The tribe had difficulty financing development of a casino due to the reservation's remote location, with only 7,000 people living within a 100-mile radius.[2][3] Out of four companies that responded to the tribe's 1997 request for proposals, the tribe selected Colorado-based Wolf Gaming to finance and manage the casino.[4] Later that year, however, Wolf Gaming went out of business.[5]
The tribe eventually secured a $930,000 loan from South Dakota–based Indian Gaming of America.[2] The tribe purchased the building itself for $180,000 from the Lummi Tribe, and moved it from northwest Washington to the Burns Paiute reservation.[6]
The casino opened in September 1998 with 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) of space containing 75 slot machines, two poker tables, and a deli.[3] At opening, there were 53 employees.[3]
Another 100 slot machines were later added, while table games, proving unprofitable, were removed.[7]
The tribe closed the casino on November 26, 2012, due to safety concerns stemming from structural problems with the building.[8] The tribe said it would demolish the building and construct a new one, to be opened in spring 2013,[8] but as of October 2014, it had not opened.[9]
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