Three Rivers Casino Resort Wins Three National Theo Awards for Marketing Excellence

Three Rivers Casino Resort earned three national Theo Awards at the 2026 Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, recognizing the Oregon Coast casino for excellence in marketing, special events, and industry leadership.

Three Rivers received Best Promotion/Giveaway and Best Special Event/Invitational in the Medium Casinos division, while Director of Marketing Rich Colton was named Casino Marketer of the Year in the same division.

“Winning three awards is really a reflection of the creativity and hard work of our entire team,” said Colton. “We are always looking for ways to create experiences that our guests will remember and have fun with. To see that work recognized nationally, alongside some of the best casino marketing teams in the industry, is incredibly meaningful.”

– Rich Colton, Director of Marketing, Three Rivers Casino Resort

Presented by the Casino Direct Marketing Association, the Theo Awards recognize excellence in casino marketing, including creativity, strategy, guest engagement, and measurable results.

Three Rivers earned Best Promotion/Giveaway for its Land of Oz promotion, which transformed the casino into a themed experience inspired by the classic story. Guests embraced the festivities, including dressing up and participating in activities designed to bring the promotion to life.

“Winning Best Promotion for Land of Oz is especially meaningful because of the heart and creativity our team put into it,” said Sarah Nunez, marketing manager at Three Rivers Casino Resort. “Seeing our team embrace the theme and our guests dress up and get involved made it all worthwhile. I’m proud we created something memorable that also delivered real results.”

The casino also received Best Special Event/Invitational for its Original Grain Watch Boutique, an exclusive guest experience created in partnership with watchmaker Original Grain. The event featured Western-inspired décor, bourbon tasting and personalized watch fittings, with representatives from Original Grain helping guests select and fit their watches.

“Working with Three Rivers Casino on their VIP Gifting Suite is an experience I still remember a year later,” said Andrew Beltran, a Creswell native and co-founder of Original Grain, a watch and accessories company inspired by memories growing up in Oregon. “The day was filled with smiling faces, memorable moments and the chance for guests to choose an Original Grain piece that reflected their own personality. The TRC team did an incredible job in every aspect of the event. Congratulations on this award, and we’re excited to do it again soon!”

“We wanted this event to feel personal, elevated and completely different from a traditional gifting experience,” said Nunez. “Every detail, from the Western-inspired décor and bourbon tasting to having the watch owners personally fit each guest, was intentional. Seeing our guests enjoy the experience and our team’s creativity and care recognized nationally makes this award especially meaningful.”

Colton’s Casino Marketer of the Year honor recognizes his leadership in developing innovative promotions, special events and guest experiences across Three Rivers’ Florence and Coos Bay properties. Under his leadership, the marketing team has continued to focus on creative experiences that strengthen guest relationships while supporting the casino’s business goals.

“He has helped build a culture where marketing is more than promotions and advertising. It’s about creating experiences, building relationships and finding new ways to connect with our guests,” said Nunez. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of Marketer of the Year.”

For more information, visit the Three Rivers Casino website.

About Three Rivers Casino Resort
Owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, Three Rivers Casino Resort is a major economic driver for the Oregon Coast. In addition to being one of the region’s largest employers, the resort actively supports nonprofit organizations, youth programs, arts initiatives, and economic development efforts throughout Oregon.