Grand Island Casino and Resort’s hatchling is open for business. Tuesday a delegation of community leaders and eager gamblers assembled for the grand opening of the casino’s temporary facility in the Fonner Park concourse.

After the ribbon cutting, a steady stream of gamblers and curious community members filed through the entrance, IDs checked and wristbands attached.

Grand Island City Clerk RaNae Edwards was honored as the first to play the slots at the new casino. “It’s so awesome. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Edwards said, lauding legal gambling reaching Grand Island. “This is history.”

Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak said he was most excited about how the casino could affect the Grand Island area and thoroughbred horse racing at Fonner Park.