According to the Seattle Times, Great American Casino, in Kent, Washington will close their doors on March 14th. We have not been able to confirm with the owners or managers as of press time. Phone calls have been met with busy signals at the casino as the word spreads about the demise of this once popular fixture about 10 miles from SEATAC.

Great American Casino in Kent opened in late 2003 according to the World Casino Directory listing, last updated in October. The Kent location is one of four owned by Great Canadian Gaming in the state. Other locations include Everett, Lakewood, and Tukwila.

Nearly 100 employees will be laid off. David Fretz, president of the company’s U.S. unit is quoted in the Times as saying that nothing will change at the remaining properties, “…with the exception that some of the Kent employees may displace some of the other-location employees.”

The World Casino Directory reviewer that profiled all of the Great American casinos in Washington found some of them to be in more attractive locations than others. The Kent casino was in a neighborhood hit hard by closing stores and the recession, but seemed to have a steady clientele of locals.

Washington state is one of the most fiercely regulated jurisdictions in the US in some respects (it is a felony to play online) and one of the most relaxed in several other ways with local card clubs, poker rooms, and gaming parlors in nearly every area.

The local community, especially Asian gaming aficionados, will miss the Great American Casino in Kent.