WICHITA (AP) – Dice are rolling and slots machines are dinging at a new south-central Kansas casino, even though its official opening isn’t until Monday.

The Kansas Star Casino opened its doors Wednesday for members of its free-to-join Players Club. The “soft opening” continues through Saturday.

The Wichita Eagle reported that the casino will close for Christmas and open to the public Monday.

The casino is located about 15 miles south of Wichita in Mulvane.

Many of the gamblers are expressing relief that they don’t have to travel far to gamble anymore.

John Goodwin of Wichita says he’s been driving about 70 miles each way to First Council Casino in Newkirk, Okla., three times a week. He says the Mulvane casino “saves a lot of driving.”