Gun Lake Casino opens, fills quickly

BRADLEY, Mich. (WOOD) - Gun Lake Casino officials moved up the grand opening time of their facility, two hours earlier than previously planned.

The casino, located on 129th Avenue off U.S. 131 in Bradley, was scheduled to open at 12:01 a.m. Friday. But the first gamblers walked through the doors just before 10 p.m. Thursday.

Officials said that the time change was "based on the incredible outpouring of excitement by area residents for the casino's opening."

The public wasn't allowed to enter the casino parking lot until 9 p.m. and the first 500 guests to arrive were invited to wait for the opening inside the Welcome Center, located on the east side of the property. Gun Lake Casino security and local law enforcement guided all traffic into the property.

During the past few weeks, 1,400 slot machines and 28 table games were installed, restaurants and bars stocked, and employees trained.

There are slightly more slots than the Little River Casino in Manistee and about half the number at FireKeepers in Battle Creek.

Last month, a federal appeals court allowed one more legal challenge to move forward, but tribal officials said that is not going to prevent the casino from opening as planned.

Watch the videos, at left, to watch people enter the casino for the first time. It was full within hours.