Navajo Nation opens its 1st casino in New Mexico

The Navajo Nation opened its first casino Wednesday just east of Gallup, N.M., hoping that slot machines, poker and bingo will inject new income into the tribe.

Up to 4,000 people showed up for the Fire Rock Casino's opening, with hundreds waiting outside because the capacity is just 1,800, said Patrick Sandoval, chief of staff in the president's office.

"It's a beautiful sight," Sandoval said. "What makes it even more beautiful is just the simple fact that as you take a look around, you see a lot of Navajo faces. And as it sinks in deeper, these Navajo faces that are either providing police services, security services, giving you change or helping you in the bingo hall or actually gaming, they are Navajo people, and it's the first time in history we're in our own casino.

"This is ours," he added.

Andre Cordero, deputy director for the tribe's division of human resources, had a bit of luck at the slot machines, but ended up in the red.

"I put $20 in and I was all the way up to $80.50 and I lost it all," Cordero said. "You just kind of get lost in the game."

But "I had a blast," he said. "And it was so exhilarating for me because this is a new casino and it's all Navajo, so I don't mind losing the money."

The Navajo Nation paid for the casino and 92 percent of its employees are Navajo, said tribal spokesman George Hardeen. Also, the tribe isn't paying a management company to run the casino, so it keeps all the profits.