GALLUP — The Navajo Nation opened its first casino Wednesday just east of Gallup, hoping slot machines, poker and bingo will inject new income into the tribe.

Up to 4,000 people showed up for the Fire Rock Casino's opening, with hundreds waiting outside because the capacity is just 1,800, said Patrick Sandoval, chief of staff in the president's office.

"It's a beautiful sight," Sandoval said. "What makes it even more beautiful is just the simple fact that as you take a look around, you see a lot of Navajo faces. And as it sinks in deeper, these Navajo faces that are either providing police services, security services, giving you change or helping you in the bingo hall or actually gaming, they are Navajo people, and it's the first time in history we're in our own casino.

"This is ours," he added.

Andre Cordero, deputy director for the tribe's Division of Human Resources, had a bit of luck at the slot machines, but ended up in the red.

"I put $20 in, and I was all the way up to $80.50 and I lost it all," Cordero said. "You just kind of get lost in the game."

But "I had a blast," he said. "And it was so exhilarating for me because this is a new casino and it's all Navajo, so I don't mind losing the money."

The Navajo Nation paid for the casino, and 92 percent of its employees are Navajo, said tribal spokesman George Hardeen. Also, the tribe isn't paying a management company to run the casino, so it keeps all the profits.

Hardeen said the line of vehicles to get into the casino was so long, he gave up trying.

"It's so crowded," he said. "It's quite phenomenal."

The tribe long resisted following the path taken by other Indian tribes who have opened casinos. It voted against legalizing gambling on the reservation in 1994 and 1997 over concerns it would bring increased social ills, such as heavy drinking, and drain the pockets of impoverished Navajos.

The casino is now only one of two places on the reservation where alcohol is served, but it is being limited to the casino's restaurant.

The casino is expected to generate $32 million a year for the Navajo Nation, about a fifth of the annual tribal budget. The National Indian Gaming Association says gaming brought in more than $25 billion to 225 tribes that have casino or bingo operations in 28 states in 2006.

Built on a slice of tribal trust land in northwestern New Mexico, the 64,000-square-foot Fire Rock Casino has 472 slot machines, 10 table games and a poker room. The bingo room seats 400.

The tentlike structure is temporary until gaming officials can find another site to put up a permanent building, one that might be accompanied by a hotel and truck stop.