Kewadin Casino Hessel is a small, non-smoking casino on Three Mile Road in Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula, near the Les Cheneaux Islands. Slots are the main draw, with electronic blackjack and roulette offering a change of pace. I see it as a convenient gambling stop during a Hessel-area vacation, not the centerpiece of a casino getaway. Its main limitation is the simpler setup: a deli rather than extensive dining, cabin and camping options rather than an attached hotel, and casino hours that vary by season.
Kewadin Casino Hessel at a glance
| Location | 3 Mile Road, Hessel, Michigan 49745 |
|---|---|
| Operator | Kewadin Casinos |
| Main games | Slots, electronic blackjack, and electronic roulette |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Casino hours | Vary by season; call before traveling |
| Smoking | Non-smoking |
| Poker room | No |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| Lodging | No attached hotel; year-round cabin rental and seasonal campground across the road |
| Dining | Northern Nook Deli |
| Rewards | Northern Rewards Players Club |
| Phone | 906-484-2903 |
| Official website | Kewadin Casinos |
What kind of casino is Kewadin Hessel?
Think local casino and vacation side trip, not sprawling resort. Hessel makes sense when gambling is one part of a Les Cheneaux visit rather than the activity that dictates everything else.
I would choose it for a straightforward slot-playing break. I would not choose it expecting several restaurants, an upstairs hotel room, and a full entertainment itinerary.
Location names matter here. Kewadin operates five casinos, and amenities at Sault Ste. Marie or St. Ignace do not automatically apply to Hessel. For a wider look at alternatives, see our Michigan casino guide.
Casino games: slots, blackjack, and roulette
Slots and video poker
Slots are Hessel’s core offering. Call ahead if your visit depends on a particular machine, denomination, or video poker pay table rather than planning around a fixed inventory.
My practical advice is to check the total wager, not merely the denomination on the cabinet. A low-denomination game can still make a sizable dent in your budget when multiple credits or features are involved.
A compact casino floor is not evidence of better or worse payouts, and another player’s jackpot tells you nothing useful about your next spin.
Electronic blackjack and roulette
Kewadin’s gaming page advertises virtual blackjack and roulette Interblock games at all locations, including Hessel. These provide alternatives to slots during casino operating hours.
That is not the same as a live-dealer pit. If handling chips and playing at a staffed table are essential to your evening, I would consider another Kewadin location. Check the electronic games’ rules and displayed limits before playing; another property’s table minimums do not necessarily apply here.
The non-smoking policy is a meaningful advantage for visitors who dislike playing around cigarette smoke. It covers all Kewadin casino locations, rather than being a Hessel-only distinction.
Poker room and sportsbook
Kewadin Casino Hessel has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room and no on-property retail sportsbook. Do not plan around cash poker games, poker tournaments, or a sports-betting counter. Video poker, poker-themed casino games, and mobile betting services are different offerings.
Hotel alternatives: cabin rental and campground
There is no attached casino hotel. However, Kewadin’s Hessel information advertises a year-round cabin rental and a campground directly across from the casino. The published campground season runs from May 1 through November 1.
For someone combining gambling with boating, fishing, or trail activities, those options may fit better than a conventional hotel. For someone who wants an elevator between the gaming floor and a room, they are not equivalent.
The cabin accommodation page lists a kitchen with a microwave and an oven, giving overnight visitors an alternative to eating every meal out. Ask what cookware and supplies are provided.
Before booking, confirm rates, taxes, amenities, check-in arrangements, and cancellation terms. Campers should also ask about hookups and vehicle suitability. A published camping season does not guarantee an available site.
Northern Nook Deli and entertainment
Northern Nook Deli is Hessel’s named food option. Think simpler meal stop, not a choice of several full-service restaurants. Call for the current menu and kitchen hours if eating here is important to the outing; casino hours and food-service hours need not match.
A June 2026 Sault Tribe announcement scheduled Hessel’s bar-and-deli renovation to begin in fall 2026. If visiting during that period, ask whether construction affects food service. The announcement gives a planned start, not a completion date.
Check the Hessel event calendar for promotions and special events. Its October 2026 listings included a donation-entry slot tournament, but a dated promotion is not a permanent schedule. Read entry and prize terms, particularly when prizes are expressed in bonus points rather than cash.
Hessel or a larger Kewadin casino?
The useful comparison is not simply which casino has more games. It is which property fits your trip.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Kewadin Casino Hessel: Seasonal operating hours | Hessel’s operating hours vary by season; visitors should not assume the chain’s general round-the-clock description applies here. |
| Kewadin Casino Hessel: Published gaming, dining, and rewards amenities | The property-specific FAQ identifies slot gaming, Northern Nook Deli, and the Northern Rewards Players Club. |
| Kewadin Casino Hessel: Cabin and campground accommodation options | Kewadin advertises a year-round cabin rental and a campground operating from May 1 to November 1, directly across from the casino. These are alternatives to an attached casino hotel. |
| Kewadin Casino Hessel: Smoking policy compared with other Kewadin locations | The published nonsmoking policy covers every Kewadin casino, including Hessel. |
| Kewadin Casino Hessel: Electronic blackjack and roulette availability | Kewadin explicitly advertises virtual blackjack and roulette Interblock games at all locations, making electronic table games a documented Hessel option rather than merely a possibility. Availability remains subject to casino operating hours. |
| Kewadin Casinos: Locations advertised for open table games | The gaming page names Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, and Christmas for open table games; it does not include Hessel in that announcement. |
| Kewadin Casino St. Ignace: Published table-game alternative to Hessel | St. Ignace publishes a $10.00 table minimum and Wednesday-through-Sunday table hours, with blackjack, virtual craps, Heads Up Hold Em, Three Card Poker, and Let It Ride listed. |
| Kewadin Casino Christmas: Published table-game alternative to Hessel | Christmas also publishes a $10.00 table minimum, but its listed Wednesday-through-Sunday table hours start later than St. Ignace’s, and its listed games are blackjack and Let It Ride. |
| Kewadin Casino Hessel: Property-specific shuttle service | Hessel has a published daily shuttle schedule of 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., qualified by casino hours. Pickup arrangements are made by calling 906-484-2903; the passage does not establish a fare. |
| Kewadin Casino St. Ignace: Shuttle schedule compared with Hessel | St. Ignace advertises daily shuttle service from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m., starting later and ending later than Hessel’s published schedule. |
| Kewadin Casinos shuttle service: Pickup categories and residential restrictions | The shuttle description covers area hotels, local attractions, and city campgrounds. Residential service is specifically offered to Black and Gold Card Northern Rewards members; visitors should confirm their pickup eligibility. |
| Kewadin Casino Hessel: Driving approach | The official route uses I-75 exit 359, M-134 east, and a left turn onto Three Mile Road, followed by approximately three miles to the casino. |
| Northern Rewards Players Club: Enrollment cost and identification | Club registration is free, and the FAQ directs visitors to bring valid identification to a club booth at any of the five casinos. |
| Kewadin direct-mail offers: Expiration-extension policy | The FAQ says offers cannot be extended beyond their valid dates, so an expired offer should not be counted toward a later Hessel visit’s budget. |
| Kewadin direct-mail offers: Eligibility and offer-value policy | Mailings are not guaranteed for every club member. Published eligibility and offer values depend on carded play and visits, rather than enrollment alone. |
| Kewadin Casino Hessel Paws & Claws Slot Tournament: Dated event entry policy and prize denomination | The October 2026 calendar advertises a Monday slot tournament running October 5 through November 9, with donation-based entry and a bonus-points prize pool. The listing does not establish a cash value for those points or a permanent tournament schedule. |
Research references: kewadin.com 1, kewadin.com 2, kewadin.com 3, kewadin.com 4, kewadin.com 5.
Method: Published information collected 2026-10-16. The source observations remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
- Choose Hessel for a Les Cheneaux-area outing. Slots, electronic table games, a deli, and cabin or camping accommodation fit a trip where outdoor activities and local sightseeing are the main event.
- Consider St. Ignace for a more complete casino stay. Kewadin advertises a hotel, broader dining, and staffed table-game options there. That changes the evening if you want dinner, live tables, and lodging at one property.
- Compare games by location. Christmas is also named in Kewadin’s live-table announcement, while Hessel’s documented blackjack and roulette offerings are electronic. Choose the experience first, then check that property’s schedule.
Directions, hours, shuttle, and trip planning
Getting to Hessel
The operator’s driving directions use I-75 exit 359, followed by M-134 east. Turn left onto Three Mile Road and continue approximately three miles; the casino is on the left.
Enter the full property name in your navigation app. Searching only for “Kewadin Casino” can lead you to a different destination. If bringing an RV or boat trailer, ask about parking arrangements. A campground across the road does not imply permission to camp overnight in the casino parking lot.
Casino hours vary by season
Do not assume Hessel is open 24 hours. Call 906-484-2903 before an early-morning visit, a late-night visit, or a substantial drive. Ask separately about the deli and rewards desk because casino opening hours do not guarantee every service is available.
Local shuttle service
Kewadin’s shuttle information lists Hessel service daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., subject to casino hours. Arrange pickup through 906-484-2903.
Confirm the pickup address, return trip, availability, and any fare. The operator describes local hotel, attraction, and campground service, with residential pickups restricted to Black and Gold Card Northern Rewards members. Do not treat this as a general airport-transfer service.
Age, identification, and costs
The minimum gambling age is 21. Bring valid government-issued photo identification for age checks and rewards enrollment.
Budget separately for lodging, transportation, meals, and gambling. Ask about accommodation charges, shuttle fares, and parking restrictions rather than assuming they are free.
Northern Rewards Players Club
Hessel participates in the Northern Rewards Players Club. Enrollment is free; bring valid identification to a club booth.
Check offer dates and location restrictions before counting a promotion toward your budget. Kewadin says expired offers cannot be extended, and membership alone does not guarantee direct-mail offers. Eligibility and offer amounts depend on carded play and visits.
My rule is simple: use the card for gambling you already intended to do. Do not spend more chasing an offer that costs less than the extra play.
Who is Kewadin Casino Hessel best for?
Kewadin Casino Hessel suits local slot players and Les Cheneaux vacationers who want a non-smoking gambling stop without making a casino resort the center of their trip. Its electronic blackjack and roulette, deli, and nearby cabin and campground options support a straightforward visit, particularly for outdoor travelers. I would choose a larger property for an attached hotel and broader dining, and I would call Hessel before traveling because seasonal casino hours can materially affect the outing.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kewadin Casino Hessel have live table games?
Its documented blackjack and roulette offerings are electronic Interblock games. Do not plan on a live-dealer table experience at Hessel.
Is Kewadin Casino Hessel non-smoking?
Yes. Kewadin identifies all its casino locations as non-smoking facilities.
Does Kewadin Casino Hessel have a hotel?
No attached hotel is available. Kewadin advertises a year-round cabin rental and a campground across from the casino, with a published camping season of May 1 through November 1.
Does Hessel have a poker room or sportsbook?
No. It has neither a dedicated player-versus-player poker room nor an on-property retail sportsbook.
Is Kewadin Casino Hessel worth a special trip?
I would make it part of a Hessel or Les Cheneaux visit rather than the centerpiece of a casino vacation. Its appeal is a straightforward gambling break, not a resort-sized menu of things to do.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room or on-site sportsbook.