Navajo Nation opens first casino

GALLUP, N. M. (KRQE) - After years of saying no to gambling, the Navajo Nation is betting its first casino will be a boost to the tribal economy.

"It's taken more than twenty years for the Navajo tribe to call a casino their own."

From the very old to the very young members of the Navajo nation celebrated a historic day. As officials cut the ribbon

Wednesday afternoon thousands were waiting in line, some who had driven from hours away. At the first opportunity people literally pushed and fought their way in.

"Enormous," Martha Chavez said. "I figured there was going to be a crowd but not this huge."

The 65,000-square-foot casino sits under a tent, its temporary home until a permanent spot is found. It features nearly 500 slot machines, eight black jack and 5 poker tables and a bingo hall.

"It's closer to home," Dorothy Tahy said.

The closest casino to Fire Rock is 80 miles away. But for the Navajo Nation it's more than just a convenient casino. Fire Rock's expected to bring in $32 million in revenue a year and employ more than 300 people.

"There's not that many jobs," one tribal member said of the Navajo Nation.

For more than 20 years the Navajo Tribal Council repeatedly voted down legalizing gaming on their land because of major concerns their people would get addicted to gambling and drinking.

But Rhonda Rey of Fire Rock said the casino is prepared for prevention. Frequent players will be closely monitored, and there's an in-house counselor to treat addiction.

"If this is hurting our people then of course they're going to say, 'Look here, we're just going to stop,'" Rey said.

The tent that the casino sits under is temporary until the tribe finds another location where it can construct a building. There they hope to create a resort-like area, and there's word of five more casinos going up, one more here in New Mexico.

Rey said the Navajo nation wants to be sure casino revenue goes back to the people.