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Michigan Sports Betting: Manistee Emerges as a Gaming Hotspot

30 September 2026

When the Michigan Gaming Control Board opened legal sports betting across the state in 2021, Manistee immediately seized on the opportunity. With its flagship Little River Casino Resort, the city launched to compete in the national iGaming market.

This is due to Little River Casino Resort, a decades-old tribal gambling hub owned and operated by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, which dominates the local area. The resort, nestled on 2700 Orchard Highway in Manistee, opened its retail sportsbook, River Rock Sportsbook & Grill, in 2020.

The resort then partnered with Rush Street Interactive, parent company of online sports betting operator BetRivers, to access the state's online betting market. Since then, a co-branded virtual product is in the works.

The move aligns with Michigan's broader gambling landscape. The state's online casino market is booming, outpacing sports betting, according to data from BettingNews. All 15 of Michigan's licensed operators, including Fanatics Sportsbook, which launched in 2023, provide betting services.

More on this is available via safest online gambling sites reviewed and rated for 2026.

Michigan's regulated but competitive market allows tribal casinos like Manistee's to gain exposure through physical visitation and remote play. A 2023 report by Bettors Insider shows that the Little River Casino Resort contributes 2% of total net gaming revenue to Manistee County and the surrounding region.

As more players take advantage of sports betting and online gaming, smaller markets may see fewer visitors. Venues like Little River Casino Resort, however, have an advantage in bringing in guests both in person and online, thanks to partnerships with established names and locations on major tourism draws.

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