Guests arriving at the Leelanau Sands Casino will find a beautiful Art Deco and wilderness-inspired lodge. The current incarnation of the Leelanau Casino in Peshawbestown, MI, is the result of a major renovation in 2013 that left it with a rich interior and atmospheric lighting.
The lodge is home to over 350 slots, video poker games, and live table games. Table games include poker, blackjack, euchre, bingo, and roulette. Their Leelanau Peninsula hotel is located right on the water and has over 50 rooms with walk-out patios and balconies. Players can dine at Dex’s full-service restaurant from 11 am until the casino closes. They can also visit the Sutton Bay Bar to grab a drink between games.
Leelanau Sands Casino Fact Table
| Year opened | 1984 |
| Phone number | 800-922-2WIN |
| Address | 2521 N. West Bay Shore Drive, Peshawbestown, MI 49682 |
| Number of slots | 350 |
| Table games? | Yes |
| Hotel? | Yes |
| Minimum gambling age | 18 |
Leelanau Sands Casino Online Gambling In 2024
In 2019, Michigan approved sports betting and online gambling in Michigan. After spending most of 2020 hammering out regulations for the activity, Michigan’s Gaming Control Board oversaw the official launch of online sports betting and casino apps in late January 2021.
Leelanau Sands Casino launched William Hill Sportsbook to offer their sports betting services on location beginning in early fall 2020. The agreement included a live sportsbook on the Leelanau Sands property, called Onyx Sports Book by William Hill. It has since rebranded to Caesars Sportsbook. This is a satellite location of the sportsbook at Turtle Creek Casino, which is also owned by the Great Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
Caesars also offers online sports betting. New players are eligible for an opening bonus of a first bet insured up to $1,100 using the promo code SHARPBETCZR. You can also claim a SHARPCZR deposit match bonus along with a $100 gas card at Caesars Casino online with the promo code SHARPCZR.
Leelanau Sands Casino History
The Leelanau Sands Casino first opened in 1984. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians opened the property as a high-stakes bingo hall when casinos and games with large jackpots were still considered illegal. However, 1984 was a defining year for tribal casinos and bingo halls. Many tribes throughout the United States challenged the laws by opening their own casinos and a few took their cases to the courts.
Leelanau Sands Casino remained open during all of these legal challenges until the creation of The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). In 1988, the US Supreme Court ruled that one specific tribe in California could operate casinos on their land. Naturally, this set a precedent, and Congress established the IGRA to give states a way to define the relationship between state authorities and tribal casinos. Every tribe’s right to operate casinos was recognized as long as the state and the tribe came to a mutually agreeable compact.
It took a long time for the state of Michigan to reach a compact with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians but they finally found an accord in 1993. After the agreement, the tribe continued to grow its business interests, opening the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in 1996 and later buying the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in 2003.
In 2013, the Leelanau Sands Casino completed a major $2.5 million renovation that mainly focused on the interior. The former Bingo Hall and Elements Lounge were renovated into a gaming floor called, The Maple Room, with orange and red hues throughout.
The casino also renovated the full-service bar and lounge outside their 1,000 seat showroom. The renovation installed chandeliers and a stained glass woodland mural in The Cedar Room. They also built a new concession center and foyer which acts as a display area for Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa culture.
Leelanau Sands Casino Loyalty Program
Both the Leelanau Sands Casino and the Turtle Creek Casino honor the same Players Club cards, which are free to sign up for at each casino. These cards can be used for discounts, comps, bonus entries in promotions, and special services. Players may use these cards at both casinos and redeem discounts and comps at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.
There are five tiers to the Players Club:
- Sapphire: Everyone starts with the first tier card. It offers complimentary valet service and birthday promotions.
- Ruby: At the Ruby level, players earn 2X entries on promotions and discounts on gas, hotels, retail, entertainment, and restaurants.
- Emerald: The third tier card gives players 3X entries on promotions, access to invitation-only events, and 48-hour pre-sale on concert tickets.
- Pinnacle: The Pinnacle level gives a 5X bonus on entries for promotions and a personal host, complimentary hotel upgrades, late check-outs, and 30-minute holds on slot machines.
- Onyx: At the Onyx level players enjoy 7X entries on promotions and complimentary VIP experiences.
Leelanau Sands Casino FAQ
Dex’s Restaurant in the Leelanau Sands Casino has a soup and salad bar that guests can enjoy every day.
Yes, Leelanau offers valet parking for guests. Players Club cardholders can also enjoy complimentary valet services.
Leelanau Sands Casino has no dress code.
The casino is about 20 miles or half an hour’s drive from Traverse City.
Leelanau Sands Casino is about 160 miles or a 2 hr. and 40 min. drive from Grand Rapids.