COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) — A new Indian casino is expected to open next week in Coos Bay, the second operated by a coastal tribal group.
The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians doesn’t expect the casino to become a destination attraction, unlike other major Indian casinos in Oregon, the World newspaper (http://bit.ly/1HVEnal) reports.
“We’re trying to aim for that Cheers neighborhood bar, because most of the folks here are going to Coos Bay local and are not going to be coming from Portland very often,” said Bob Garcia, a former tribal chairman.
The tribal group already operates one of nine Indian casinos in Oregon, the Three Rivers Casino and Hotel in Florence.
Its new casino will be named Three Rivers Casino Coos Bay and be labeled a Class II casino under the federal regulations on Indian casinos.
That means it’s more limited in the kinds of gambling it can offer than other Indian casinos, which are labeled Class III and can have table games.
Another coastal tribe, the Coquille Indian tribe, plans a Class II casino in Medford, but that proposal has drawn objections from local leaders, Oregon politicians and a third tribal group, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians.
The Cow Creek tribe operates a casino on Interstate 5 about 70 miles north of Medford and says the Medford casino will siphon its business.
The Coquille tribe has a Class III casino at North Bend. It’s only a few miles from the Coos Bay casino set to open next week, but the Coquille tribe hasn’t objected.
“Competition improves quality and there’s more than a large enough market,” Garcia said. “Besides, guest services increase when there is more competition.”
He said the new casino is expected to employ nearly 110 people.
