The Arizona casino community is growing by one. Just in time for the holidays.
The grand opening of the Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks will take place on December 18, 2024 in San Lucy, just west of Glendale, Arizona.
The event will feature activities for citizens of the Tohono O’odham Nation, dignitaries, and the general public.
The casino posted a video on its X account announcing the grand opening.
We are trilled to announce that our NEW location, Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks at San Lucy, will open on 12/18! 💎
The property will feature 900 slots, 36 tables, poker room, sportsbook, dining & more!
Now hiring for this location – learn more >> https://t.co/0ksaNFSgfepic.twitter.com/mlAC8nlRgK
— Desert Diamond Casino West Valley (@DDCWestValley) November 1, 2024
“Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks is ideally positioned to serve as an economic engine for the fast-growing West Valley,” said Mike Bean, CEO of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise (in a statement). “This facility marks the Nation’s fifth and continues the iconic Desert Diamond Casino brand known for its unparalleled entertainment and exceptional guest service. We look forward to creating positive new opportunities for the Tohono O’odham Nation, the West Valley, and Arizona.”
The $450 million facility is the fifth property opened by the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise. It will join the three locations in Southern Arizona (Tucson, Sahuarita, and Why) and the one in the West Valley in Glendale.
Desert Diamond Casino to Include Sportsbook and Poker Room
The new casino will feature a sports book, a poker room, and exclusive cuisine from Morton’s The Steakhouse, making it the only casino in the state with such offerings.
The 184,000-square-foot gaming floor will include:
- 900 Class III slot machines.
- Poker room
- Retail sportsbook
- Table games: blackjack, roulette, and baccarat
From an economic impact standpoint, the casino created 5,500 construction jobs (construction began in April 2023) and will create about 1,000 permanent new jobs for the area.
Arizona has 26 Indian casinos owned by 16 tribes. Total annual gaming revenue from these casinos is estimated at $2 billion, which ranks Arizona as the fifth largest Indian gaming state.
22 Tribes Now Have Gaming Compacts in Arizona
Although gambling in Arizona has been around since the 1940s, it took a while for lawmakers to find a way for tribes to co-exist in the gaming world.
In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which recognized gaming as a way to promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal government. The Act says a state must permit Indians to run gaming on reservations if the state permits such gaming off-reservation.
In the early 1990s, Arizona tribes had slot machines in their casinos but didn't have official agreements with the state called Compacts. After many legal challenges, Arizona’s governor at the time signed the first set of compacts with 16 tribes between 1992 and 1994 and added another agreement with one more tribe in 1998.
Three years ago, Governor Doug Ducey, in collaboration with Arizona Tribes, enacted an amended Tribal-State Gaming Compact. This amendment modernized gaming in the state by introducing new Class III casino games, including craps, roulette, baccarat, and more.
Every federally recognized tribe in Arizona has a Gaming Compact with the state. These compacts, which are largely similar across all tribes, are initially valid for 10 years and are renewable for an additional 10-year term plus a two-year extension.
