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Journeys
Ups and downs are in the cards at Western Washington casinos Red Wind Casino Darren Samuelsohn, The Olympian SHELTON -- The Little Creek Casino is the kind of place that can make you fat, both in the stomach and in the wallet.
Enlarge your tummy with the all-you-can-eat buffet and its revolving menu, which includes seafood, prime rib and other Western dishes. For the casino's fourth anniversary in late September, $4.44 got you into the stuff-feast of roast beef, ham, chicken, pasta, potatoes, vegetables, salad and bread. Only the brave dared attempt a second trip to the food bar.
To increase your income, try doing as Frances Crain of Navarre Beach, Florida, did. She sat at the Caribbean stud poker table, with its incrementally growing jackpot, and looked slightly stupefied that her straight ace through five of diamonds equaled what it did -- a cashier's check for a 10 percent share of a $100,000 jackpot.
With a look of amazement she said this of the casino: "It's wonderful."
For sure, there are winners and losers at every casino. Ever since gambling was opened to Washington's American Indian tribes more than four years ago, rollers both high and low have gunned for their share of those elusive payoffs.
In Western Washington there are five casinos run by different tribes.
At the Little Creek Casino, managed by the Squaxin Island tribe, gamblers say they come because of its proximity to their homes.
On a September evening, Randolph Lowry was visiting Little Creek Casino for the first time. The retired military man from Olympia had been there for half an hour and was just becoming aware of what was happening on his wife, Muncha Lowry's, video slot machine."She wanted to come here and see what it's like," he said. "It seems like it's OK."
Lowry spent most of the evening as his wife's cheerleader, standing at her back and watching as she pushed buttons and cranked away at the machine, sometimes winning and sometimes losing.
In the bingo parlor, which takes up one side of the Little Creek Casino, gamblers sat two chairs apart so they could have room to spread out their 30 playing cards. It was an all-you-can-play night, and Joni Alexander of Aberdeen had no trouble keeping up with her cards and still explaining her fascination for the game.
"I don't know if there's anything exciting about bingo," she said. "But I can get away from the kids. It's more frustrating than exciting."
She said her biggest win in 16 years of playing bingo was $1,140 on one card. On the video bingo terminals in the other half of the casino sat Kathy Curtis of Grapeview. Curtis said she wins and loses in cycles and her biggest jackpot was $11,000 in video bingo in August.
"I needed a new car," she said, explaining that her winnings went toward a new 1999 Ford Escort.
Muckleshoot Indian Casino
Currently in the midst of a large expansion, this 4 1/2 -year-old casino in Auburn will have 65,000 square feet of gambling and entertainment space when construction is completed this December.
The new building will have a buffet restaurant and a high-tech showroom, with plans for six nights' worth of live entertainment, including out-of-town top-40 acts, said the casino's marketing director Phil Ziegler.
"It'll be in the Vegas tradition," he said. "There used to be a time when you could sit and see a really happening band. We're going to try and bring this back here."
More than 900 people work at Muckleshoot, which is a 45-minute drive from Olympia off state Route 18.
Emerald Queen Casino
The showboat-style casino in Tacoma is the largest of Western Washington's gambling facilities. Entering its fourth year this December, Emerald Queen is adding a larger entertainment hall, which is expected to draw nationally known acts such as Garth Brooks and Wayne Newton. With its concert hall, dance floor and general admission seating, the venue is booked through the new year.
A range of people visits the casino throughout the day, with daily visitors coming by bus from the International District in Seattle and regular visits by South Sound senior groups. The nighttime draws a younger crowd, and a variety of styles, from people in gold lame‘ dresses and tuxedos to people in shorts at the craps table.
Lucky Eagle Casino and Bingo
Located eight miles from Interstate 5 in southwest Thurston County, this 4-year-old casino spans approximately 50,000 square feet.
Like all Western Washington casinos, the Lucky Eagle is open seven days a week and into the wee hours of the morning. The entertainment varies each month, with everything from boxing and music to the hypnotic comedy of The Amazing Kreskin.
Red Wind Casino
Customer service is the rallying point for this, the smallest and newest casino in Western Washington, said Melba Nacht, the casino's assistant to the general manager.
"We're friendly here," she said.
The Red Wind Casino is run by the Nisqually tribe and is located between Olympia and Yelm on state Route 510.
The casino's 8,000 square feet includes almost everything the other casinos have except bingo and poker.
Minimum bets are $3 for blackjack and occasionally 25 cents for craps and 50 cents for roulette. Live entertainment appears in the summer in outdoor tents adjacent to the casino.
Darren Samuelsohn covers outdoors, travel and entertainment for the Olympian. He can be reached at 704-6871.
AT A GLANCE
Tribe: Nisqually.
Where: 12819 Yelm Highway, Olympia.
Features: Table games, keno, video slot machines, café, small bar and live entertainment in the summer.
Directions: From Olympia, take I-5 Exit 111 and follow state Route 510 toward Yelm. The casino is on the right.
For information: Call (360) 412-5000 or check
www.redwind-casino.com.
Little Creek Casino
Tribe: Squaxin Island.
Where: W91 Highway 108, Shelton.
Features: Table games, bingo, keno, video slot machines, two restaurants, live entertainment and NFL Sunday Ticket on television.
Directions: From Olympia, take U.S. Highway 101 north toward Shelton. Exit at Highway 108.
For information: (360) 427-7711 or check
www.little-creek.com.
Lucky Eagle Casino
Tribe: Chehalis Tribal Federation.
Where: 12888 188th Street S.W., Rochester.
Features: Table games, video slot machines, bingo, keno, full-service deli, restaurant and live entertainment.
Directions: From Olympia, take Interstate 5 south to Exit 88. Head west eight miles.
For information: Call (800) 720-1788 or (360) 273-2000.
Muckleshoot Casino
Tribe: Muckleshoot.
Where: 2402 Auburn Way South, Auburn.
Features: Table games, video slot machines, keno, full-service restaurant and live entertainment.
Directions: From Olympia, take I-5 north to Exit 142A and follow state Route 18 to the Auburn Way/Enumclaw exit. Turn left at the light onto Auburn Way South/state Route 164. The casino is two miles ahead on the left.
For information: (800) 804-4944 or check
www.casino-fun.com.
Emerald Queen Casino
Tribe: Puyallup.
Where: 2102 Alexander Ave. in Tacoma.
Features: Table games, video slot machines, keno, bingo, live entertainment and a full-service restaurant.
Directions: From Olympia, take I-5 north to Exit 137 and go west under the overpass. Continue through the light on 54th Avenue East to Taylor Way, then left on Lincoln Avenue. The casino is straight ahead.
For information: (253) 594-7777, (888) 831-ROLL or check www.emeraldqueen.com.
Besides the lure of big winnings, area casinos offer patrons a wide range of entertainment and dining options. The Olympian Copyright 1999
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