Casino Tourism on the Lake Gets an Online Boost in Manistee

26 September 2026

Manistee, MI, is known for more than just sand and surf. The western Lake Michigan town, about 5 hours north of Detroit, has been a tribal casino destination for over two decades. As of mid 2023, that gaming scene was getting an online push.

Little River Casino Resort at 2700 Orchard Highway leveraged legalized online gaming, mobile betting and struck a strategic partnership to bring more visitors into Manistee.

"Put simply: Sports betting, particularly wagering on live games in-play, is making consumers more excited than ever to use our gaming content," Rush Street Interactive President Richard Schwartz said in 2021.

The casino is owned and operated by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The band broke ground at the start of the new century, and soon a casino was built. In its early years, access was restricted to those 21 years and older. A decade into operation, the resort announced a local gaming, sports and employee growth package funded in part by casino revenue. In the two decades since opening, the casino has been one of the top employers and economic drivers in the region.

A Steady Earnings Date with Online Bets

Opportunities expanded in July 2020, when Little River Casino Resort launched River Rock Sportsbook in partnership with Rush Street Interactive. Little River's current age policy permits casino entry to those 18 and older, and the resort has been a key destination since Manistee attracted tourists in the 1950s and '60s. Today, it features free player rewards, as well as live entertainment.

The River Rock partnership was meant to improve operations across Little River, particularly on the resort's gaming and restaurant floors. Rush Street Interactive's 2020 press release described it as a "property-wide lift...because of the growing popularity of sports wagering." Just a few months after that launch, when Michigan legalized online gaming and sports betting, first-quarter results were already exceeding expectations.

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The current decade is about offering variety in betting, different casino play options and payout speed--representing a shift toward catering to players looking for ease, speed, breadth of offerings and customer service.

Rush Street Interactive's second-quarter revenue climbed to $168 million, up 32% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA reaching $18 million. In total, Rush Street's best quarter in the betting firm's history was built on a 61% contribution from online casino revenue and a 38% jump in North American monthly active users.

A Resort That is an Economic Driver For Industry

Locally, casino activity was an economic driver in Manistee from the beginning. By the end of its first year, Little River ranked as the top employer in the area, and an estimated 800,000 had gambled there, generating $28 million from slots alone in eight months. 2% of gross slot revenues went to the Local Revenue Sharing Board, while casino-related employment and visitors boosted other local businesses. Some local leaders expressed concerns about increased traffic, crime and gambling issues.

Future competition is a concern. A proposed casino for the Muskegon area has led Little River's band to invest $20 million into the project. Federal approvals came through in 2020, but the project awaits state authorization, raising the prospect of new competition in a market where casino traffic has become vital to Manistee's economy.

In an era where local gaming expansion contends with online alternatives, attractions and incentives are essential to drive physical visitation. In coming years, local groups will be watching how the casino economy of Manistee evolves.