Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, Minnesota, is a Prairie Island Indian Community-owned casino resort with a 788-room hotel, a poker room, major concerts, and The Lagoon indoor water park. Its strongest reason to visit is the ability to combine gambling with an overnight getaway. The trade-off is planning: dining, shows, and attractions have separate schedules and costs. I would shortlist it for concert weekends and mixed-interest groups rather than choose it solely for a quick casino stop.
Treasure Island at a glance
| Location | Welch, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Property type | Tribal casino resort |
| Owner and operator | Prairie Island Indian Community |
| Operating status | Open |
| Minimum gambling age | 18 |
| Gaming machines | More than 1,800 combined slots, video poker, and video keno machines, according to the operator’s February 2026 inventory |
| Table games | 44 advertised; staffing and availability vary |
| Poker room | Yes |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| Other gaming | High-stakes bingo in a 500-seat hall |
| Hotel | 788 rooms across Buffalo, Wolf, and Eagle towers |
| Nightly resort fee | $10.00 per room, plus applicable lodging taxes |
| Dining highlights | Tado Steakhouse, Tradewinds Buffet, Currents Restaurant, and Mongo Bay Grill |
| Notable amenities | The Lagoon, Wave Spa, bowling, arcade, concert venues, marina, and RV park |
| Rewards program | Island Passport Club |
What kind of casino is Treasure Island?
This is a destination-style regional casino, not a gambling hall with a token hotel attached. Its gaming, dining, entertainment, and recreation give different members of a group reasons to make the same trip.
If everyone wants to gamble for two hours and head home, the water park and hotel do not add much to the decision. If the plan includes a concert, dinner, and an overnight stay, keeping those activities at one property becomes a genuine advantage.
The Mississippi River setting also supports marina and RV stays. Still, I would approach Treasure Island as a planned resort outing rather than a base for walkable nightlife. For other options around the state, see our Minnesota casino guide.
Casino floor and games
The operator advertises more than 1,800 machines, 44 table games, a poker room, and a 500-seat high-stakes bingo hall. That gives gamblers several alternatives, although an advertised inventory does not mean every table is staffed whenever you arrive.
Slots and video poker
The machine count combines slots, video poker, and video keno. It is not more than 1,800 slots plus those other games. The property also promotes changing themed slot installations, so do not treat a particular title or cabinet as permanent.
My advice is to start with the wager display, not the denomination label. A low-denomination machine can still require a substantial total bet per spin. For video poker, inspect the pay table: the game name alone does not tell you what each winning hand pays.
Jackpot stories do not establish a casino’s overall payout rate. Neither a busy bank of machines nor a long losing stretch tells you that a slot offers better odds or is due to pay.
Table games
Treasure Island advertises 44 table games. If a particular game is the reason for your trip, ask which tables are operating and what the current minimums are.
I would not build a budget around an old advertised minimum. Limits can change with demand and staffing, and some games require additional wagers as a hand develops. Check the rules, payouts, and full cost of participating before buying in.
Poker room
Treasure Island has a dedicated poker room. It is separate from video poker and poker-themed games played against the house.
Contact the room for current hours, games, limits, and tournaments before making a poker-focused trip. An advertised room does not guarantee that your preferred game will be running when you arrive.
Bingo
The 500-seat high-stakes bingo hall offers another alternative to machines and tables. Check its session calendar and buy-in details separately from the casino’s general schedule.
Sportsbook
Treasure Island has no on-property retail sportsbook. Parlay offers sports viewing and drink specials, but a place to watch the game is not a betting counter.
Hotel: Buffalo Tower rooms and booking costs
The 788-room hotel makes overnight stays central to Treasure Island’s appeal. For concertgoers, the benefit is straightforward: your room is on the property instead of another drive away.
The operator’s February 10, 2026, Buffalo Tower announcement describes a renovation covering all 246 rooms in that tower. This was a tower reopening, not the reopening of a closed casino.
Buffalo Tower choices include standard king and two-queen rooms, family suites with pull-out trundle beds, and executive suites. All Buffalo Tower guestrooms are described as nonsmoking, with refrigerators, safes, USB connections, updated furnishings, and upgraded bathrooms.
The room-category comparison matters. Refrigerators are listed for every Buffalo Tower room, while kitchenettes and microwaves are specifically described for executive suites. Do not assume a standard room includes those suite features. Families considering a trundle-bed suite should confirm occupancy and sleeping arrangements rather than rely on the word “suite.”
The hotel’s reservation terms list a $10.00 nightly resort fee for all rooms, in addition to applicable lodging taxes. That adds $20.00 to a two-night stay before taxes, regardless of the advertised nightly rate.
I would compare the exact room category and final booking total, including mandatory charges, cancellation terms, and attraction admissions. Do not assume a room includes water park access for everyone. For a concert overnight, compare that total with an off-site room plus transportation in both directions. A cheaper room is not automatically a cheaper evening.
Restaurants and buffet: check the day before you go
Tado Steakhouse is the fine-dining choice for a planned dinner. Tradewinds Buffet, Currents Restaurant, and Mongo Bay Grill provide other dining options, while Parlay offers sports viewing over drinks.
The useful question is not simply how many restaurants the resort has. It is whether your preferred restaurant is serving when you need it. The official Treasure Island website advertises Tradewinds Buffet Wednesday through Sunday, but specialty services have narrower schedules.
Illustrative buffet and dining costs
The advertised October 2026 seafood buffet runs Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at $60.00 per diner. Two diners paying that price would spend $120.00 before any additional taxes, gratuities, and separately charged items. That is a Thursday seafood-dinner budget, not a price for every buffet service. Check the current calendar before traveling.
The advertised military and first-responder benefit offers one free Express Breakfast Buffet monthly on a chosen Sunday, with an Island Passport Club visit required before dining. A separate Tuesday offer gives veterans 10% off a meal at Currents Restaurant or Mongo Bay Grill.
On an illustrative eligible meal subtotal of $50.00, the Tuesday discount saves $5.00, before taxes and gratuity. I would treat that as a useful saving on a meal you already wanted, not a reason to rearrange a trip. Do not extend the veteran discount to other diners, restaurants, or days, and note the promotion’s specialty-buffet exclusion.
For dinner before a show, check reservation availability and leave a buffer. An on-site restaurant still has to fit the event’s entry time.
Concerts, The Lagoon, and other amenities
Concerts are a substantial part of the appeal. The operator lists a 16,000-seat outdoor amphitheater and a 2,800-seat indoor event and convention center. Check which venue your ticket names: an outdoor performance requires different weather preparation and arrival planning from an indoor show.
The Lagoon indoor water park, Wave Spa, Island Xtreme Bowl, Cyber Quest arcade, and Kids Quest child care broaden the options for mixed-interest groups. Do not treat them as automatically included, always-open hotel amenities. Check admission, reservations, age restrictions, and operating dates for the activities that matter to your party.
The Lagoon is not exclusively for children. The resort’s description includes a separate adults-only area with hot tubs and a swim-up bar. Admission and operating hours still need to fit your plans.
Families should plan supervision and routes through the resort. Family attractions do not make the gaming floor a children’s activity area.
The property also advertises a 135-slip marina, a 95-site RV park, and a passenger yacht. Confirm seasonal availability and what resort access comes with a slip, site, or excursion rather than assuming hotel-style inclusions.
Getting there, parking, and practical tips
Plan your route to the resort in Welch and arrange the return journey before committing to an evening event. I would not base a late-night departure on the assumption that a taxi, rideshare, or airport shuttle will be available on demand.
Treasure Island’s transportation page advertises complimentary round-trip bus routes serving Rochester, La Crosse, and Metro South. Check pickup locations and return schedules before booking a show. A scheduled casino bus is not an on-demand ride home.
- Parking and events: Check your show’s parking arrangements, entrance locations, and any charges. Allow extra arrival time.
- Accessibility: Ask about the exact room features, seating arrangements, and routes you need. In a large resort, room location can matter as much as room category.
- Smoking: Buffalo Tower guestrooms are described as nonsmoking. That does not establish a smoke-free casino. Ask about gaming-floor conditions if smoke exposure affects your plans.
- Identification: Bring government-issued photo identification. Gambling, alcohol service, hotel bookings, and event admission can have different requirements.
- Winter travel: Allow for snow, ice, and a slower drive after an evening performance.
Island Passport Club rewards
Island Passport Club is the player rewards program. Use your card for eligible play, and read promotion terms rather than assume earning points completes every requirement.
The Island Passport Club rules set the redemption rate at 100 points for $1.00 in cash back or eligible purchases. That values an existing balance; it does not tell you how much you must wager to earn those points.
The advertised October 2026 Spooky Link giveaway illustrates why the details matter. It offers earned entries for every 10 base points, a separate free daily kiosk entry, and Saturday activation after 1 p.m. Those are distinct steps. Check the current rules, and do not increase your gambling budget to chase an entry.
Our recommendation: who Treasure Island suits
Treasure Island makes the most sense for concertgoers, couples planning an overnight casino break, and groups that want water park, spa, or bowling time alongside gambling. Its hotel and activity mix can keep a weekend in one place, while the renovated Buffalo Tower gives room shoppers a specific option to compare. I would choose another setting for walkable nightlife or a simpler gambling stop. The trade-off is convenience after arrival versus coordinating meals, transportation, and separately priced activities beforehand.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch?
The Prairie Island Indian Community owns and operates the property.
How old do you have to be to gamble at Treasure Island?
The minimum gambling age is 18. Alcohol service is restricted to adults 21 and older; hotel and event age requirements are separate.
Does Treasure Island have a poker room or sportsbook?
It has a dedicated poker room but no on-property retail sportsbook. Contact the poker room for current games, limits, tournaments, and hours.
How many hotel rooms does Treasure Island have?
The operator lists 788 rooms across three towers, including 246 in the renovated Buffalo Tower.
Does Treasure Island charge a resort fee?
The hotel lists a $10.00 nightly resort fee for all rooms, in addition to applicable lodging taxes.
Does a hotel room include The Lagoon admission?
Check your specific booking terms. Confirm the number of admissions, valid dates, and any extra-guest charges before reserving.
Is Tradewinds Buffet open every day?
The advertised schedule is Wednesday through Sunday. Specialty buffets have separate dates, hours, and prices.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no on-site sportsbook.