789 Smokeshop & Casino
In the heart of Wyoming is a small, unassuming smokeshop with an incredible secret. The 789 Smokeshop isn’t just a convenience store that has everything you need in a pinch; it is also the state’s first legal casino. It may not be the biggest casino in the state, but it has a lot of charm and is worth visiting, if only for the experience to say you have. If you’re still unconvinced, here’s more information that may help convince you.
Where It All Began
The 789 Smokeshop and Casino has been open since 1991, but its history extends much further than that. Since its time before statehood, Wyoming has had a complicated relationship with gambling that saw all forms outlawed until the mid-1970s. When the Smokeshop initially opened, tribal casinos were not yet legalized, so the casino portion only operated as a bingo hall.
It wasn’t until the Northern Arapahoe Tribe sued and won the right to operate tribal casinos on tribal land in Wyoming that 789 could transform into the venue that everyone loves today. In the early 2000s, the tribe won the right to operate Class 3 gambling casinos, and the 789 Casino and Smokeshop was the first to install new slot machines. Since then, three more casinos have begun to operate in Wyoming, but 789 will always be the first.
What to Expect
The casino is a unique venue attached to a convenience store, so visitors should not expect a massive casino floor. Instead, it is a more intimate setting with rows of slot machines from favorite vendors. Unfortunately, you won’t find any table games at this establishment, but they do break the casino down into three rooms for reels, video poker, and progressive jackpots, so there is a little variety. Having three separate rooms makes navigating and finding a seat at a game you’re interested in easier.
While it is smaller than the other casinos, there is still room to move around, and most nights, you’ll be able to find a seat in front of a machine, although 789 is a favorite recreational spot for the locals. However, the lot has 100 parking spaces, and people are bussed in from bigger cities to visit the casino, so that you might have some competition on busier nights. If you are a slot game fan, you will love the laid-back, quieter casino atmosphere, where you get all the games without as much distraction.
True to its roots, the 789 casino still holds weekly bingo games.
More Than Just Games
The casino is fantastic and where you’ll most likely spend most of your time, but that’s not all this establishment offers. 789 is the largest smokeshop in Wyoming and offers everything from discounted cigarettes to local souvenirs made by the tribespeople. Just the smokeshop itself is worth visiting with its wide range of products. Whether you are just passing through or staying for an extended visit, you’ll find everything you need and a few things you didn’t know you needed.
When hunger strikes, 789 has you covered. Take a break from winning to grab a snack from the convenience store, or if you are looking for something a little more substantial, you can check out the 789 Grill. They offer local cuisines like chili, fried bread, and Indian tacos alongside more traditional American foods.
If you plan on regularly visiting the 789 Smokeshop and Casino or one of the Arapahoe Nation’s other Wyoming casinos, you should absolutely sign up for their rewards card, which has many exciting benefits. Just having the card makes you eligible for monthly coupons, giveaways, and drawings, but it gets better. The more you use your card in any of the casinos, the more benefits you get, including free stays at Windriver Hotel, free food, free slot play, gifts, and a birthday surprise. Cardholders who are 55+ get additional benefits when they sign up for Club 55 rewards. This unique reward grants those eligible members a free meal, five dollars in slot play, and contest entry to win more free slot play.
The Biggest Little Secret in Wyoming
The pandemic caused a little turmoil for the 789 Smokeshop and Casino, but it seems to be getting back on its feet. While locals know this is the place to be for some relaxing recreation, the other Wyoming Casinos, like Windriver and Shoshone Rose, are far more popular because they are bigger and have attached hotels. Some may find that a disadvantage, but for those looking for a peaceful, quiet time where they don’t have to fight for their favorite machine, the 789 Casino is the place to be.