biggest, in terms of the number of wheels, other gambling options and size of the resort:

MGM Grand Detroit: With more than 150 table games and 3500 electronic games on offer, MGM Grand is the biggest casino in Michigan. There are double-zero and single-zero roulette tables available, with a ‘party pit’ option and a table in a non-smoking gaming area. You can join the ‘Mlife’ rewards program for comps and hotel stay offers.
MotorCity Casino: As well as the regular single and double-zero wheel options, you will find ‘Blaze Roulette’ at MotorCity. This game has LED lights underneath the betting surface. They highlight the wins and provide special effects while you play. This casino has 2700 electronic games and 59 table games on offer. You can sign up for a ‘Metro Card’ to collect comps.
Greektown Casino: At this Detroit casino you have a choice of live or electronic roulette. Both use the popular American (double zero) wheel. There are 61 table games in total, covering all the popular options like blackjack card games, baccarat, and poker. You will also find 3,000 slots. Pick up a GT Rewards card to earn comps on your play.
FireKeepers Casino: This big casino in Battle Creek offer classes for new players to learn how to play Roulette every Tuesday and Thursday. There are 76 table games in total, including American roulette options. High limit gaming is available in a separate lounge. You will also find 2,900 electronic games at the Firekeepers casino. Join the ‘Red Hot Rewards’ program for comps and discounts.
Four Winds Casino: For the best roulette action the biggest of the Four Winds Casinos in New Buffalo is the place to head. This casino offers live roulette and ‘Dynasty Dealer’ virtual roulette terminals, which can switch between blackjack and roulette options. There are 60 table games in total, plus 3,000 slots. The ‘W’ players club tracks your play for comps.

Odds and payback on Michigan roulette games

The overall payback of roulette games in depends on which wheel is used, and whether the French roulette ‘la partage’ rule is in use. Here are the house edge/payback numbers:

American Roulette: 5.26% House Edge = 94.74% payback
European Roulette: 2.7% House Edge = 97.30% payback
French Roulette*: 1.35% House Edge = 98.65% payback

*Note that these French Roulette payback numbers only apply to the even money wagers, which get half their stake returned if the ball lands on the zero. All other wagers follow the European roulette odds.

Below are the odds for the many different bets you can make at a roulette table:

Red/Black: 1-to-1
Odd/Even: 1-to-1
First 18/Last 18: 1-to-1
First/Mid/Last 12: 2-to-1
Column Bets: 2-to-1
Individual Numbers: 35-to-1
Street (3 numbers across the grid): 11-to-1
Double Street (6 numbers in 2 consecutive rows): 5-to-1
Basket (0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 – American roulette only): 6-to-1

You can split your chip between numbers in two ways. First by placing it on the line between 2 numbers. Second by placing it on the intersection of 4 numbers. If you hit that number, half or one quarter of your chip’s value is used to calculate your returns.

Racetrack betting

While the grid is most common, you will find racetrack betting available at Michigan online casinos and in high limit rooms in live casinos. This shows the numbers in the order they appear on the wheel. You can bet on single numbers, or the following options:

Neighbors: You choose one number and bet this and the two numbers either side on the wheel
Orphelins: 8 numbers, 1, 20, 14, 31 and 9 on one side of the wheel, plus 6, 34 and 17.
Voisins Du Zero: All the numbers surrounding the zero
Tier: All the numbers on the opposite side of the wheel to zero

Michigan specific rules for roulette games

There are no rules for roulette that apply only in Michigan. The guidelines for casinos specify that no-value chips in different colors cannot be shared between more than one player (everyone gets their own color). Regular casino chips can be used too – as long as it is clear whose bet is who. There are also rules for camera surveillance.

Minimum buy-ins are at the discretion of the casinos. You will find smaller minimums at local tribal casinos on the peninsular compared to the big Detroit resorts.

Roulette basics: How to play for beginners

Roulette is a popular choice for people who are new to online casinos. The setup and rules are straightforward enough that you can enjoy it from the first spin. At the same time there are enough betting options, staking strategies and chances of a great run to make it interesting.

Before you bet, you will need to get colored chips. These allow several people to bet at the same time. Online, this is not needed as you only see your own chips on the virtual felt.

You place chips on single numbers, even money chances, 12’s or columns or rows. Most players have their personal ‘lucky’ numbers. They combine these with hot/cold numbers or other variables (see the strategy section below).

The wheel will be spinning all the time, and the dealer will spin the ball, declaring ‘no more bets’. When the ball lands, a plastic dolly will be placed on the winning number. All the losing chips will be swept away, leaving only the winners. The dealer will now pay out all the winning players, remove the dolly and betting can start again.

If you are enjoying roulette online, bets will be paid automatically. You have the option of a ‘rebet’ button to add the same layout over again. Some online casino software will let you save multiple chip layouts. For software-based roulette games, you can click to spin whenever you are ready. Live dealer online roulette is timed. If you miss the deadline to bet, then you simply miss that spin.

Tips and strategy for playing roulette

Strategy for enjoying roulette starts before you place a chip on the felt. To maximize your chances of winning, you need to choose the right wheel.

In Michigan casinos your options will depend on your betting level. Small stakes gamblers will be able to play American Roulette. This has a zero and double zero segment, making the overall house edge 5.26%. If the European Roulette wheel is available, you should always choose this game. National pride does not matter here, as the 2.7% house edge is much smaller. If the French rules are available, always choose this option. Online, you have the choice of all these wheels. This makes your odds-optimization efforts simple.

Bankroll management is another key roulette strategy. This involves breaking up your total gambling funds, so you do not lose it in a single spin/session.

In the long-run, results at roulette will converge towards the mean – the house will win in the end. Strategy involving staking or bet size changes can smooth out the swings of fortune, though will not give you an edge over the house. Adding extra bets when you win (not to chase losses), can certainly add to the excitement.

If you see someone selling a ‘no lose’ roulette system, you can be sure that they are making money from these sales – and not from the tables.

Roulette games, both live and online, often display a list of recent numbers. These show the colors on opposite side of the list. Some players like to mix in ‘hot’ numbers (that have appeared frequently) or cold numbers (that have not appeared for a while) into their bets. Of course, most players have some mix of their lucky numbers, birthday dates and other significant dates as part of their regular bets.

Full list of Michigan casinos with roulette tables or virtual roulette games

Four Winds Casino: 11111 Wilson Road, New Buffalo, MI 49117, +1 866-494-6371
Firekeepers Casino: 11177 E Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49014, +1 877-352-8777
MGM Grand Detroit: 1777 3rd Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226, +1 877-888-2121
MotorCity Casino: 2901 Grand River Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, +1 866-782-9622
Greektown Casino: 555 E Lafayette Street, Detroit, MI 48226, +1 313-223-2999
Little River Casino: Government Center Drive, Manistee, MI 49660, +1 888-568-2244
Soaring Eagle Casino: 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858, +1 898-775-5777
Saganing Eagles Landing Casino: 2690 Worth Road, Standish, MI 48658, +1 888-732-4537
Odawa Casino: 1760 Lears Road, Petoskey, MI 49770, +1 877-442-6464
Island Resort and Casino: W 399 US-2, Harris, MI 49845. +1 800-682-6040
Turtle Creek Casino: 7741 M-72, Williamsburg, MI 49690, +1 231-534-8870
Four Winds Casino Dowagiac: 58700 M-51, Dowagiac, MI 49047, +1 866-494-6371
Four Winds Casino Hartford: 68600 Red Arrow Hwy, Hartford, MU 49057, +1 866-494-6371
Kewadin Casino: 2168 Shunk Road, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, +1 800-539-2346
Kewadin Casino: N7761 Candy Cane Ln, Christmas, MI 49682, +1 906-387-5475
Kewadin Casino: N 3 Mile Road, Hessel, MI 49745, +1 906-484-2903
Kewadin Casino: 5630 W, US-2, Manistique, MI 49854, +1 906-341-5510
Kewadin Casino: 3015 Mackinac Trail, St Ignace, MI 49781, +1 906-643-7071
Ojibwa Casino: 105 Acre Trail, Marquette, MI 49855, +1 906-249-4200
Ojibwa Casino: 16449 Michigan Ave, Baraga, MI 49908, +1-906-353-6333
Northern Waters Casino: N5384 US-45, Watersmeet, MI 49969, +1 906-358-4226
Bay Mills Casino: 111386 W Lakeshore Dr, Brimley, MI 49715, +1 888-422-9645
Leelanau Casino: 2521 N West Bay Shore Dr, Peshawbestown, MI 49682, +1 231-534-8100

Wrapping up: Playing roulette in Michigan

You now have a choice of live casino roulette and online games at casinos in Michigan. Whether you bet your lucky numbers at a small stakes table, or are a high roller seeking the lowest house edge and best comps, there is a game waiting for you.

Live dealer roulette adds a new option. You will be able to bet on a real game from the comfort of your own home.

If you do play via a Michigan online casino app or website, remember to read the terms and conditions of the bonus deals. Two bonuses which look similar can be completely different when you consider how roulette is ‘weighted’ for bonus clearance.