MotorCity Casino

Arsenii Anderson

Are you planning a trip near Detroit and looking for a place to stay and entertain yourself? Then, the crown jewel of Motown, the MotorCity Casino Hotel, may just be what you need. This locally-owned and operated Michigan casino is on Grand River Avenue near downtown and the Detroit river that creates the frontier between the US and Canada.

So, if you’re looking to discover Detroit and all the entertainment it has to offer, allow us to show you all the perks of this resort, from casino games and VIP rooms to the amenities including spas, luxury restaurants, and four-star rooms.

MotorCity Casino Hotel Overview

The MotorCity Casino offers a modern venue in Michigan since 1999, and it’s currently open to the public. Its guests can enjoy one of the city’s few locally-owned and operated casino resorts.

A few words on the casino and hotel, its history, and if it’s currently open to the public.

How to Get To MotorCity Casino Hotel

The MotorCity Casino Hotel is located on Grand River Avenue in the heart of Detroit. You can get there within a 24-minute drive from the airport, and it’s just a 14-minute walk from the MGM Grand Detroit Casino. It’s close to the Detroit Riverwalk and you can see the Canadian city of Windsor on the other side of the Detroit River. The address of the MotorCity Casino Hotel is 2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48201.

If you’re coming from the North, you can take the I-75 South to Davison Freeway West, exit once you get to the M-10 South at Grand River Avenue, turn left, and make a right after Temple. From the South, take I-75 North and exit at 49 Rosa Parks, then take a left on Trumbull to get to Temple and make a right.

Coming from the city Airport, which is East, you’ll have to join the M-10 (Lodge Freeway) South and exit it at Grand Avenue, then follow the same road as if you’re coming from the North. Finally, if you’re coming from the West or Metro Airport, you can join the M-10 from the I-96 East after exiting at the I-94 East.

MotorCity Casino Review

When staying at the Motor City Casino, most people have reported a pleasant experience from the venue, and the visitors appear satisfied with the venue and amenities overall.

The casino hotel received generally positive reviews. The four-star establishment is pet-friendly, and the 400 rooms and suites feature air-conditioning, a refrigerator, flat-screen TVs, and around-the-clock room service. Furthermore, the facility offers a fitness center, free Wi-Fi, four bars/lounges, three restaurants, and a coffee shop.

Review Site Rating
Trip Advisor 4 out of 5 (1,000+ reviews)
Google Reviews 4.2 out of 5 (21,000+ reviews)
Yelp 3 out of 5 (200+ reviews)

Gambling in MotorCity Casino

MotorCity is a casino first and foremost, so you can expect to find slots, poker rooms, table games, and a casino VIP room for the high rollers. There are over 2,500 slot machines and 77 table games, including blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and craps. So, you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to the games you can play.

Slots

MotorCity Casino has over 2,500 slot machines to choose from, and you can start playing with only $0.01 and up to $100 per spin. Among this extensive selection, there are 40 progressive jackpots located in the Lightning Link lounge including popular titles like Kronos, Triple Double Diamond, Green Machine, and 88 Fortunes. These games offer linked jackpots that increase as people play them.

This Detroit casino has some of the most popular machines on display like Dollar Storm, Fast Cash, Money Link, Dancing Drums, and Ultimate Fire Link. Each slot machine offers a unique theme, and captivating game mechanics to keep you entertained for hours on end.

Poker Rooms

If you’re looking for an intense and adrenaline-filled Detroit poker room experience, look no further than MotorCity Casino’s poke rooms. You can play poker casually or enter one of the VIP rooms to experience poker with the most skilled players of MotorCity. As a VIP player, you’ll earn comp points, exclusive gifts, hotel offers, members-only invitations, and much more.

Furthermore, the casino has two bad beat jackpots: one for Texas Hold’Em, and another for Omaha. These are the two main types of poker variants you can enjoy at the MotorCity Casino and you can plan your visit with the Bravo Poker Live app or by calling 313-237-6735.

Table Games

Outside of poker, there are 77 tables where you can enjoy a wide variety of classic casino games at the MotorCity Casino. It includes blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and even variants of poker you won’t find in any poker room such as three-card poker or Criss Cross Poker.

Among the most original variants, we recommend trying single zero roulette, which is the European version of the game and offers better odds than tables with double zero pockets. The Progressive Mississippi Stud is another rare game played with five cards, and you compete against a paytable instead of the dealer.

Reward Programs

You can easily join MotorCity’s reward program with the downloadable casino app for Android and iOS or by asking for your member card when staying there. Here are the different ranks and prominent perks you can benefit from:

Status Casino Rewards Entertainment Rewards Hotel & Spa Rewards
Club Metro
  • Slot cashback
  • Birthday offer
  • Free slot play offers
  • 10% discount on casual dining
  • 10% cash discounts on SoundBoard tickets
  • Free SoundBoard tickets
  • 3% comp back for every dollar spent on hotel stays
  • 10% discount on hotel rooms
  • Monthly room offers
Signature
  • 15% bonus bounce-back cash
  • Personal Casino host
  • Redeemable comps
  • 15%discount on casual dining
  • 15% cash discounts on catering events
  • Priority assembly line seating
  • 15% discount on hotel rooms
  • Exclusive check-in service
  • Complimentary hotel upgrades
Signature Club Elite
  • 20% bonus bounce-back cash
  • Private VIP parking
  • Birthday offer
  • Complimentary access to Signature Lounge
  • 20% discount on casual dining
  • Sound Board artist VIP receptions
  • 20% discount on hotel rooms
  • Complimentary spa access
  • 20% on spa products
Signature Premium
  • 25% bonus bounce-back
  • Slot machine hold up (1 hour)
  • Slot cashback
  • 25% Cash discounts on catering events
  • Sound Board suite access
  • 25% cash discounts on casual dining
  • 25% hotel rooms discount
  • 24-hour room from the time of check-in
  • Customized hotel welcome gift

Hotel & Other Amenities

In addition to the incredible casino gaming experience offered, you can also rest within luxurious rooms and suits, and benefit from the best of Grand Detroit’s spa, dining, and other entertainment possibilities.

Hotel

The MotorCity Casino Hotel is four-star rated, and you’ll quickly realize why when booking one of the 400 rooms or 33 suites. For instance, the Deluxe King Room offers 450 sq ft (41.81 m²) with a king-size bed, a tub, a separate shower, a 42″ LED TV, and high-speed access internet. If you’re looking for even more luxury, the Executive Junior Suite has 760 sq ft (70.61 m²) to explore. You’ll enjoy a dining area, a wet bar, and Aveda bath amenities.

The facility is handicap-friendly with easy wheelchair access and valets ready to assist you. Each room has free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and a refrigerator, and gives you access to the MotorCity hotel fitness center.

SPA

Inside the hotel, you’ll find the D.Tour Spa, offering over 13,000 sq ft (1,207.74 m²) of relaxation. In this area, you can enjoy dry saunas, steam rooms, rain shower facilities, and thermal whirlpools. You’ll benefit from premium treatments and massages with high-quality products, which you can buy to recreate the experience at home.

Dining

After a great day at the D.Tour Spa, you’ll probably want to get something to eat at one of the five restaurants available in the food court. The Assembly Line buffet, one of the only Detroit all-you-can-eat-buffets, will allow you to taste the best of American and international cuisine with a chef cooking it right in front of you. It’s also the only all-you-can-eat option among Detroit casino restaurants.

You can also go to the Grand River Deli & Burgers for some original sandwiches and burger recipes with fresh ingredients and homemade artisan bread. Little Caesars is the go-to place for pizza, The Lodge Diner specializes in breakfast, and Sweet Ride is the unavoidable finish line with gourmet pastries and incredible cakes you won’t forget. Don’t forget to pay a visit to Radio Bar to enjoy live music performances and one of the Detroit happy hour promotions with discounted wine and beer from 4 PM to 6 PM daily.

Other Amenities

You can enjoy the hotel with your children or pets, and for an extra fee it’ll add cribs or rollaway beds and let you bring in your pet. If you’re in town for work, you can have access to one of their meeting rooms or conference space in the business center. You can also take a breather and take your favorite driver to the nearby golf club. Furthermore, the SoundBoard is a 1,500 seats venue where concerts and various events are organized throughout the year.

Partnerships

As any prolific gambling establishment, MotorCity is partnered with various companies and media. Here’s a short overview:

Land-Based

As a local company, Detroit Entertainment, L.L.C. gives back to the community and has partnered with the city of Detroit. In 2003, it created the MotorCity Casino Hotel Helping Hands committee. It’s a group of volunteers striving to offer philanthropic initiatives with the profits generated by the establishment.

Online Casino

For its online activities, the MotorCity casino is working hand-in-hand with FanDuel. This means that if you already have a FanDuel account, you can link it to your Club Metro account and benefit from the perks of both operators when playing online. You’ll be able to enjoy online slots, table games, live dealers, jackpots, and more with exclusive promotions. FanDuel also has a sportsbook section featuring the most popular markets, including basketball, football, ice hockey, and many more. You can wager on the most popular competition like the NBA (Go Pistons!), or the NHL, and withdraw your winnings in person.

MotorCity Casino Timeline

First opened at the turn of the century, the MotorCity Casino resort was previously owned by the Mandalay Resort Group. However, this group was purchased by the bigger MGM Group approximately a decade later. Following this buy-out, the group had to let go of MotorCity Casino because there already was an MGM casino in Detroit, and Michigan laws prohibit having two casino resorts in the same area.

So, naturally, the facility was sold to what’s now Detroit Entertainment L.L.C., which is owned by Marian Illitch. Illitch is the co-founder of Little Caesars Pizza and is currently worth over $4 billion.

Michigan’s Crown Jewel Waits for You!

The MotorCity Casino Hotel is a unique place at the heart of Motown, which fully embraces the culture of the city but also offers the most modern amenities. The casino offers thousands of games for beginners and high rollers. The entertainment isn’t limited to the gaming facility or the online casino and its promotions. You can enjoy high-end restaurants, a spa, as well as events with the SoundBoard venue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start gambling at 18 in Michigan casinos?

Tribal gaming facilities can lower the age of Central Michigan University students. However, it’s an exception to the rule. In Michigan, the legal casino gaming age is 21, and you can’t access resorts like the MotorCity Casino below this age.

What is there to do around the MotorCity Casino Hotel?

The MotorCity hotel is located near the Detroit River and downtown. So you’ll have plenty of entertainment around. You can find a golf club nearby. Plus, there are plenty of stores and activities in such a big city. You can go shopping, visit the Detroit Institute of Arts, Campus Martius Park, or enjoy the Riverfront and have a glimpse at the Canadian city of Windsor.

Can I book a stay at the Motor City Casino Hotel in 2023?

MotorCity Casino Hotel is alive and well, and you’ll be able to book a stay easily online or by giving them a call. The availability of the rooms may depend on the period, and like any entertainment venue, the price range will vary throughout the year.

Can you smoke in MotorCity Casino?

No. MotorCity completely prohibits smoking anywhere on the premises, including gaming floors.

Does MotorCity Casino offer casino gift card?

Yes, you can buy MotorCity Casino gift cards at the hotel’s gift shop called Lacquer. You can spend the gift card at the hotel’s restaurants, as well as on the theater, gift shop, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products within the hotel’s premises. However, the casino does not allow the use of gift cards for gambling activities, prepayments for accommodations, reservations, spas, mobile device and kiosk purchases, as well as guest room purchases via television.