Strategic renovations and sportsbook deals strengthen Manistee casino's play for online gambling growth

25 September 2026

Manistee's Little River Casino Resort rolled out significant enhancements in 2023, highlighted by a retail sportsbook partnership and an expanded gaming floor - an infrastructure push designed to support the tribal casino's broader strategy to drive online gaming growth and fend off competition in a rapidly evolving market.

In April, the 25-year-old resort introduced an enhanced gaming experience featuring a newly renovated gaming floor, sports betting options, and a new upscale restaurant. The expansion was a $20 million project that included additional slots, table games, and the 120-seat Roosevelt Room restaurant. The online sportsbook pitched to visitors was co-branded with Rush Street Interactive, the company behind brands like SugarHouse and Rivers.

Available since 2021, the BetRivers Michigan app carries all the expected categories: slots, table games, live dealer games, and sports betting. They also offer online-only blackjack, roulette, and baccarat options. Little River Casino Resort's parent, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, signed a deal with Rush Street in 2020 to debut an in-casino sportsbook. Now in its third year of operations, the app also represents a potential property-wide boost for the Little River casino.

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The infrastructure push and online gaming expansion come as competition ramps up nearby. The Crystal Shores Casino is a new entrant from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians that may siphon traffic from the Little River property, while 15 commercial and tribal operators are now authorized for online casinos and sports betting in the state. Little River Casino Resort is also aware of the growing number of unlicensed operators in the space, with the Michigan Gaming Control Board issuing multiple cease-and-desist orders in recent years.

For now, the casino has remained a fixture of community events and local fundraisers. In July, Little River Casino Resort hosted its 27th Annual Charity Golf Classic, raising over $68,000 for Northwest Michigan Community Health Corp and the Manistee Area Early Childhood Collaborative.