Florence casino all abuzz in sneak peak.

Byline: Winston Ross The Register-Guard

FLORENCE - Decked out in floral shirts and flip-flops while downing cola and coffee and smoking cigarettes, hundreds of gamblers got their first glimpse Sunday of the Three Rivers Casino during an invitation-only opening for Player's Club members.

"Changing $100," announced a blackjack dealer as he stuffed a crisp Benjamin Franklin into the cash slot, while Kelly Clarkson sang "Miss Independent" over the loudspeakers.

Pat Quinn shuffled a stack of $5 chips and pondered his pair of fours for a moment, before deciding to double his bet.

"It looks a lot better on the inside than outside," said Quinn, a gruff-looking motorcycle rider who happened in because his bike broke down. "Amazing what they can do with a little smoke and mirrors."

More smoke than mirrors, actually, but many visitors to the $13 million casino were impressed by the new digs, and its dress rehearsal went off without a significant hitch, said Bob Garcia, economic development director for the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.

The casino, Lane County's first, will be open again today and Tuesday for Player's Club members, but a date for the general public still hasn't been set, pending completion of access improvements from Highway 126. Casino officials said they're confident their doors will open to all sometime this month.

Sunday, at the other end of the sand-locked tent, Cherie Wright and her mom, Virginia Janvier, played patriotic-themed slot machines labeled "Red White and Blue" - not in anticipation of Independence Day, but because the game was an easy-to-navigate, Vegas-style slot.

"I like the sevens," said Wright, tapping the "place max bet" button every few seconds, as a reel spun. She's been to all nine casinos in the state, but has been looking forward to the opening of Three Rivers because it's the closest to Eugene where she lives.

A California native, Wright said the green tent made her homesick, reminding her of the first gaming establishments that popped up there after Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which cleared the way for federally recognized Indian tribes to open casinos. But before long, her attention was back to the screen.

"I just want to get some sevens," she said, tapping the button and puffing a cigarette. Before long, her wish was granted.

"Wow! I got it, mom," she exclaimed, as the machine jingled and her credit count climbed to $46.

The line on Sunday formed well before the casino threw open its doors at noon, and by 12:30 p.m. most of the slot machines were taken. The tribe got such a response to its Player's Club preview - already, more than 7,000 people have signed up for the frequent flier-type program - that they had to stagger the sneak peek over three days instead of one.

"The anticipation of this has been overwhelming," Garcia said. "People are excited."

He was quickly pulled away, however, by a bewildered visitor trying to understand how to play "Bewitched," a slot based on the popular television show. The machine wouldn't take Michelle Knapp's ticket, so it was declared out of order and the Eugene woman moved on to a simpler game.

"It takes time to work out the bugs," she said.

After an hour at the slots, Damon and Diana Castenholz of Eugene were ready for a food break, so they hit the casino's restaurant. She ordered a Player's club sandwich and he had a French dip. The quality of the food, they solemnly agreed, will help decide whether they return. That and how "loose" the slots are.

"I walked away with $218," said Diana, after putting $20 into a slot machine.

"It took my $20 just like that," Damon grumbled. "But she's going to give me half of hers."

"Not," Diana fired back.

If the first day's popularity is a barometer, the casino won't have any trouble attracting customers, Garcia said. The tribe hopes to expand the operation if it proves profitable.

"It's amazing, the pent-up demand," Garcia said. "I think we've got an opportunity to make a great start."

Winston Ross can be reached at [phone] or rgcoast@ oregonfast.net.

TRIBAL CASINO TIME LINE

1994: The Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians negotiate a compact with the state allowing a casino on six acres of reservation land in Coos Bay; tribe abandons plan after Coquille Tribe opens Mill Casino first

1995-97: Tribe seeks to build a casino in Springfield and later at site of Windward Inn in Florence; both plans are scrapped in face of local opposition and state policy against off-reservation gaming sites

1998: Tribe buys 98 acres outside Florence city limits, where a Siuslaw Indian village once stood; Bureau of Indian Affairs, under U.S. Department of Interior, takes the land, known as Hatch Tract, into trust for nongaming purposes

1999: Tribe seeks approval for gaming; Interior denies application, arguing that "restored land" had to be taken into trust before Oct. 17, 1988, when Indian Gaming Regulatory Act became law; tribe sues Interior

2000: Federal judge rules in favor of tribe, asks Interior to reconsider

Dec. 5, 2001: Interior restores Hatch Tract for gaming, citing tribes' long ties to the land

April 2002: Oregon sues Interior, claiming Secretary Gale Norton didn't have right to allow gaming on Hatch Tract

July 2003: Federal judge rejects state's lawsuit, which appears to be final government hurdle

September: People Against a Casino Town files suit against casino, arguing that the state constitution forbids casinos

November: Oregon Supreme Court sends PACT's lawsuit back to Lane County Circuit Court

December: Tribe breaks ground, announcing scaled-back project; the same week, PACT files a second lawsuit

January 2004: Circuit Court rejects PACT's second lawsuit to block casino

March: PACT files third lawsuit to stop the project

Late June: Casino scheduled to open, pending completion of entrance at U.S. Highway 126.

CAPTION(S):

Virginia Janvier (left) and her daughter Cherie Wright, both of Eugene, enjoy a little luck on the slot machines Sunday at Three Rivers Casino in Florence. The casino is holding a three-day preview for club members through Tuesday and expects to open to the public before the end of the month. Kevin Clark / The Register-Guard Three Rivers Casino Player's Club members line up at the casino to get their cards Sunday.