LITTLE BOSTON — The Point No Point Casino is growing faster than a crowd around a winning slot machine.
The former Little Boston Bingo Hall has expanded three times since its grand opening in Feb. 2002, with the most recent growth taking place Labor Day weekend.
The facility on the Port Gamble S’Klallam Reservation is now 17,000-square feet in size with 10 gaming tables and 380 machines, as well as the Keeper’s Cove Restaurant.
Casino Marketing Director Ron Barter said when describing the size of the expansion, casino officials usually measure in machines, not necessarily in square footage. The latest expansion includes a new room that holds 100 slot machines, everything from penny to dollar slots, restrooms and a soda fountain, where players can help themselves to free non-alcoholic drinks.
Keeper’s Cove has also expanded, with seating increased from 70 to 128, Barter said.
One of the next ventures with the restaurant is to establish more regular after-dinner entertainment with local bands, he added.
Because of the popular Thursday evening seafood buffet and the Sunday morning brunch, food service officials have decided to expand the kitchen facility as well.
“We keep growing out of our expansions,” Barter said with a chuckle. “We had record numbers on Labor Day weekend and nearly doubled our Sunday business.”
The first several expansions, which took place in March, July and August of this year, included the addition of 230 new machines and 7,000 square feet.
Casino Manager Faysal “Turk” Tur said he hopes the cards play out in his favor with future plans for a brand new and bigger casino.
Tur said he hopes to build a 45,000-square-foot facility with a sports bar, two restaurants, an RV park and golf course.
That’s just Phase 1 though, he said, as Phase 2 includes a 100-bedroom hotel.
“We will become a destination resort,” he proclaimed.
He said he hopes to have something for the kids, too, in Phase 2 with the possible construction of a small amusement park. Tur said gaming facility officials are expecting to break ground for the 45,000-square-foot building next spring.
For now they are just working on bringing people to Hansville Road and the former Bingo Hall.
“We have a challenge the Suquamish doesn’t have,” Barter said. “We’re a little more off the beaten path.”
