Potawatomi Casino Hotel started life in 1991 as a 45,800-square-foot bingo hall on the edge of downtown Milwaukee. The Forest County Potawatomi Community, whose home territory is in the Northwoods, opened it far from home on purpose, and the company still describes that hall as the first off-reservation gaming operation in the country. Three decades, expansions in 2000 and 2008, a hotel tower in 2014 and a $190 million floor renovation later, bingo is still played here. It is the one thing about the building that has never changed.
The property in numbers
| Address | 1721 West Canal Street, Milwaukee |
| Owner | Forest County Potawatomi Community |
| Opened | 1991, as a bingo hall |
| Slots | Thousands, from 1¢ up to $100 denominations |
| Live table games | Eight game types, plus electronic tables |
| Poker room | 15 tables, first level |
| Bingo | Up to 640 players per session |
| Hotel | 500-plus rooms in a 19-storey tower opened in 2014 |
| Staff | Nearly 2,500 |
| Minimum age | 21 for the casino, poker and bingo |
Why a Northwoods tribe built in Milwaukee
Forest County is in the far north of the state, a long way from any large market. The tribe's own account is blunt about the motive: the Milwaukee operation was a way to pull the community out of poverty, with revenue going to heritage preservation and services back home. The tribe still runs a second, much smaller property in its home territory, Potawatomi Casino Hotel Carter at Wabeno, which our statewide guide covers alongside every other tribal floor.
That history explains the location. Canal Street is an urban valley on the edge of downtown, not a resort setting, and the building grew outward in phases rather than being designed in one go. Visitors who expect a Las Vegas-style single hall will find a property you learn over a couple of visits.
The floor
The slot side runs from 1¢, 2¢ and 5¢ machines all the way to $100 games, with progressives linked both in-house and to machines elsewhere. The live pit is smaller in variety than the building suggests: the casino lists eight live game types, namely blackjack, baccarat (including EZ Baccarat), craps, roulette, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Double Down Madness and a $10 carnival game section. Electronic blackjack, roulette and craps fill the gaps for anyone who wants a lower minimum or no dealer. A sportsbook with self-service kiosks sits on the floor and doubles as a restaurant.
Poker and bingo
The poker room is the strongest card offer in south-east Wisconsin: 15 tables on the first level, open from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and around the clock Thursday through Saturday. The room runs high-hand promotions most days and hosts touring series events; check the schedule before you go, because tournament weeks change the feel of the room completely.
Bingo is the founding game and the casino still treats it that way. The hall takes up to 640 players a session, first come, first served, and the programme mixes regular sessions with themed nights such as glow bingo. Like everything else here, it is 21 and over.
Restaurants at Potawatomi Casino Milwaukee
Dining is the part of the property the recent renovation changed most. The current line-up:
- Dream Dance Steakhouse, the formal dinner room: steaks, seafood and a seasonal menu.
- RuYi, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Thai dishes with a dedicated sushi bar.
- Rock & Brews, the casual burger-and-beer room co-founded by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS.
- Canal Street Café for breakfast and lunch.
- Potawatomi Marketplace, a food hall with vendors including Burger Co., Project Pizza Co., Taco Spot and Queen of Ramen.
- Sportsbook dining, pub food alongside the screens.
Bars include Bar 360, ElevenHundred, EZ Street on the second level and Royal Slush, which pours more than twenty frozen flavours. Cream City Coffee Co. covers mornings.
The hotel
The tower that opened in 2014 rises 19 storeys and the hotel now advertises more than 500 rooms, from Signature Kings and Queens up through seven suite types to the Chairman's and Presidential suites. Upper-floor suites carry balconies that look out over the Milwaukee skyline, which is the best argument for staying over rather than driving home. For Milwaukee casino hotel searches, it is the only answer inside the city.
How it fits with the rest of the region
Potawatomi is the only casino in Milwaukee itself, and every alternative involves real driving. Our casinos near Milwaukee guide covers Ho-Chunk's new floor at Beloit, its Madison hall and where the long-proposed Kenosha project stands.
Playing from home instead
Not every evening justifies a trip to Canal Street. Sweepstakes casinos offer slot and table-style games on a promotional model with free coins; our Wisconsin sweepstakes casino rankings compare the platforms that accept the state.
Frequently asked questions
When did Potawatomi Casino Milwaukee open?
In 1991, as a 45,800-square-foot bingo hall. The casino expanded in 2000 and 2008 and added the hotel tower in 2014.
Does Potawatomi have a poker room?
Yes, 15 tables on the first level, open 24 hours from Thursday to Saturday.
What restaurants are at Potawatomi Casino Milwaukee?
Dream Dance Steakhouse, RuYi, Rock & Brews, Canal Street Café, the Marketplace food hall and sportsbook dining, plus several bars.
How old do you have to be?
21 for the casino floor, poker and bingo.
How many rooms does the hotel have?
More than 500, in a 19-storey tower.
