26 September 2026
As spring arrives in Western Michigan, the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee is on the verge of completing a major renovation project that has already seen several new sections open to the public. The US-31 and M-22 property is giving its gaming floor an updated look, expanding its sportsbook, and introducing a new upscale dining option to the already spacious 292-room resort venue.
Already open are the revamped sportsbook area and the brand new Heron restaurant. The sportsbook offers visitors a comfort zone with more seating, while the Heron features local Michigan flavors and an elevated dining experience. The resort's gaming floor, encompassing 1,100 slot and video poker machines plus dozens of table games, is 75% complete with the upgrades expected to finish this spring.
The gaming floor will sport updated decor, improved lighting and an advanced sound system, aiming to improve the environment for the resort's gamblers. A new smoking gaming area, set to open in early April, will feature popular slot machines. Further directing capital and direction is an expanded selection, reflecting a broader theme of giving good value to Little River's customers.
Little River Casino Resort has been a Manistee staple since 1999, and has undergone previous upgrades in 2007 and 2015. The resort is the third-largest in Michigan, with a 1,600-seat event venue and 292-room lodge-style hotel, a significant presence in the local tourism trade.
More on this is available via new online casino platforms.
Regulatory Changes Accompany Renovations
The Little River Casino Resort's upgrades come as the Michigan Gaming Control Board is enhancing its resources for responsible gambling. The regulator is now partnering with "Gamban," a self-exclusion program that blocks access to online gambling sites. Since the Gamban partnership began in April, the MGCB has had to purchase 100 additional licenses after the initial batch of a hundred was claimed in the first two weeks. Upon the program's launch, the regulator noted of the early adoption, "it was received enthusiastically." Over 80 residents signed up in the first fortnight, and a week after the public was informed that 100 more licenses had been purchased, noting that the "extra licenses are stacking up."
The MGCB did not provide specific figures in either announcement on how much the Gamban licenses cost, nor how much the state paid. Michigan residents can apply for a free Gamban license, with options for periods ranging from one to five years. It is a program intended to make it easier for vulnerability to gambling addiction. With Little River's continued renovation marking a very public expansion in its physical location, this reflects a move in the state to increase its own regulatory safeguards.
Since Michigan's lawful internet sports betting and casinos opened for business in 2019, the MGCB has made its support for responsible gambling a central tenet in their regulation. Little River has already seen significant upgrade, and the property has an ideal location on the shores of Lake Michigan. As spring turns to summer, the public will be able to take note of these new enhancements.