A long-running plan to bring a tribal casino to Muskegon County may not be finished after all.
The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians has spent roughly 15 years pursuing a casino development in Fruitport Township at the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack. After years of planning, federal review, and millions of dollars in investment, the project has remained stalled due to the lack of state approval needed to move forward.
Now, tribal leaders are looking toward Michigan’s next governor as a potential path to getting the development back on track.
According to recent reporting, Little River Band Ogema Larry Romanelli said the tribe has begun talking with potential gubernatorial candidates about the proposed casino. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s term ends in early 2027, creating the possibility that the next administration could take a different position on the project.
The proposed resort has previously been estimated at roughly $180 million to $200 million and would be developed near the U.S. 31 and I-96 interchange. The Little River Band already operates Little River Casino Resort in Manistee and has pursued the Muskegon County property as the location for a second gaming destination.
The federal government previously approved taking the proposed casino land into trust, but the project required gubernatorial concurrence because it involves an off-reservation gaming site. Whitmer declined to provide the approval in 2022 amid questions surrounding the federal recognition efforts of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians.
Rather than leave the property unused indefinitely, the Little River Band is also exploring development of approximately 170 surrounding acres. That could allow the tribe to pursue commercial development even while keeping the casino site available, should the political situation change.
Other Local Michigan Casinos
Even without a Muskegon casino, Michigan already has one of the largest and most varied gaming markets in the Midwest.
The state is home to numerous local Michigan casinos, including commercial casinos in Detroit and tribal properties across the Lower and Upper peninsulas. Michigan’s current tribal casino map includes properties such as Gun Lake Casino Resort, FireKeepers Casino Hotel, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Little River Casino Resort, Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, Four Winds locations, and several Kewadin casinos.
For West Michigan residents, Gun Lake Casino Resort in Wayland is one of the larger nearby options. The property advertises more than 2,500 slot machines, 47 table games, poker, and an on-site sportsbook.
Farther north, the Little River Band operates Little River Casino Resort in Manistee. That property has been an important source of revenue for the tribe and surrounding community since opening in 1999. Local revenue-sharing payments connected to the property have exceeded $40 million over the years, according to previous reporting.
Michigan’s tribal gaming structure is different from its commercial casino system. Tribal properties operate under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and tribal-state Class III gaming compacts. The National Indian Gaming Commission and individual tribal governments have primary regulatory authority, while the state oversees compliance with applicable compact provisions.
Age requirements can also vary by property. Some tribal casinos allow gambling at 18, while others establish a 21-and-over requirement. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, for example, states that guests 18 and older can enter its gaming floor. Gun Lake Casino Resort currently states that players must be 21 or older.
Offshore Casino Options
Michigan is unusual because residents have access to both a mature land-based industry and a state-regulated online casino market.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board lists numerous authorized internet gaming platforms tied to licensed commercial and tribal operators. Current options include brands such as BetMGM, bet365, Golden Nugget, Caesars Palace Online, WSOP, Eagle Casino & Sports, and Play Gun Lake, among others.
However, Michigan-regulated online casino gambling is restricted to players 21 and older.
That creates a different situation for adults who are 18, 19, or 20. While an 18-year-old may be permitted to gamble at certain tribal properties, they cannot create an account and play at a Michigan-licensed online casino.
As a result, 18+ options found at Casinos18.com are another option encountered by Michigan players.
These sites operate outside Michigan’s regulated internet gaming system and are not licensed or overseen by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Some offshore operators establish their minimum gambling age at 18, giving younger adults access to online slots, table games, live dealer games, poker, and other casino-style products that Michigan-regulated platforms cannot legally offer them.
There is an important distinction for players to understand: an offshore casino should not be confused with a Michigan-licensed online casino. State-approved operators are subject to Michigan licensing requirements, geolocation controls, responsible-gambling rules, and MGCB oversight. Offshore operators rely on licensing and regulation from jurisdictions outside the United States, so players should examine an operator’s license, reputation, security standards, banking policies, withdrawal terms, and history before depositing money.