More than 1,500 people waited in line Tuesday morning at the entrance to the new Yellow Brick Road Casino to take part in the grand opening.

After a ceremony with local community leaders and appearances by "Wizard of Oz" costumed characters like Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow and Wicked Witch, the Emerald curtain was parted and patrons could access the gaming floor.

A handful of people showed up at the Yellow Brick Road Casino entrance at 11 p.m. Monday, waiting to be the first to get inside the new gaming venue when it officially opened at 10 a.m. today.

By 8 a.m. today, several hundred people were in line, waiting for the doors to open, said Kelly Abdo, speaking for the Oneida Nation, which operates the casino.

 

The $20 million Oz-themed casino, complete with yellow brick floors and poppy-splashed carpeting, was announced by the Oneida Nation in December. It was built in six months.

The 67,000-square-foot casino is in the Tops plaza off Route 5 in Chittenango. It has 430 slot machines and a 500-seat Bingo hall, along with Oz-themed restaurants, bars and a general store.

Patricia Barnwell of Lee Center, who won an online contest to be the first person inside the steel-and-brass "Cyclone of Cash," won $600.

Patrons were lined up at the slot machines this afternoon, waiting for their favorite one to become available.

Bingo players began lining up at 11 a.m. to play the first Bingo session this afternoon, with Oneida Nation Chief Executive Ray Halbritter acting as the first caller.

"Our opening went even better than we expected,'' Abdo said. "Everyone is just really excited."

The casino won't close now that it's open - it's even open on holidays.

The Oneida Nation also operates Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, which is 20 miles east of the new casino.