Little River Casino Resort

Little River Casino Resort is a tribal casino located in Manistee, Michigan. Manistee is in the northwest area of the Lower Peninsula and looks west onto Lake Michigan.

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians owns and operates the casino.

The casino features more than 1,400 slot and video poker machines. In addition, there are dozens of table games and eight different games to play. Patrons have to be 18 and older to play.

The resort is home to a 292-room hotel and a 95-space RV park. You can also eat at one of four restaurants, and hotel guests can order room service 24 hours a day.

The Little River Casino and Resort has introduced the River Rock Sportsbook. Casino ownership has already partnered with casino operator Rush Street Interactive to allow Rush Street to debut its sportsbook brand BetRivers in Michigan. Furthermore, Rush Street will help Little River run its retail sports betting operation.

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians had pursuing opening an off-reservation casino in Fruitport Township since 2008. On June 15, 2022, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer denied the request after a six-month delay in making a decision on the project. Whitmer cited an upcoming decision on the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians being recognized federally as the reason behind her decision.

Read on for all the latest updates, news, and information about the Little River Casino Resort.

Little River Casino Resort

  • Address: 2700 Orchard Highway, Manistee, MI 49660
  • Owner/Operator: Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
  • Hours: 24 hours daily
  • Casino games: Slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Let It Ride, 3 Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, and Crazy 4 Poker
  • Sportsbook: Launched River Rock Sportsbook in July 2020
  • Poker: No
  • Age: 18 and up

Little River online gambling partnerships

The Little River Casino Resort and Hotel announced that it had come to terms with gambling operator Rush Street Interactive for its Michigan sports betting operations in June 2020.

The deal also includes a provision for Rush Street to assist LRC in its operation and management of its retail sports betting operation, which opened in July 2020.

The Rush Street deal included an online casino site, and both online sports betting and online casino gaming launched in Michigan in January 2021.

The casino at Little River Casino Resort

The casino at Little River Casino Resort has to be one of the larger ones in the state, considering that some of Michigan’s tribal casinos are not much bigger than a standard house.

Instead, the LRC has all the amenities, bells, whistles, and any other type of charm you could use to generate a larger casino. Though in a slightly remote location, the casino at Little River has everything that a gambler could ever want.

Naturally, the LRC has a host of promotions going at any one time. Here are some of the promotions you might find to redeem on Little River Casino Resort’s site:

  • Hometown Heroes: Each Tuesday, veterans with ID can receive 2x points, food credits, bonus bets, or River Credits.
  • Club 50: Players who belong to the club and earn two points on slots or get a $10 rated value on a table game can register to win River Credits or bonus bets.
  • Double points
  • $40,000 Slot Hot Seats: On Friday, the casino will randomly give away a prize of $1,000 or more to selected players sitting on machines. Prizes may be in cash or River Credits.
  • $82,000 Made in the Shade Slot Hot Seats: This promo runs the same way as the $40,000 promotion, but there are more chances to win.
  • Pick a Beach Ball: Select a beach ball to win up to $35 in site credits.

In addition to the gaming options described below, Little River Casino is also home to a high limit section. Here you can choose from 50 different slot machines with betting limits equal or above $5 and several types of high-minimum table games in a more private setting.

Slot machines and video poker

Little River Casino Resort is home to more than 1,400 gaming machines. These machines are spread between slots and video poker, although slots are far more numerous and popular.

Some of the newest slot machines on the LRC roster include Dragon Links, Buffalo, Anchorman, Elephant King, the Voice, Lock It Links, Quick Hit, Casablanca, and Heat Em Up Power Wheel. This list is not exclusive by any means.

You should plan on visiting the casino to find out all the different varieties of games you can play. However, it can be overwhelming, so don’t be afraid to get a map of the machines or a copy of the computer program.

Bear in mind, that there are also several video poker machines scattered throughout the property.

Table games

Little Rock Casino Resort is home to a surprisingly diverse group of table games, too. You can bet as little as $1 per hand to $5,000. The games include:

Little River Casino Resort Players Club

Like most casinos, the Little River Casino Resort offers a loyalty program to reward its customers for their repeated play. The Little River Casino Resort Players Club is open for any player who is at least 18 and has a valid ID.

There are four different status levels in the Players Club. Players can have either Lucky, Silver, Gold, or Elite designations, and each level bears its own set of benefits. Along with the benefits listed below, each status also enjoys the benefits of the level(s) beneath it.

Players with the Lucky card (0 – 999 points) can convert their points into River Credits, which are good for playing slots. In addition, they can use the points for other services onsite, like restaurants and spa visits. Lucky level players receive personalized hotel rates and can play in promotions for cash wins and prizes.

Silver card players (1,000 – 7,499 points) can take part in promotions exclusive to their level and will receive numerous special offers. Also, a Silver member gets additional entries into certain prize drawings. Furthermore, the Silver card is good for a 10% discount at onsite dining options and the White Pine Boutique.

Those who reach Gold card status (7,500 – 18,749 points) begin to see the benefits ramp up sharply. For one thing, the discounts at restaurants and the White Pine Boutique escalate to 15%. However, the bigger deal is the VIP treatment that comes with the status. Those who achieve this level will receive priority access to both the buffet and the Players Club, have their VIP lounge in which to relax, and can park in VIP parking.

Players who manage to become Elite members (18,750 points or more) are in rare company. For their efforts, they now receive Express VIP hotel check-ins, priority attention in valet, and premium seating for entertainment onsite. They can also take part in charter fishing excursions into the lake and take part in points exchanges for gasoline at the Little River Trading Post Gas Station. Finally, their discounts at restaurants and the boutique are a whopping 25%. Best of all, Elite members can reserve and hold their favorite slot machines for at least an hour, even if they’re not there.

Little River Casino Resort sportsbook

The Little River Band of Ottawa reached a partnership in June 2020 with gaming and sportsbook operator Rush Street Interactive to begin both online and retail sports betting operations.

Rush Street manages the retail operation at Little River Casino Resort itself. The retail sportsbook is called River Rock Sportsbook and opened up for business in July 2020.

River Rock features dozens of televisions, including a giant wall of huge TVs that give that section of the restaurant an old-school Las Vegas feel. The three sports betting windows are tucked in the corner by the giant TV wall, which also features stadium seating in front of it.

There are betting kiosks in the restaurant and also inside the casino outside the entrance to River Rock where a block of kiosks sit. River Rock was easily accessible after entering through the main casino entrance.

Terms and conditions apply to all offers. Please see Little River Resort Sportsbook for details. 21+ Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER+ 

Little River Casino Resort amenities

It would be bad form to call one’s facility a resort if all that it contained was a casino. Thankfully, the LRC has plenty of other amenities to add to the patrons’ overall level of comfort.

The hotel at Little River Casino Resort

The most important of these services is the hotel. The hotel at the Little River Casino Resort features 292 well-appointed rooms with Northern Lodge-style architecture throughout the property.

The hotel offers both standard and suite rooms for rental. They come furnished with either two queens or a king bed, and it is possible to rent a room that comes equipped with a fireplace.

However, regardless of the level you choose, your room will have the following items on hand:

  • Two-line telephone (with voicemail)
  • Cable television with premium channels
  • Coffee pot
  • Hairdryer
  • Ironing board and iron
  • In-room safe
  • Wireless internet

All hotel guests have access to the property’s hot tub, sauna, heated outdoor pool, and 2 indoor pools. There is also a fitness center and the Nectar Spa and Salon to help you stay fit and look sharp during your stay.

RV park

These amenities are open to those guests staying at the RV park, too. The park features 95 level concrete pads, and there are both pull-through and back-in options available for you to choose from.

Every single site on the lot features water, electric, and cable TV hookups. A few of them also have sewer connections. The entire property offers complimentary wireless internet access for guests.

Here are some of the other amenities in the Little River Casino Resort RV Park:

  • Full restrooms with showers
  • Walking trail with dog run
  • Coin-operated vending and laundry
  • Shuttle to and from the casino itself
  • Pavillion with seating and charcoal grills
  • Complimentary beverages like tea, coffee, and water

Dining

Of course, if people are going to be staying for a while, they’re going to get hungry. So, Little River Casino Resort has four different options for patrons to choose for a bite to eat or something to drink.

The first and most obvious place to get something to eat is the Big Lake Buffet. The buffet is a staple of many casinos, and the version at the LRC is no different. There are numerous cooking stations, rotating dishes, and a huge area for desserts. On the weekends, the casino even brings in some premium items like prime rib, lobster, and crab legs.

If you aren’t in the mood for such an overflowing display of cuisine, head over to the Rapids Bistro. This casual restaurant serves sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and other types of standard fare without the merry-go-round of the buffet experience. You can find selections for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night at the Rapids, as the bistro is open 21 hours a day.

If you only want a beverage, though, then the Horseshoe Bar might be a better option. The adult beverage dispensary is located in the center of the casino floor and can serve you cocktails, craft beer, whiskey, and martinis. You can even grab a cigar here if you’re interested.

Finally, the last place to get something to consume in the Little River Casino Resort is in the midst of a major change of how it does business. The River Rock Sportsbook & Grill is adding sports betting to its sports-bar vibe and 60 television screens. Soon, you’ll be able to place a wager and watch the gameplay out while munching on burgers, wings, and other pub food. The grill is a great place to catch a game and a bite already, but it’s about to kick things up a notch.

Hotel guests at the LRC have one more option that they can use to get food and beverages for themselves. The resort has a 24-hour in-room dining service for guests at the hotel, so whether you’re trying to eat one of the three square meals or just a late-night snack, there’s always an option.

Entertainment

Not everyone visits a casino resort with gambling on their minds. Many come to see performers, bands, and other live acts. So, that’s why Little River Casino Resort maintains a 1,600-seat event center.

The event center is a beautifully-appointed theater venue with the flexibility to host a variety of acts. Parking is complimentary to visitors to shows and events, and the theater offers both disabled and wheelchair access.

Although the center is dark due to the current health situation affecting the US, shows will inevitably return to the venue in Manistee. Make sure to keep an eye on the calendar and don’t miss out.

Little River Casino Resort history

The Little River Casino Resort is located in the northwest section of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. It calls the small town of Manistee home and is at the intersection of two major roads, US31 (Chippewa Highway) and M22 (Orchard Highway). It is northeast of Manistee proper and about five miles east of Lake Michigan.

The casino itself opened for business in 1999 with 600 slot machines, no table games, and big dreams. Since then, the property has grown considerably and become a mainstay of the area.

Thanks to a major renovation in 2016, you can now find more than 1,300 slot and video poker machines under the same roof at Little River Casino Resort Manistee MI. There are also dozens of tables to spread eight different types of table games.

Little River Casino Resort is also home to a 292-room hotel, a full-service spa and salon, a 95-space RV park, four restaurants, and a 1,600-seat event center. It is owned and operated by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.

LRCR and the tribe reached an agreement with Rush Street Interactive in June 2020 for a sports betting and online gambling partnership. The agreement included the rebranding of the facility’s bar and grill as River Rock Sportsbook, which opened in July 2020.

Online sports betting and casino gaming launched in Michigan in January 2021, and LRCR and BetRivers were part of that initial wave.

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians had pursuing opening an off-reservation casino in Fruitport Township since 2008. On June 15, 2022, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer denied the request after a six-month delay in making a decision on the project. Whitmer cited an upcoming decision on the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians being recognized federally as the reason behind her decision. Should Grand River Bands be given federal recognition, it would be entitled to build a casino on neighboring lands.

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