Montana: S&K Gaming to open 400 Horses Casino on May 5

S&K Gaming will open the 400 Horses Casino in Polson, Montana, next month, with a grand opening ceremony scheduled for May 5 at 2 p.m., marking a major expansion of its gaming operations.

The 34,000-square-foot facility, located off Irvine Flats Road, will feature more than 300 gaming machines, with plans to add another 100 in the future, as well as a restaurant. The property has already created more than 75 new jobs.

The project has been in development since 2021, with final plans approved in late 2024 and construction beginning on April 9, 2025. The casino is developed under the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes enterprise structure, under which 60% of casino revenue is returned to tribal communities for social services.

The site sits on a 79-acre tribal tract, with about 10 acres leased for the project, and was annexed into the city of Polson in 2023, allowing the facility to connect to municipal water and sewer systems.

Zeke Keeler, director of marketing at S&K Gaming, explained that by connecting to city water and sewer, the project avoided the need to drill a well or install a drain field, while extending water access for future development.

The new casino is designed to address inefficiencies at S&K's Kwataqnuk Resort & Casino, where gaming facilities were added after the hotel’s initial construction, creating what Chief Executive Officer Bryon Miller has described as a “weird” layout.

The facility also draws on lessons from the Gray Wolf Peak Casino, with a focus on more efficient use of space.

Gaming offerings will include Class II slot machines and electronic table games, with no live table games planned at launch.

The casino will also house the 371 Bar and Grill, a restaurant seating about 70 guests with indoor and patio dining overlooking Flathead Lake. The restaurant will be led by chef Pedro Vera, who was previously the executive chef at Finley Point Grill, and will operate extended hours alongside the casino.

Miller explained they have been working with the Montana Department of Transportation on traffic mitigation measures, including road realignment and the addition of turn lanes near the site, though some improvements may not be completed before opening.

Miller described the effort as collaborative, involving multiple stakeholders. The name “400 Horses” was selected through community input and honours Chief Alexander, who was directly responsible for the formation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Chief Alexander was also known as “No Horses” and was said to be very wealthy at the end of his life, owning around 400 horses. 

Following the casino’s opening, renovations are planned at the Kwataqnuk Resort, with the aim of making the property more family-friendly.