TAMA -- Within an hour of the red ribbon hitting the ground outside the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel, more than 200 people had filtered through two sets of glass doors Friday morning.

The people worked their way into an addition on the casino and found their places at slot machines, in bingo hall or at other gaming tables. Thirteen months of construction was punctuated by an explosion of activity.

"We finally made it," said more than one of the casino's employees in the minutes before the doors officially opened.

Ben and Pat Hornberg of Albion stopped by to see what the fanfare was about.

"It's OK," Pat said. "It's big. It's OK. I've got a lot more work to do. A lot more machines to visit."

The retired couple normally makes the trip to Tama about once a week, Ben said. By 10:30 a.m., Ben had tripled a $5 bet at one of the slot machines.

The $111 million addition effectively doubled the number of hotel rooms to 404. And it upped the number of slot machines to 1,750. The project also included an expanded bingo hall that can hold up to 750 people.

Dan Stromer, the casino's general manager, said the expansion was one of the largest in the establishment's 13-year history. The last expansion was in 1998 when a hotel was added to the complex.

The added games and services will also create about 250 jobs, Stromer said.

There's still work to be done on the grounds, however.

"It's catch your breath and start again Monday," he said.

The next phase of construction includes a 500-car parking garage west of the addition, with space for recreational vehicles. The project should be finished by December, Stromer said.

Lavern Worple, owner and general manager of the Super 8 Motel in Tama, welcomed the additions. Worple's hotel, like other businesses in the area, receives some secondary benefits from casino traffic.

He thinks the larger gaming operation will help bring more people to town. He also thinks the addition will help make the facility more competitive with other casinos expected to open in the near future.

A $118 million facility in Waterloo proposed by Isle of Capri Casinos will likely open next fall. A $107 million facility in Washington County, called the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, is expected to open in September.

Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com.