FireKeepers Casino Review 2024

Since legal online gambling began to make its way around various states in the US, lots of the biggest casino names in Vegas, the UK, and Europe have wasted no time in setting up shop. But the legalization also represented an opportunity for smaller, local casinos to launch their own online platforms. While FireKeepers Casino has ventured into the online market in Michigan, there are other top-rated options available as well.

FireKeepers is the online casino platform for FireKeepers Casino and Hotel, located at 111177 East Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, Michigan 49014. Since 2009, the complex has been owned and run by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, a local indigenous tribe. For now, FireKeepers is exclusively available online in Michigan. If you are in Michigan and on the lookout for more online casinos, have a look at the best online casinos in Michigan.

I always love to see how the local casinos compare with the multinational options, so I decided to carry out a full review of the site. Games, bonuses, software, payment methods, security, and customer support – it’s all here, along with our highlights and suggestions to improve.

Bonuses and promos are even more important for local casino platforms, to help them stand out from the newcomers to the state. FireKeepers has a solid welcome bonus, along with some great offers for the sportsbook, but with some room to improve too.

At the moment, there are no regular offers for returning players. I’d love to see something like daily or weekly free spins added, or a reload bonus similar to the welcome bonus. At the moment, loyal returning players aren’t really being rewarded.

The full breakdown is below.

FireKeepers Casino Welcome Bonus 100% Boost

New players can claim a 100% boost on their first deposit, up to a maximum of $500. This is a pretty standard welcome bonus for casinos in Michigan and further afield, but it becomes significantly more attractive when you check the terms and conditions.

Your bonus cash comes with wagering requirements of just 5x, significantly lower than I’ve come to expect. For comparison, Parx casino in NJ has a turnover of 20x attached to a similar bonus, while Virgin is up at 30x – admittedly with a higher limit of $1,000.

This is a great offer from FireKeepers. Wagering requirements make a huge difference to how valuable bonus cash really is, and 5x is very realistic. Say you deposit $100 to receive an additional $100 in bonus cash. You’ll only need to gamble $500 on slots (pretty attainable) before any bonus cash is yours to keep.

As always, table games count at a lower rate – 25x to be exact – but I'm still very impressed.

FireKeepers Casino Bonus Code

You don’t need to use a bonus code or promo code to claim this offer. Instead, you’ll see it waiting for you in the My Bonuses section once you register an account.

FireKeepers Sportsbooks Bonuses

When you sign up with FireKeepers, you automatically gain access to the FireKeepers sportsbook, which normally has lots of bonus offers running. There’s a separate welcome bonus for the sportsbook in the form of a free bet based on your first wager. There are also regular odds boosts and other promos.

If you plan on doing some sports betting in addition to regular casino gaming, you’ll find some great offers.

VIP Program

FireKeepers doesn’t have a traditional VIP program or loyalty program. Instead, regular players may receive special offers via email, but there’s not really any way to predict them or work towards anything specific.

It’s something I’d like to see added.

There is a rewards program for the brick-and-mortar casino, however, called Red Hot Rewards Club. It offers to return customers ways to save money, cheaper rooms, event tickets, and other benefits.

Development of FireKeepers Casino

FireKeepers Casino Hotel is a sprawling complex in Emmett Charter Township, Michigan, operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi indigenous tribe. It opened in 2009 and underwent significant redevelopment in 2012, including the addition of a new 8-story hotel. A further expansion was completed in 2021.

Online sports betting and gambling officially launched in Michigan in 2021, prompting FireKeepers to enter the new market with a brand new sportsbook and online casino – with both a desktop platform and mobile app. The first bets were booked in July 2021.

Despite plenty of interest from outside betting companies, FireKeepers elected to launch their own bespoke betting platform and further build upon the brand loyalty built up in Michigan over almost 15 years.

Games at FireKeepers Casino

The technology at FireKeepers is provided via Scientific Games and includes games from software providers like IGT, Everi, and Big Time Gaming. There are around 200 games in total on the menu, placing it on the smaller side compared with most online casinos. There are lots of great games here, but it’s true that some are missing too.

All the details are below.

Slots

There are around 165 slot games at FireKeepers, including some well-known titles like 88 Fortunes and Bonanza. Still, the catalog is pretty eclectic in general. It’s an interesting selection and includes new releases from some slightly lesser-known providers, like Dangerous Beauty from High 5 Games. There’s a good sprinkling of Megaways games mixed into the list too.

All in all, it’s not the deepest menu of games in the world, but it’s still interesting.

Table Games

It’s a similar story to table games. There are just under 30 in total, mostly different types of blackjack, roulette, and video poker. If any of these are your thing, you’ll be a big fan of the menu.

Still, there are some notable omissions. There are no craps, keno, or bingo tables, for example.

Scratch Cards

For the time being, FireKeepers has no scratch games.

Live Casino

Sadly, there are also no live dealer games at FireKeepers. This is probably the biggest black mark against the casino, at least in terms of its gaming selection.

Live dealer games have become a huge part of the online casino experience, especially as technology has improved in the last several years, and it’s something we’d love to see FireKeepers add.

Sportsbook

FireKeepers has an excellent sportsbook, which you get access to as soon as you sign up to the casino. You can bet on all kinds of sports at FireKeepers, both in the US and around the world. You can place money lines, props, totals, parlays and much more, as well as betting on live games as they happen.

It’s a great addition to the casino.

FireKeepers For Mobile Devices

FireKeepers has an excellent app that encompasses everything about the casino: online casino games, sports betting, and facilities to book services at the real-life casino in Michigan. It’s great to have access to everything on one platform, and the app is very well-designed and easy to navigate around.

You can download it either from the App Store for iPhone, or the Google Play Store for Android. The reviews are good too, around 4/5 on both stores after more than 10,000 downloads.

Plenty of casinos have separate apps for casino games and their sportsbook, but I’m a big fan of having them together on a single platform.

FireKeepers Casino Compared to Mohegan Sun and Score’s Casino

There are tons of great online casinos in the US these days, both in Michigan and further afield. It feels like every day a new state introduces legal gambling or a new casino launches.

It’s important to be able to differentiate between them and understand how different sites compare with each other. Below is an overview of how FireKeepers compares to some other US casinos.

Payment Methods Available at FireKeepers Casino

Here’s the full list of casino payment methods accepted at FireKeepers Casino.

Deposits

• ACH Transfer / Instant e-Check

• Credit Cards (Visa / Mastercard)

• FireKeepers Play+ Card

• Cash at Casino Cage

Withdrawals

• ACH Transfer / Instant e-Check

• FireKeepers Play+ Card

• Cash at Casino Cage

FireKeeper’s banking options are good, even if it’s not the deepest selection of payment methods I’ve come across. One thing I’d love to see added is PayPal or another e-wallet, which is not currently available. If you're looking for PayPal gambling sites, then have a look at our list of the best online casinos that accept PayPal.

FireKeepers don’t charge for deposits or withdrawals, which is always good. The minimum deposit is $10, which is pretty standard, while the max varies depending on the method.

Withdrawal Speed

To make a withdrawal, you’ll first need to submit a request and wait for approval. This process takes between 3-5 days, which is more or less average. Depending on your withdrawal method, there may be an additional wait time after your request is approved.

For example, ACH Transfers will take at least another couple of days, but Play+ Card withdrawals are released immediately. This is another reason I’d like to see an e-wallet; they tend to process withdrawals immediately.

Overall, I’m giving FireKeepers a pretty good score for its banking options. To go next level, they could expedite the withdrawal request process.

FireKeepers Casino Customer Support

The customer support options at FireKeepers Casino are great. What I look for in this section above all else is responsiveness. That means as soon as you run into an issue, it’s easy to find fast help.

The FireKeepers help section contains a lot of useful information, articles, and FAQs, as well as additional contact details. There’s a live chat button, which lets you talk to an agent virtually right there and then. Alternatively, you can send an email to [email protected].

Is FireKeepers Casino Legit?

FireKeepers has been a big part of the gambling world in Michigan for more than a decade, winning over lots of loyal fans in the process. Moving into the online sphere was a logical next step, and it also makes sense that the online platform was going to uphold the same values.

FireKeepers’ privacy policy mentions that the casino uses “reasonable steps” to protect user data, although it doesn’t go into specifics save for the use of firewalls. All the games at FireKeepers work via a Random Number Generator, which is regularly independently audited for fairness.

FireKeepers also includes links to promote responsible gaming, which we always like to see. You can also call the Michigan Problem Gambling Hotline at 800-270-7117 for advice.

FireKeepers License

FireKeepers has a valid license from the Michigan Gaming Control Board, which you can download from the link. Every legal online casino or sportsbook needs one of these licenses, and it means all activity on the site is externally audited to make sure it’s fair and safe.

Problems With FireKeepers

For every review, I include some areas of improvement that I think the casino could work on, or where I've noticed the site might fall down compared with the competition. Here’s what I came up with for FireKeepers.

The menu of games is smaller than average among online casinos in the US. It’s not uncommon to find sites with up to a thousand games, so the 200 on offer here is definitely a condensed selection. The lack of live dealer games is also very noticeable, and some people will certainly miss them.

I love the welcome bonus offer (specifically the low wagering requirements) but more work could be done to offer on running promotions for returning players. At the moment, there’s no reward for loyal users who keep coming back.

I’m happy with the banking options overall, but the addition of an e-wallet like PayPal would certainly be welcome.

Firekeepers Casino User Reviews

Final Thoughts

FireKeepers is certainly on the smaller side as far as online casinos go. As covered in the last section, the range of games is smaller than average, but the flipside of that is that 200 different games is more than enough for most people.

I’m a huge fan of the turnover rate of just 5x on the welcome bonus, which is easily one of the best I’ve seen for an offer worth $500. It makes the promotion genuinely valuable and could make a big difference if you wind up winning.

I like that you get easy access to a sportsbook with your account, and the mobile app, which has everything you need related to the casino, is great too.

Michigan residents could certainly do a lot worse than FireKeepers. To get started and claim your $500 bonus, hit the sign-up links.