Grindstone Creek Casino is a small tribal slot property in Hayward, Wisconsin, listed as closed until further notice. Owned by the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, it historically offered a straightforward slots-and-video-poker stop rather than a casino-resort getaway. Its modest format suited local players and visitors already spending time around Hayward. For now, I would not make the drive expecting to gamble: old directory hours are not evidence that the casino has reopened.
Grindstone Creek Casino quick facts
| Location | Hayward, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Casino type | Small tribal machine-gaming property |
| Operating status | Listed as closed until further notice |
| Owner and historical operator | Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa |
| Historical machine inventory | Approximately 86 slots and video poker machines; other listings give 88 or 89 |
| Live table games | None in the directory-listed game mix |
| Poker room | No |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| Listed minimum gambling age | 18 |
| Parking | Self-parking listed historically |
Grindstone Creek versus Sevenwinds
Grindstone Creek and the tribe’s larger Sevenwinds Casino, Lodge & Conference Center are separate properties, not interchangeable names for the same destination.
The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council’s 2019 report placed Grindstone Creek Convenience & Casino among ancillary locations and Sevenwinds among primary casinos. That historical distinction fits the practical comparison: Grindstone Creek was a machine-gaming side stop; Sevenwinds is the property to consider when lodging is part of the plan.
I would choose based on the trip, not simply shared ownership. A brief slot stop and an overnight casino getaway ask very different things of a property. Our guide to Wisconsin casinos offers other options to consider.
Slots, video poker, and table games
a published source describes approximately 86 slots and video poker machines. Other listings give 88 or 89, so treat the inventory as a historical estimate, not an exact current count. The defining feature was a modest, machine-focused floor.
One older guest comment mentions a decent selection of older slots. That may appeal to players who prefer familiar cabinets, but it is not a current inventory list. I would not promise a particular title, denomination, progressive jackpot, or video poker pay table based on these listings.
If gaming resumes, check the total wager before playing. A penny denomination does not necessarily mean a one-cent spin. Read video poker pay tables, too: familiar game names do not guarantee identical returns. Guest wins and losses do not establish whether machines are “loose” or “tight.”
The directory-listed game mix includes no live table games. Historically, this was not the place to plan a blackjack, roulette, or craps outing.
Poker room and sportsbook
Grindstone Creek Casino has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room and no on-property retail sportsbook. Historical listings include video poker, which is a machine game rather than live poker.
Player disputes
If gaming resumes, another useful question is where to find the player-dispute procedures. The Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s January 2021 tribal-gaming report explains that the compacts require a tribe to publish procedures for impartial resolution of player disputes. If a payout disagreement arises, ask for that process rather than treating an online complaint as your only option.
Hotel, restaurants, and amenities
Grindstone Creek is not an attached-hotel casino destination. Plan lodging separately, or consider Sevenwinds if you want gambling and a room at the same property. Do not assume Sevenwinds’ rooms, restaurants, or amenities belong to Grindstone Creek.
A directory lists a snack bar and café, suggesting basic food service rather than a broad dining lineup. With the casino listed as closed, those entries are not a reason to plan a meal here. There are no supported current menus, prices, or kitchen hours to build a visit around.
Likewise, I would not schedule a trip around a bar, entertainment event, or resort amenity at this location.
What older guests liked, and the main limitations
Two casino comments on URComped, displayed as eight years old when collected, describe a small, homey property in a country setting. One also praises friendly staff and the older-slot selection.
Those subjective impressions fit the historical picture of an unpretentious local stop. They are limited and old, not a current guest consensus or evidence that service remains the same.
The closure listing outweighs that historical praise. Beyond closure, the modest machine inventory and lack of a full resort format limit the appeal of a special gambling trip. There is not enough guest coverage to support a recurring service-complaint narrative.
Location, hours, and practical visit information
Historical records list Grindstone Creek at 13394 W Trepania Rd, Hayward, WI 54843. That is separate from Sevenwinds’ County Road B address.
The operator’s Grindstone Creek page lists (715) 634-2430. You can try that number before making plans, but a property page and phone number do not establish that the casino is open.
Online schedules disagree. One directory’s hours table lists noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, while its narrative says daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Neither should override the explicit closure notice. Do not travel expecting Grindstone Creek to be open. Obtain a clear reopening announcement and current hours through the tribe or operator before reconsidering a visit.
An Elder’s Association meeting account on the tribe’s website records Dave Anderson suggesting that Grindstone Creek Casino close and the space be used for exercise equipment. That is a reported proposal, not an adopted redevelopment plan or confirmation that a conversion happened.
Self-parking appears in a historical listing, but that does not establish present access or fees. Do not assume current smoking arrangements, accessibility details, transportation services, or visitor costs from old descriptions. If the casino reopens, carry valid photo identification; its listed minimum gambling age is 18.
Rewards: comparing the listed earning rates
URComped associates Grindstone Creek with Rock Star rewards and lists one point per $3.00 of slot coin-in versus one point per $6.00 of video poker coin-in. These are directory-listed rates, not a confirmed active offer.
Under the supplied illustrative assumption of $120.00 in cumulative wagers, those rates produce 40 slot points or 20 video poker points. Coin-in means the total amount wagered, including money replayed, not necessarily the amount deposited or lost.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Directory-reported operating status | 500 Nations marks the property closed until further notice. Treat this as a directory-reported closure, not an operator-confirmed announcement. |
| Published game-format comparison | 500 Nations describes a slots-only casino without table games; a published source separately includes video poker in its machine offering. |
| a published source machine offering | The directory lists approximately 86 slots and video poker machines. This is a published inventory description, not a verified current count. |
| Published operating schedule | a published source hours table lists afternoon and early-evening operation Wednesday through Sunday, with Monday and Tuesday closed. This does not establish that the casino has reopened. |
| Alternative schedule within the same directory | a published source narrative gives a different daily schedule from its hours table. Neither schedule should be used as a current travel guarantee. |
| Directory-listed minimum gambling age | 500 Nations lists a minimum gambling age of 18. This is a third-party policy listing requiring direct confirmation. |
| Directory-listed minimum wager and parking | a published source lists a $0.01 minimum bet and self-parking. It does not supply parking prices or establish that every machine can be played for that total wager. |
| Published casual dining options | 500 Nations lists a snack bar and café, without menus, prices, or service hours. |
| Grindstone Creek and Sevenwinds: Historical property classification comparison | The 2019 GLITC report places Grindstone Creek among ancillary locations rather than primary casinos, supporting a historical distinction between a convenience-casino stop and a larger casino destination. |
| Sevenwinds Casino: Historical nearby-property contact and identity | The same 2019 report identifies Sevenwinds as a casino, lodge, and convention center at a separate address. This supports considering it separately for lodging inquiries, not assuming shared amenities. |
| Rewards: Directory-listed slots versus video poker earning rates | URComped associates the property with Rock Star and lists $3.00 of slot coin-in per point versus $6.00 of video poker coin-in per point. Current applicability and redemption value are not established. |
| Comp requests: URComped offer availability | URComped explicitly reports no current offers for the property. A request form is not a guaranteed comp. |
| Guest commentary: Historical small-casino, older-slot, and friendly-staff anecdote | One review displayed as eight years old describes a small casino, older slots, and friendly staff. Use as an attributed historical anecdote, not a current review consensus. |
| Guest commentary: Historical country-setting anecdote | Another review displayed as eight years old describes a homey atmosphere and country setting. It does not establish current service or amenities. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Illustrative slot points on $120.00 of coin-in | 40 rewards points | Under the directory-listed rates, slots earn more points than video poker for the same cumulative wagers. Confirm that the program applies and that the casino is operating before relying on this illustration; coin-in is not the same as money lost. |
| Illustrative video poker points on $120.00 of coin-in | 20 rewards points | The listed video poker rate earns fewer points for equal coin-in, but points alone do not establish which game offers better gambling value. The material supplies neither a point redemption value nor a machine paytable. |
Research references: 500nations.com, a published source.com, glitc.org, urcomped.com.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-13. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
The takeaway is narrower than “slots are a better deal.” The listing awards more points for equal slot wagers, but without redemption values and video poker pay tables, it does not establish which game offers better overall value. I would never choose a worse game just to chase a larger points balance. URComped also reports no current property offers, so its request form is not a promised comp.
Who Grindstone Creek Casino suits
Historically, Grindstone Creek made the most sense for local machine players and Hayward visitors adding a short gambling stop to another trip. Its small scale could be a benefit for someone who wanted familiar slots without a resort-sized outing.
For now, choose an operating casino instead. If the goal is a casino-and-lodging trip around Hayward, Sevenwinds is the more relevant property to investigate separately.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grindstone Creek Casino in Hayward open?
It is listed as closed until further notice. Older directory schedules are not proof of reopening.
What is the minimum gambling age?
The property-specific directory listing gives a minimum gambling age of 18. The casino remains listed as closed.
Does Grindstone Creek have poker or a sportsbook?
No. It has no dedicated poker room or on-property retail sportsbook. Historical listings include video poker machines.
Is Grindstone Creek the same as Sevenwinds?
No. They are separate properties associated with the same tribe. Sevenwinds is the larger casino-and-lodging option.
Sources and research note
- 500 Nations: closure notice, listed gambling age, game format, and dining entries.
- a published source: historical machine inventory, ownership, parking, location, and conflicting schedules.
- Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council’s 2019 report: historical classification and separate Grindstone Creek and Sevenwinds locations.
- URComped: older casino comments and directory-listed rewards rates.
- Previously listed Grindstone Creek page on the Sevenwinds website: historical property link, not evidence of current operation.
The supplied research is dated October 13, 2026. The closure status is directory-reported, not an operator-confirmed announcement. Machine counts, schedules, and amenities describe historical listings rather than confirmed current services.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room or on-site sportsbook.