Fred Steiner, 56, opened state's first nontribal casino

In an industry where customers can often assume the most risk, gaming-club owner Fred Steiner was never afraid to take chances of his own.

"He was a gambler," said Lorie Bender, a partner at Freddie's Club in Renton. "There were many times he was down to his last penny but he always believed in it."

Mr. Steiner, who worked to change Washington's gambling laws and opened the state's first nontribal casino, died Sunday (Aug. 27) from complications from leukemia, diabetes and heart problems. He was 56.

Shortly after the state legalized cardrooms in 1973, Mr. Steiner opened Diamond Lil's in Renton, named for his wife. The venture was a long way from making hamburgers in his father's Renton restaurant. He eventually bought that restaurant and several others.

As tribal casinos opened, small cardrooms suffered. Mr. Steiner was hampered by laws that limited nontribal operations to cardrooms charging as much as $3 a chair per half-hour. Poker was limited to $120 a bet, cardrooms to no more than five poker tables.

Eager to compete with the tribal casinos, Mr. Steiner sought to create establishments with restaurant service and nightclub atmosphere. He lobbied lawmakers and in 1996 and 1997, the Legislature relaxed regulations and allowed 15 tables in card rooms.

Mr. Steiner opened Freddie's Club in 1997, the first nontribal casino to open legally in Washington. He ultimately owned four casinos and co-owned a fifth.

Mr. Steiner emphasized the local jobs he created, which spurred other business growth. Bender said Mr. Steiner considered it especially important to build in his hometown of Renton.

Mr. Steiner is survived by five daughters: Lisa Steiner, Evie Vaughn, Valerie Steiner, Mari-Jo Steiner and Stephanie Steiner; his girlfriend of six years, Dee Alcantara; brothers Joe Steiner, Chris Steiner and Tom Steiner; sisters Geri Podwell, Sheila Grigsby and Mary Krempl; five grandchildren; 11 nieces and nephews; and his former wife of 30 years, Lil Steiner.

A funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Anthony's Church, 314 South Fourth St., Renton. A wake will be held after the services at Freddie's Club, 222 15th St., Auburn.

Memorials may be sent to the Fred Steiner Memorial Foundation to benefit cancer research and the Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center. They can be sent to Town Bank, 54 Rainier Ave. S., Renton, WA 98055.