Black Bear is the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's resort at Carlton, twenty minutes south-west of Duluth, and it is the second most-searched casino in Minnesota after Mystic Lake. It rates 3.9 from more than 7,000 Google reviewers.
The property is built as a genuine destination rather than a roadside floor — a 12-storey hotel tower, a golf course and a concert venue mean there is a weekend here, not just an evening.
What's on the floor
More than 1,800 video slot machines and 14 table games. The table selection is focused rather than broad: blackjack and Ultimate Texas Hold'em are the mainstays.
Fourteen tables is modest for a property this size, and it reflects where the demand is — northern Minnesota casinos are slots-led, and Black Bear is no exception. If a specific table game is the reason for the trip, check the venue's site for the current schedule before driving up.
The resort side
The hotel is a 12-storey tower, which makes it one of the taller buildings between Duluth and the Twin Cities. On the property there are three restaurants plus a coffee shop, an arcade, and a 1,900-seat concert venue that pulls touring acts through the year.
The golf course is the differentiator: a par-72, eighteen-hole layout with a driving range, on site. Very few Minnesota casinos have their own course, and in summer it changes what the property is for — a golf weekend with a floor attached rather than the other way round.
Who it suits
Black Bear works for two quite different trips. The first is the Duluth weekend — the property is twenty minutes from the lake and considerably cheaper than staying downtown, so it functions as a value base for people whose real destination is Lake Superior. The second is the golf trip, which only exists for about five months of the year but is genuinely good while it lasts.
What it is not is a table-games destination. Fourteen tables across a floor of 1,800 machines tells you where the property's attention goes, and anyone driving up specifically to play blackjack will find a bigger pit at Mystic Lake or Treasure Island.
Tips before you go
You must be 18 or older to gamble at Minnesota tribal casinos, though individual properties set their own policies and some areas require 21 where alcohol is served. Check the venue's own rules before travelling if age is a factor for your group.
The casino is open 24 hours. The golf course is seasonal in the way everything in northern Minnesota is seasonal — the season is short, and the shoulder months are unpredictable.
The concert venue drives the busiest nights. If you want a quiet floor, check the events calendar and avoid show nights; if you want atmosphere, do the opposite.
Nearby alternatives
In Duluth itself, Fond-du-Luth Casino is the same band's downtown property — compact, slots-only, and walkable from the waterfront. North-east, Fortune Bay Resort Casino at Tower is the Bois Forte Band's lake resort. South, Grand Casino Hinckley is the biggest floor between here and the Twin Cities.
For the full picture, see all Minnesota in-person casinos.
FAQ
What are Black Bear Casino Resort's hours?
The casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The golf course is seasonal, and restaurants and the concert venue keep their own hours.
How old do you have to be to gamble at Black Bear Casino Resort?
Minnesota tribal casinos generally admit players from 18, but individual properties set their own rules and some areas are 21-plus where alcohol is served. Confirm with the venue before you travel.
What games are available at Black Bear Casino Resort?
More than 1,800 video slot machines and 14 table games, with blackjack and Ultimate Texas Hold'em the mainstays.
Does Black Bear Casino Resort have a golf course?
Yes — a par-72, eighteen-hole course with a driving range on the property. It is seasonal.
Does Black Bear Casino Resort have a hotel?
Yes, a 12-storey tower, alongside three restaurants, a coffee shop, an arcade and a 1,900-seat concert venue.
How far is Black Bear Casino from Duluth?
About twenty minutes south-west, at Carlton.
Rather play from your couch tonight? See our Minnesota sweepstakes rankings.
Updated August 2026 · Details verified against Minnesota Indian Gaming Association records and the venue's official site. Hours and offerings change — confirm before you go.
