Artist’s rendering of the front entrance of the Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks at San Lucy. Courtesy image

Tohono O’odham Nation hosts grand opening for newest gaming facility
Friday, November 8, 2024
Indianz.Com

The Tohono O’odham Nation is getting ready to welcome visitors to its fifth gaming facility in Arizona.

The Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks at San Lucy opens to the public on December 18, the tribe announced on Thursday. The facility is located west of Glendale, in an area of the greater Phoenix metropolitan region known as the West Valley.

“Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks is ideally positioned to serve as an economic engine for the fast-growing West Valley and the Tohono O’odham Nation,” Mike Bean, CEO of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said in a news release.

“This is the Nation’s fifth facility in Arizona and the iconic Desert Diamond Casino brand is synonymous with unmatched entertainment and outstanding guest services,” Bean said. “We look forward to creating positive new opportunities for the Tohono O’odham Nation, the West Valley, and Arizona.”

The $450 million facility features a 184,000 square-foot gaming floor with 900 slot machines, a poker room, a sportsbook and table games. The casino also boasts two restaurants, a Starbucks and a food court.

According to the tribe, construction began in April 2023, generating more than 5,500 construction jobs. The casino itself is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs, with hiring already underway.

“Completion of the Nation’s fifth facility has been extraordinarily significant for the Tohono O’odham Nation,” said Jacob Moore, Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise Board. “It would not have been possible without the leadership of the Tohono O’odham Nation, the support of our amazing team members and the efforts of the
thousands of construction professionals on the project.”

“We cannot wait to unveil this beautiful new facility to the
community on December 18,” said Moore.

The tribe operates another casino nearby. The Desert Diamond Casino West Valley is located in Glendale, adjacent to the entertainment district in the city.

The tribe’s three other gaming facilities are located in southern Arizona, in and around Tucson.