In the state of Arizona, the new $400 million-worth Desert Diamond Casino West Valley owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation opened its doors to the public just several days ago. Within a couple of hours after opening, the venue reached its maximum capacity. The Desert Diamond Casino West Valley venue is located near the city of Glendale or more specifically near the city’s Westgate Entertainment District.
It features a massive 1.2 million square feet casino space which replaced the previous casino that had been operational until December of 2015. The temporary replacement for the newly opened casino that is located near the new venue shut down its operations on the 18th of February. This temporary casino opened four years ago and it had offered only slot games without table games.
As mentioned at the beginning, the new Desert Diamond Casino West Valley in Glendale, Arizona is operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation. This is the collective body of the Tohono O0odham tribe in the USA which today governs four land parcels that have a combined area of 2.8 million acres which is the second-largest land in the USA owned by Native American tribe.
Tohono Oʼodham Nation Business Ventures
The lands which are governed by the Tohono O’odham Nation are located in the Sonoran Desert in the state of Arizona. The lands are also exposed to the Mexico-USA border for around seventy-our miles. The Nation is divided into eleven districts. Today, the Nation has around 34,000 members. When it comes to its business ventures, the Tohono O’odham Nation has different sources of economic support including subsistence ranching.
In other words, the Nation both leases and sells copper mineral rights in order to support its members. The Nation also operates three casino venues which have become its major economic support in terms of job creation and revenues. Today, the Nation’s tribal company Tohono Oʼodham Utility Authority established back in 1970 provides water and electric services to the reservation.
Desert Diamond Casino West Valley
The Nation’s brand-new Arizona casino, the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley casino can accommodate over 10,000 visitors which is twice as many as the previously used temporarily casino. This 75,000 square foot casino floor is packed with over one thousand and one hundred slot machines, and around fifty table games including Spanish 21, Pai Gow Poker, Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Three Card Poker.
Visitors to the casino will also be able to enjoy loads of bingo games including both modern electronic and traditional games. There is also a very spacious, thirty-six-table poker room included. Some of the venue’s other amenities include the Rock Bar which overlooks the casino floor, Edge Bar which is a casual bar located near the Nuovo Giorno Italian Bistro, and food court with cafeteria dining areas featuring American, Mexican and Asian food.
Besides, visitors to the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley venue will also be able to pay a visit to the Nineteen 86 Steakhouse which is the venue’s signature restaurant serving seafood, steaks and much more. The venue also features the Fortune Café as well as Winners Sports Bar that includes a late-nights and full menu with massive TVs to enjoy all sorts of sports events.
Commenting on the news about the venue’s official opening, the Nation’s director of Government Relations and Communications Treena Parvello said that the Nation is extremely excited to finally open this innovative amenity which will be creating more working opportunities and jobs for the entire West Valley community. In the future, the tribe hopes to start working on bringing a fully integrated casino resort which will include a hotel, convention space, spa and possibly a concert venue. Nonetheless, nothing was revealed regarding the construction of these amenities.
