Gun Lake Casino Resort is a casino hotel in Wayland, Michigan, near US 131 south of Grand Rapids. Its main draw is combining more than 2,500 slots, live tables, poker, and sports betting with a 252-room hotel and the indoor Wawyé Oasis pool complex. It is best suited to a casino-centered overnight getaway. The catch: pool schedules, event admission, and cabana charges have separate rules, so a room reservation is not an all-inclusive resort package.
Gun Lake Casino Wayland: quick facts
| Address | 1123 129th Ave, Wayland, MI 49348 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Casino resort with an on-site hotel |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Slots | More than 2,500 advertised |
| Table games | 47 tables advertised; availability varies |
| Other gaming | Video poker and keno |
| Poker room | Yes, with live games and tournaments |
| Retail sportsbook | 131 Sportsbook |
| Hotel | 252 rooms and suites |
| Notable amenities | Wawyé Oasis, MnoYé Spa, and a fitness center |
| Rewards program | GLC Rewards |
| Information date | October 16, 2026 |
What kind of casino is Gun Lake?
Gun Lake works for a few hours of gambling and dinner, but its resort amenities give visitors a reason to stay overnight. The hotel lets you combine dinner, entertainment, and a casino session without arranging another drive.
That is the comparison I would make when considering other Michigan casinos: will you actually use the resort side? For a short slot session, the hotel and spa may not matter. For a couple with different levels of interest in gambling, they give the non-player more ways to spend the day. Think casino-centered getaway rather than a walkable downtown vacation.
Casino floor and games
The official Gun Lake Casino website advertises more than 2,500 slots and 47 tables, plus a dedicated poker room and 131 Sportsbook. These are advertised inventory figures, not a promise that every table will be operating when you arrive.
The appeal is breadth: a group can split between machines, live tables, poker, and sports wagering without choosing separate destinations. If one particular game is the reason for your drive, check its schedule first.
Slots and video poker
The slot selection includes newer titles and familiar games, while the rewards schedule also confirms video poker and keno. Machine titles and locations can change, so check before planning a trip around one specific game.
My practical advice: look at the total slot wager, not just the denomination. A penny machine can become expensive once all the credits and features are counted. On video poker, inspect the pay table; the same game name does not guarantee the same payouts. Neither a jackpot photo nor another player’s losing session tells you what your next spin will do.
Table games
Experience Grand Rapids lists blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat among Gun Lake’s table games. The advertised 47-table inventory does not establish which games are open, their minimums, or their rules at a particular hour.
Check the posted minimum and full betting requirements before buying in. Poker-style house games may require additional bets after the opening wager. At blackjack, check the natural-blackjack payout and other rules rather than assuming every table offers the same deal.
Live poker room
Gun Lake has a dedicated player-versus-player poker room with advertised daily live games, tournaments, and promotions. This is separate from video poker and poker-themed games played against the casino.
For a poker-specific trip, check the tournament calendar, games being spread, and waiting-list arrangements. A daily offering does not guarantee your preferred stakes or an immediate seat.
Under the 2026 GLC Rewards guidelines, members earn $2.00 in Poker Dollars for every full hour of live play at designated tables. Poker Dollars have no cash value, so treat them as a program benefit, not an hourly payment.
131 Sportsbook
Gun Lake offers on-property sports viewing and wagering at 131 Sportsbook. This retail betting facility is distinct from a mobile app or a bar with sports televisions.
Before a special trip, ask about betting service hours and ticket redemption. For a major game, I would place the wager before the last-minute rush rather than leave both the bet and the search for a seat until kickoff.
Hotel: is staying on-site worth it?
The 252-room hotel offers rooms and suites, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, in-room dining, mini refrigerators, and coffee brewers. Amenities include MnoYé Spa, a fitness center, and meeting spaces.
Convenience is the main reason to stay, not an automatic bargain. An on-site room makes more sense for dinner, drinks, entertainment, and pool time than for a bed after a brief casino visit.
WGVU News reported in March 2025 that the newly opened hotel was part of a $300 million expansion that also included the spa, restaurants, and a pool-and-concert complex.
Compare the final reservation price with nearby lodging, including taxes and any mandatory charges shown at checkout. Read the cancellation terms for your chosen rate, and ask about the incidental authorization if available credit is a concern.
Early check-in costs $49.99 and can only be secured on arrival day, subject to availability. Treat it as an optional convenience, not the foundation of a tightly timed itinerary.
Wawyé Oasis: hours, admission, and costs
Wawyé Oasis is a 32,000-square-foot glass-atrium pool and entertainment complex with tropical planting, a family pool, a 21-and-older VIP pool, cabanas, and a swim-up bar. It is the resort’s most distinctive non-gambling feature.
Pool hours and age restrictions
- Sunday through Thursday: Pool and bar open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; grill closes at 7 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: Pool and bar open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; grill closes at 8 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday after 8 p.m.: Access is restricted to guests 21 and older.
Certain special events also have age restrictions, and entertainment can affect pool hours. Check your date before booking a stay around swimming.
Who gets complimentary admission?
The Oasis admission rules distinguish hotel benefits from individual rewards access:
- Hotel guests: Up to four complimentary passes per room, with additional guests charged $10.00 each.
- GLC Rewards cardholders: Complimentary access for the cardholder only.
- Children and non-cardholders: Ordinary additional passes cost $20.00 per guest.
- Ticketed events and private closures: Complimentary admission does not override these restrictions.
Ordinary admission includes available lounge seating, not a reserved cabana. The spa’s Tranquility Pool is exclusively for guests receiving spa services, not every hotel guest.
Pool and cabana cost comparisons
I would separate ordinary pool access from the private-seating splurge before setting a trip budget. These comparisons use published prices and illustrative group sizes, not records of actual visits.
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 |
|---|---|
| Gun Lake Casino Resort gaming: Published slot selection | More than 2,500 slots are advertised. |
| Gun Lake Casino Resort gaming: Published table inventory | The property advertises 47 tables; this is not a promise that every table is open. |
| Gun Lake Casino Resort poker: Live poker offering | The official homepage advertises a poker room with daily live games, tournaments, and promotions. |
| Gun Lake Casino Resort sportsbook: Retail sports wagering | The property advertises 131 Sportsbook for sports viewing and wagering. |
| Gun Lake Casino Resort hotel: Room count and amenities | The hotel advertises 252 rooms, a full-service spa, a fitness center, and meeting spaces. |
| Gun Lake Casino Resort hotel: Early check-in price and availability | Early check-in costs $49.99 and can only be secured on arrival day, subject to availability. |
| Sandhill Express: Late-night dining availability | The hotel page advertises hot meals, snacks, and drinks around the clock. |
| Wawyé Oasis: Admission inclusions versus cabana rental | Ordinary admission includes pool access and available lounge seating; cabanas are separate. |
| Wawyé Oasis: Cardholder admission versus companion admission | Rewards access applies only to the cardholder; additional children and non-cardholders pay $20.00 per guest. |
| Wawyé Oasis: Hotel admission allowance | Hotel guests receive up to four included passes per room; additional guests cost $10.00 each. |
| Wawyé Oasis: Complimentary admission exclusions | Free access excludes ticketed events and private-event closures. |
| Wawyé Oasis cabanas: Capacity and weekday versus weekend rental prices | Cabanas accommodate up to eight guests, with $200.00 rentals Monday–Thursday and $300.00 rentals Friday–Sunday. |
| Wawyé Oasis cabanas: Included beverages and service charge | Water and specified canned soft drinks are included; a 20% service charge applies. |
| Tranquility Pool: Access restriction compared with Oasis hotel access | The spa pool is reserved exclusively for guests receiving spa services, rather than all hotel guests. |
| Wawyé Oasis: Pool and bar hours versus grill hours | The grill closes earlier than the pool and bar; Friday–Saturday access is restricted to guests 21 and older from 8 p.m. until closing, with restrictions also applying to certain special events. |
| GLC Rewards: Slots and keno versus video poker earning rates | Slots and keno earn one point per $1.00 wagered; video poker earns one point per $2.00 wagered. |
| GLC Rewards: Retail and dining earning eligibility | Gift-shop purchases and eligible dining purchases earn one point per $1.00; alcohol purchases are excluded from dining accrual. |
| GLC Rewards: Published redemption conversion | The published redemption rate is 500 points for $1.00 in rewards value, not a stated cash withdrawal entitlement. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Friday–Sunday cabana rental premium over Monday–Thursday, before service charge | $100.00 | Choose Monday–Thursday for the lower published cabana rental price; the service charge is separate. |
| Service charge on the Monday–Thursday cabana rental price | $40.00 in service charge | Budget for the service charge in addition to the weekday rental price; this calculation applies the published rate to the rental alone. |
| Service charge on the Friday–Sunday cabana rental price | $60.00 in service charge | The higher Friday–Sunday rental price also produces a higher service charge when the published rate is applied to the rental. |
| Monday–Thursday cabana base rental split among eight guests | $25.00 per guest before service charge and any admission costs | Sharing the cabana spreads the base rental cost, but the split does not include service charges, admission, or additional purchases. |
| Ordinary Oasis admission for four non-cardholder day visitors | $80.00 for ordinary pool admission | For a day visit, check individual rewards eligibility before buying passes; cardholder access does not extend to companions, and ticketed events have separate rules. |
| Additional hotel-guest Oasis admission for two guests beyond the room allowance | $20.00 for additional ordinary pool admission | Hotel pool admission has a per-room allowance; confirm occupancy eligibility and separate rewards benefits before budgeting for additional guests. |
| Base rewards points from an illustrative $500.00 in slot wagers | 500 GLC Rewards points | Compare this with the same total wagered on video poker, but do not treat rewards points as evidence of better gambling odds. |
| Base rewards points from an illustrative $500.00 in video poker wagers | 250 GLC Rewards points | Video poker earns fewer base points than slots for the same total wagers; choose games by their rules and paytables rather than chasing points. |
Research references: gunlakecasino.com 1, gunlakecasino.com 2, gunlakecasino.com 3, gunlakecasino.com 4, gunlakecasino.com 5.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-16. 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.
Four non-cardholder day visitors without hotel admission benefits would pay $80.00 for ordinary admission. Two eligible additional hotel guests beyond the room’s four-pass allowance would pay $20.00, assuming neither has a separate cardholder benefit. Confirm room-occupancy eligibility; the pass allowance is not permission to add people to a room.
Cabanas accommodate up to eight guests and cost $200.00 Monday through Thursday or $300.00 Friday through Sunday, a $100.00 base-rental difference. A 20% service charge applies. Calculated on the rental alone, that adds $40.00 on the lower-priced days or $60.00 on the higher-priced days.
Eight people splitting a Monday-through-Thursday cabana equally would pay an illustrative $25.00 each for the base rental, before the service charge, any admission costs, and additional purchases. Water and specified canned soft drinks are included, but I would not rent a cabana simply because the pool pass is complimentary.
Restaurants and bars
The dining lineup covers both a planned dinner and a quick break from gambling:
- Shkodé Chophouse: Steaks, seafood, and a fine-dining format for making dinner part of the occasion.
- CBK: Draft beer, cocktails, shareable appetizers, and entrées in a more casual setting.
- 131 Sportsbar & Lounge: Sports viewing, bar food, drinks, and scheduled live entertainment.
- Harvest Buffet: American, Asian, Mexican, and Italian choices when a group cannot agree on one cuisine.
- Sandhill Café and Lucky Dragon Noodle Bar: Additional choices in the property’s dining mix.
Sandhill Express is the practical late-night fallback, with advertised 24-hour hot meals, snacks, and drinks. Those hours do not apply to every restaurant. Check venue schedules, and consider a reservation if a particular dinner is central to your plans.
Entertainment and resort trade-offs
Scheduled entertainment at 131 Sportsbar & Lounge and Wawyé Oasis gives visitors evening options beyond gambling. The Oasis can shift from a pool setting to an entertainment venue, which is both an attraction and a planning complication.
A concert may improve an adults’ night out while making the same date less suitable for a family prioritizing swimming. Check event access and pool schedules together. Spa treatments and cabanas are separate spending decisions, too.
Directions and practical visit information
Gun Lake is near US 131 at the Bradley exit, Exit 61. Enter 1123 129th Ave, Wayland, MI 49348 into your navigation app rather than searching for Gun Lake itself.
A car is the straightforward option for a regional visit. If you need valet service, an EV charger, or accessible parking near a particular entrance, ask about locations, availability, and charges. If using a rideshare, plan the return trip as carefully as the outbound ride.
You must be 21 or older to gamble. Bring valid government-issued photo identification. Younger guests’ access to restaurants, hotel areas, and pool sessions is separate from gambling eligibility.
If smoke exposure would determine whether you visit, ask about current smoking arrangements and routes between the hotel, restaurants, and gaming areas. Confirm accessibility needs that materially affect your stay rather than assuming all parts of the resort work the same way.
GLC Rewards: earning rates and value
GLC Rewards has five tiers. Slots and keno earn one point per $1.00 wagered; video poker earns one point per $2.00. Eligible dining and gift-shop purchases also earn points, but alcohol purchases are excluded from dining accrual.
For an illustrative $500.00 in total wagers, that produces 500 base points on slots versus 250 on video poker. Total wagers are not your starting bankroll or losses: money returned during play can be wagered again.
The published redemption rate is 500 points for $1.00 in rewards value, not a promise of a cash withdrawal. Collect benefits on play and purchases you already intended to make. Faster point earning does not establish a better gambling return, and chasing a tier can cost far more than its perks.
My take: who should choose Gun Lake?
Gun Lake makes the most sense for couples and groups who want broad gaming choices, dinner, and an overnight resort stay in one place. I like that the hotel and indoor pools give non-players something to build a day around, while ordinary Oasis access can be included through a stay or individual rewards membership. The practical trade-off is scheduling: events can interrupt swimming, and Friday and Saturday evenings become adults-only after 8 p.m. Choose another property if uninterrupted family pool time or a walkable city setting matters more.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gun Lake Casino have a hotel?
Yes. The on-site hotel has 252 rooms and suites, plus spa and fitness facilities.
Does Gun Lake have live poker and a sportsbook?
Yes. Gun Lake advertises a dedicated poker room with daily live games and tournaments, plus on-property sports wagering at 131 Sportsbook. Check current games and service schedules before a special trip.
Is Wawyé Oasis free with a hotel stay?
Hotel guests receive up to four complimentary passes per room for ordinary access. Additional guests cost $10.00 each. Ticketed events and private-event closures are excluded.
Does a rewards card provide pool admission for the whole family?
No. Complimentary rewards admission applies only to the cardholder. Children and non-cardholders need their own admission benefit or a paid pass.
Are children allowed in the Oasis?
The complex has a family pool, but Friday and Saturday access becomes 21 and older at 8 p.m. Certain special events also have age restrictions.
How old do you have to be to gamble at Gun Lake?
The minimum gambling age is 21. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Sources and information date
Information and published prices are dated October 16, 2026. Sources are linked beside the relevant details. Inventories, prices, schedules, and access terms can change, so confirm anything central to your trip before booking or driving over.