Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hinckley

What Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hinckley does

Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hinckley is a tribally owned gaming and hospitality enterprise operated by the Corporate Commission of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe through Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures. It runs two integrated casino resorts in East Central Minnesota — Grand Casino Mille Lacs (Onamia, opened 1991) and Grand Casino Hinckley (opened 1992) — anchored by a 494-room hotel at Mille Lacs, a 154-room inn, 50 chalets, an RV resort, more than 1,800 slot machines, 46 blackjack tables, 13+ dining and bar outlets, bingo, pull tabs, and a public 18-hole golf course (Grand National Golf Club). On-property amenities include Grand Harmony Spa, Grand Makwa Cinema, gift shops, the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, and live entertainment at the Mille Lacs Events Center, Hinckley Amphitheater, and Hinckley Events and Convention Center.

The technology backbone is the Grand Rewards™ players club (Advantage to Diamond tiers at 120,000+ points) using Grand Play™ as a proprietary currency, with a Joingo-built iOS/Android mobile app, an opt-in Player Dashboard web portal, rGuest booking and mobile check-in, and SevenRooms for The Winds Steakhouse reservations. The Etix platform handles all show ticketing. The GTM is direct-to-consumer: drive-market gaming and staycations from the Twin Cities, Brainerd, and Duluth, supplemented by sports-marketing partnerships with the NHL's Minnesota Wild (including the Grand Casino Arena naming rights in Saint Paul, ~1.7M annual visitors) and MLS's Minnesota United FC, plus regional sponsorships such as Grandma's Marathon and Lakes Jam.

Revenue is generated through gaming transactions (slots, tables, bingo, pull tabs, electronic poker), per-night hotel and resort fees, F&B covers, ticket sales, golf season passes and per-round rates, spa/cinema/retail spend, and event-planning RFPs for corporate and group functions. Pricing is largely unit-based (gaming per play, hotel dynamically priced, publicly posted golf/show rates) with a free-to-join loyalty tier structure. Distribution is wholly owned across the two physical resorts, the brand website, native apps, and Etix, with shuttle service connecting the lodging properties to the casino floors.

Name

Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hinckley

Legal name

The Corporate Commission of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe d/b/a Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley

Website

https://grandcasinomn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hinckley is a tribally owned gaming and hospitality enterprise operated by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, running two integrated Minnesota casino resorts (Mille Lacs and Hinckley) with 1,800+ slots, table games, 700+ hotel keys, golf, spa, dining, and live entertainment for regional drive-market and Twin Cities visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casino & Resort Gaming

NAICS

Casino Hotels (721120), Gambling Industries (7132), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Casino Resorts (Casino + Hotel/Entertainment) (MPAEAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated Casino Resorts (THAGAJAA), Convention & Events Casino Hotels (THAGAJAK)

Keywords

• Casino gaming
• Resort lodging
• Live entertainment
• Player loyalty program
• Tribal gaming enterprise

Headquarters

HQ city

Onamia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Casino Gaming (Slots, Table Games, Bingo, Pull Tabs): Core gambling revenue from over 1,800 slot machines at Mille Lacs, blackjack tables (20 at Mille Lacs, 26 at Hinckley), bingo halls, pull tabs (single-box and multi-box with cash prizes up to $1,000), electronic poker, and proprietary table games (Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Three-Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Crazy 4 Poker, Face Up Pai Gow, I Luv Suits, EZ Baccarat, 3 Shot Poker, Blackjack Bonus Spin Xtreme). Class III player-pooled games redistribute money back via bonuses.
2. Hotel & Resort Lodging: Revenue from 494-room Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hotel, 154-room Grand Hinckley Inn, 50 chalets at Hinckley, and RV Resort. Includes room revenue, pet fees ($75 registered / $300 non-registered), and ancillary fees. Check-in 4 pm, check-out 11 am with late fees and 24-hour cancellation policy.
3. Dining & Beverage: Revenue from on-site restaurants (1991 Kitchen, B3, Plums, Grand Buffet, The Grille House, Rival House, The Winds Steakhouse, Stories Diner, Silver Sevens, Sweet Spot, Up North Bar, Corner Bean, Grand Cup & Cone, Provisions To-Go), bars, and dining/drink promotions.
4. Live Entertainment & Ticketed Shows: Ticket sales through Etix for concerts (Cypress Hill, Jon Pardi, Bret Michaels, Queensrÿche, Sebastian Bach, Thunder From Down Under) and live comedy, plus free live music at Rival House.
5. Golf (Grand National Golf Club): Revenue from public play (Spring/Fall/Summer rates for 9- and 18-hole walking or cart rounds), twilight/super twilight rates, and tiered Season Passes (Par Pass $945, Birdie Pass $1,145, Eagle Pass $1,245) with discounts on merchandise, balls/gloves, and executive rentals.
6. Spa, Cinema, Gift Shop & Amenities: Revenue from Grand Harmony Spa services, Grand Makwa Cinema tickets, gift shop merchandise (Ojibwe art, clothing, snacks, toiletries), Grand Arcade, and the Indian Museum and Trading Post at Mille Lacs.
7. Event Planning / Group Bookings: Banquet halls, breakout rooms, and custom configurations for corporate conferences, weddings, business meetings, and family reunions at Mille Lacs (777 Grand Avenue, Onamia) and Hinckley (777 Lady Luck Drive).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Grand Casino operates two integrated Minnesota gaming-and-hospitality resorts (Mille Lacs in Onamia and Hinckley) that deliver slot machines, table games, bingo, and pull tabs alongside 494+ lodging rooms, 13+ restaurants and bars, an 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa, a four-screen cinema, gift retail, and live entertainment programming. The Grand Rewards™ players club, Player Dashboard web portal, and iOS/Android mobile app unify player loyalty, tier-based rewards, and reservations across both properties. The operation is owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe through its Corporate Commission and Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures (MLCV).

Product overview

Grand Casino operates as a multi-property hospitality and gaming platform owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, anchored by the Grand Rewards™ players club and unified across two Minnesota casino campuses — Grand Casino Mille Lacs (777 Grand Avenue, Onamia, MN) and Grand Casino Hinckley (777 Lady Luck Drive, Hinckley, MN). The core platform consists of the Grand Rewards loyalty program (Advantage → Diamond tiers) with its companion Player Dashboard web portal and Grand Casino mobile app (iOS/Android). Built around this core are the gaming modules (Slots, Table Games, Pull Tabs, Bingo at both properties), lodging modules (Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hotel, Grand Casino Hinckley Hotel, Grand Hinckley Inn, Chalets at Hinckley, RV Resort at Hinckley), a dining portfolio of more than a dozen restaurants and bars (1991 Kitchen, B3, Plums, Grand Buffet, Up North Bar, The Grille House, Rival House, The Winds Steakhouse, Stories Diner, Provisions To-Go, Silver Sevens, Sweet Spot, Lucky Bean), and amenities (Grand Harmony Spa, Grand National Golf Club, Grand Makwa Cinema, Grand Gifts/Grand Market). Adjacent engagement products include the sponsored Grand Casino Arena (home of the NHL Minnesota Wild) and the Pick 'Em Challenge free-to-play game, plus event-planning services for meetings, weddings, and group functions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grand Casino Arena: Naming-rights branded arena (formerly Xcel Energy Center) in downtown Saint Paul, MN; home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.
• Grand Rewards
• Grand National Golf Club
• Grand Harmony Spa
• Grand Makwa Cinema

Products and services

• Grand Rewards™ Players Club Free-to-join tiered casino players club earning Grand Play currency and tier points at slots, table games, hotels, restaurants, gift shops, and entertainment venues across both Mille Lacs and Hinckley properties.
• Grand Casino Mobile App (iOS & Android) Native iOS and Android app for tracking player progress, tier status, personalized offers, and rewards with location-based push notifications for on-property marketing.
• Player Dashboard (Web Portal) Web-based member portal where Grand Rewards members sign in to view tier status, discover personalized hotel rates, request win/loss statements, and connect their Player ID to their account.
• Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hotel 494-room renovated hotel at the Mille Lacs property offering Double Queen, Single King, and Suite room types, a pool & Jacuzzi, 24/7 fitness center, on-site restaurants, and access to over 1,800 slot/gaming machines.
• Grand Casino Hinckley Hotel Renovated on-site hotel at the Hinckley casino property at 777 Lady Luck Drive, Hinckley, MN, providing direct access to gaming, dining, and the Hinckley Amphitheater.
• Grand Hinckley Inn
• Chalets at Hinckley 50 pet-friendly chalets with queen bed plus pull-out couch, kitchens, dinettes, attached decks with grills, and door-to-door shuttle to Grand Casino Hinckley; resort amenities include heated outdoor pool, basketball/volleyball courts, lodge, and laundry.
• RV Resort at Hinckley RV park and resort at the Hinckley property, listed under the Lodging menu for guests traveling with recreational vehicles.
• Slots (Mille Lacs & Hinckley) Slot machine gaming floors at both casino properties (over 1,800 games at Mille Lacs), integrated with the Grand Rewards card for tier-point and Grand Play earning.
• Table Games (Mille Lacs & Hinckley) Live-dealer table games including Blackjack (20 tables at Mille Lacs / 26 tables at Hinckley, $5-$1,000 limits), Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Three-Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, EZ Baccarat, 3 Shot Poker, Crazy 4 Poker, I Luv Suits, Face Up Pai Gow, and Blackjack Bonus Spin Xtreme Power Up; includes Table Pay debit-card chip purchases.
• Pull Tabs (Mille Lacs & Hinckley) Pull-tab lottery-style games featuring multi-box $0.50 games (top prize $599) and single-box $1, $2, $3, and $5 games with cash prizes up to $1,000.
• Bingo (Mille Lacs & Hinckley) Bingo halls at both properties offering matinee and evening sessions (Early Birds + Regular sessions) with themes such as Star Spangled Bingo, Not Your Granny's Bingo, and Red, White, and Bingo; players must be 18+.
• Live Entertainment & Concerts Live entertainment programming across the Mille Lacs Events Center, Hinckley Amphitheater, and Hinckley Events and Convention Center, hosting concerts, comedy, boxing, and cultural events (e.g., Cypress Hill, Bret Michaels, Jon Pardi, Queensrÿche, Sebastian Bach, Thunder From Down Under); tickets sold through Etix.
• Grand Harmony Spa Full-service spa at the Hinckley property offering facials, manicures, pedicures, massage, detox wraps, and exfoliating rituals, with relaxation lounges, eucalyptus steam showers, and a whirlpool; discounted access for Grand Rewards members.
• Grand National Golf Club 18-hole public golf course in Hinckley, MN with three season-pass tiers (Par, Birdie, Eagle), spring/fall/summer rates, twilight rates, and online booking via RGuest.
• Grand Makwa Cinema Four-screen cinema complex located across from the Mille Lacs casino, offering current box-office releases with showtimes and tickets handled via grandmakwacinema.com.
• Grand Casino Restaurants & Bars (Dining Portfolio) Multi-outlet F&B portfolio across both properties including 1991 Kitchen, B3, Plums, Grand Buffet, Up North Bar (Mille Lacs); The Grille House, Rival House, The Winds Steakhouse, Stories Diner, Provisions To-Go, Silver Sevens, Sweet Spot, and Lucky Bean (Hinckley); reservations at The Winds via SevenRooms.
• Grand Gifts / Grand Market On-site retail shops at both properties selling original merchandise, clothing, Ojibwe art, snacks, drinks, toiletries, and more; gift card balances managed via Clutch.
• Grand Casino Arena (Naming Rights & Wild Partnership) Downtown Saint Paul arena (formerly Xcel Energy Center) under Grand Casino naming rights since 2025; home of the NHL Minnesota Wild, hosting 150+ events and approximately 1.7 million visitors per year.
• Event Planning & Banquet Services Banquet halls, breakout rooms, and custom configurations at both properties for corporate conferences, weddings, business meetings, family reunions, and other group events, with an RFP submission workflow on the website.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reservation unemployment reduced from more than 80% to approximately 14%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship — includes arena naming rights, major — official casino & entertainment partner, major — major sponsor for nearly two decades, major — presenting sponsor, critical role in arena naming-rights deal, mid — discount partnership for higher-tier members, operational — exclusive ticketing channel, operational — ip licensing, minor — featured brand at up north bar, operational — core booking/check-in infrastructure, operational — mobile app backend, operational — reservation platform for the winds steakhouse and operational.

• Minnesota Wild (NHL)flagship — includes arena naming rightsStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrand Casino holds the naming rights to the Minnesota Wild's home arena (Grand Casino Arena, formerly Xcel Energy Center) in Saint Paul. The deal extends to in-arena activations, fan engagement, Native American Heritage Night with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Community Skate Night, and the Pick 'Em Challenge (first-time players receive $25 Grand Play). Approximately 1.7 million annual visitors attend 150+ events. CEO Ronda Weizenegger credits Norden Strategies' Ted Johnson for brokering the deal.
• Minnesota United FC (MLS)major — official casino & entertainment partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBecame the Official Casino and Entertainment Partner of Minnesota's professional soccer team, extending the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's visibility across Minnesota professional sports.
• Grandma's Marathon (Duluth, MN)major — major sponsor for nearly two decadesGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota for almost two decades.
• Lakes Jammajor — presenting sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor of Lakes Jam.
• Norden Strategies (Ted Johnson)critical role in arena naming-rights dealImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGrand Casino CEO Ronda Weizenegger specifically thanked Ted Johnson of Norden Strategies for his instrumental role in brokering the Grand Casino Arena naming-rights partnership with the Minnesota Wild.
• Norwegian Cruise Linemid — discount partnership for higher-tier membersGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides a discount partnership benefit to higher-tier Grand Rewards members (per the loyalty benefit chart).
• Etixoperational — exclusive ticketing channelChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEtix is the official ticketing partner through which Grand Casino sells concert/show tickets (e.g., Thunder From Down Under, Queensrÿche & Sebastian Bach). Tickets are not sold at the door.
• Light and Wonder (formerly SHFL Entertainment)operational — ip licensingOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicenses Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Four Card Poker, TriLux Bonus, Fortune Blackjack, Crazy 4 Poker, I Luv Suits, Face Up Pai Gow, and Blazing 7s trademarks to Grand Casino for use on the gaming floor.
• Summit Brewing Co.minor — featured brand at up north barGTM or Marketing PartnerUp North Bar at Grand Casino Mille Lacs is built around Summit Brewing Co. — featuring six Summit taps and craft cocktails, themed as a cabin-style watering hole.
• rGuest (booking platform)operational — core booking/check-in infrastructureTechnology or IntegrationrGuest powers online tee-time booking for Grand National Golf Club and room reservations plus express check-in for the Mille Lacs hotel, Grand Hinckley Inn, and Chalets.
• Joingo (mobile app platform)operational — mobile app backendTechnology or IntegrationJoingo-built mobile application (com.joingo.gran) distributed on Apple App Store and Google Play to power Grand Rewards, Player Dashboard, and location-based marketing.
• SevenRoomsoperational — reservation platform for the winds steakhouseTechnology or IntegrationSevenRooms reservation platform is used for booking The Winds Steakhouse at Grand Casino Hinckley.
• Light and Wonder / SHFL (table-game trademark licensor)operationalOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicenses trademarked table games (Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Four Card Poker) for use at Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Hinckley.
• AGS (table-game progressive provider)operationalOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerProvides AGS Bonus Spin Blackjack Xtreme and Power Up Progressive side-bet products on the Grand Casino blackjack floors.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mystic Lake Casino Hotel: Operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Mystic Lake is the largest tribal casino in Minnesota and the closest direct competitor to Grand Casino for Twin Cities metro gaming, hotel, dining, and entertainment spend.
• Treasure Island Resort & Casino: Prairie Island Indian Community-owned casino hotel in Welch, MN offering gaming, hotel, marina, and events. Directly comparable in scale, tribal ownership structure, and integrated resort positioning to Grand Casino Hinckley.
• Running Aces Casino & Racetrack: Minnesota casino and harness racing track offering table games, slots, and poker. Closely comparable to Grand Casino's table game and poker product mix and serves a similar regional Minnesota market.
• Prairie's Edge Casino Resort: Upper Sioux Community tribal casino in Morris, MN with hotel, gaming, dining, and events. Comparable integrated tribal resort model with similar lodging, F&B, and gaming footprint in greater Minnesota.
• Seven Feathers Casino Resort: Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians casino resort in Oregon with hotel, gaming, dining, spa, golf and entertainment. Comparable tribally-owned integrated resort with similarly diversified non-gaming amenities.
• Foxwoods Resort Casino: Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation casino resort in Connecticut — a benchmark for large-scale tribally owned integrated resorts with hotel towers, gaming floor, dining, entertainment, and retail at similar integrated-resort complexity.
• Mohegan Sun: Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority casino resort in Connecticut with hotel, gaming, dining, entertainment arena, and spa. Comparable in tribal ownership, multi-vertical integration, and entertainment-driven visitation strategy.

Regional players

• Dakota Magic Casino: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe casino in North Dakota offering gaming, hotel, dining, and entertainment. Comparable tribal integrated resort model in the upper Midwest, though operating across a state border.

Broad incumbents

• MGM Resorts International: Large publicly-traded multi-property gaming operator with integrated casino-resort portfolio (Bellagio, MGM Grand, etc.) and a robust MGM Rewards loyalty program. Comparable as a benchmark for the integrated resort, loyalty economics, and entertainment programming model even though not tribally owned.
• Caesars Entertainment: Major publicly-traded multi-property gaming operator with Caesars Rewards loyalty program covering dozens of casinos and resorts. Comparable as a benchmark for tiered loyalty programs, integrated resort economics, and multi-property branding strategies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/grandcasinomn
• Facebookfacebook.com/grandcasinoMN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grandcasinomn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hinckley