Kewadin Casinos have lowered the gaming age to 18, effective March 30. Prior to the change, the age limit at the casinos was lowered to 19 in 2006.
The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians owns the Kewadin Casinos. Because the tribe has a tribal gaming compact with the state of Michigan, it has the flexibility to adjust its casino age requirements whenever it wants to.
Kewadin Casinos CEO Allen Kerridge said: “The decision to now lower the gaming age limit to 18 is a decision that gives all legal adults access to our gaming properties. Currently, several of Michigan’s tribal casinos allow legal adults to gamble at their casinos and this change will allow us to be consistent and competitive with those casinos.”
Despite the lower casino age limit, the minimum gaming age of the online casinos and for sports betting will remain at the same limit of 21. Neither of these limits were changed because the Michigan Gaming Control Board regulates sports betting and online casinos.
Kewadin Casinos had put several procedures in place to prevent underage gaming and drinking when the age limit had been lowered to 19. All casino locations have podiums at their entrance points for the purpose of checking IDs. Those who are under 21 are identified and logged by security.
Servers and bartenders at the casinos are also trained to spot those who are underage so that they are not served alcohol.
Those same preventative measures will also apply to 18-year-olds now that the age limit has been lowered.
