Sault Ste. Marie Live Games

Gateway Casinos - Main Live Floor on the Ontario Side

Gateway Casinos Sault Ste. Marie has long been the main live gaming room on the Ontario side of the bridge. The property sits at 30 Bay St., a short distance from the International Bridge, so it works both for locals and for people driving over from Michigan. The gaming area is roughly 35,000 square feet, with around 360 slots and nine live table games arranged across the floor.

Most regulars head straight for live Texas Hold’em poker. Up to three tables run when the room is active, with a maximum of 11 players on each table, and poker normally gets going at 6:00 p.m. every day. Friday evenings are busier than the rest - turning up 15 to 20 minutes before start time usually makes life easier, because the list fills quicker than it seems it should.

Besides poker, the casino spreads Blackjack and Roulette, plus Electronic Blackjack terminals for players who prefer a screen. Regular opening hours are Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Poker times can shift a little, so it is worth double-checking before driving in for a session.

Practical contact details for Gateway Casinos Sault Ste. Marie:

General inquiries: 705-759-0100
Poker line: 705-541-5869
Toll-free poker: 1-800-826-8946 ext. 5869
Email: [email protected]
Address: 30 Bay St., Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 7A6

Getting to the Table - How It Actually Works

First-time visitors sometimes imagine the entry process is complicated. In practice it is pretty routine once you have done it the first time.

Start by phoning ahead if you care about specific tables. Use 705-759-0100 for general hours and game info, or the dedicated poker line at 705-541-5869 if Texas Hold’em is what you are chasing that night. On slow midweek evenings you can probably just walk in, but on Friday or Saturday relying on luck is not ideal.

At the front door, staff will ask you for valid government-issued photo ID. The legal age for gambling in Ontario is 19, and that age check is enforced before you get onto the main floor. After you are inside, floor staff can point you toward the active tables or directly to the poker desk. Around the Hold’em area, there is a board listing current tables, names on the waitlist and any open seats.

You can pick up chips straight at the table for most games, or at the cashier cage if you prefer to sort money out in advance. Minimum and maximum bets move a little with the day of the week and how crowded the room is, so it makes sense to glance at the posted limits on the table sign before taking a seat. When you are done playing, cash out any remaining chips back at the cage, and if you care about points or comps, the front desk can walk you through whatever loyalty or rewards program is active at that time.

Kewadin Casino - Across the Bridge in Michigan

On the U.S. side of Sault Ste. Marie, live games run at Kewadin Casino Sault Ste. Marie. The property is owned and operated by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and is part of the broader Kewadin Casinos network. It falls under Michigan gaming rules rather than Ontario regulations. Canadian players can cross the bridge and sit in the games there, but one basic difference appears immediately: in Michigan the minimum age is 21, compared with 19 at Gateway.

Table games at Kewadin are not offered every day of the week. Live tables operate from Wednesday through Sunday, while Monday and Tuesday there are no table games available, which can matter when you are trying to time a specific visit.

The list of games is somewhat wider than what Gateway spreads. On the floor you will find a mix of live and virtual formats such as:

1. Blackjack
2. Heads Up Hold’em
3. Let It Ride
4. Three Card Poker
5. Virtual Blackjack
6. Virtual Roulette
7. Virtual Craps

Sports betting is also in play at Kewadin. It runs under a Michigan license and is supervised by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Kewadin’s online casino activities are connected to the Caesars/Horseshoe online platform within Michigan.