Pascua Yaqui Tribe seeks agreement for potential new gaming facility

Tuesday, July 9, 2019  

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe might open a third gaming facility in Arizona with the support of the local community.

The casino would be located on a 14.38-acre parcel in Tucson. Plans would move forward in connection with a proposed intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the city.

"In our view, the IGA represents an innovative and creative approach on the part of the City of Tucson and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to create a framework for cooperation as the tribe seeks to take lands into trust in this important tribally recognized community - an approach that elevates communication and cooperation above all else," Chairman Robert Valencia wrote in a letter quoted by KGUN9.

The IGA is being discussed at a city council study session on Tuesday. If it is eventually adopted, it requires the city to support the tribe's efforts to have the 14.38-acre property placed in trust.

According to a memo prepared for the city, the tribe already submitted an application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The request has been pending since 2015, the memo states.

The tribe operates the Casino del Sol and the Casino of the Sun, both in Tucson. Casino Del Sol, the larger facility, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.

“Our 25th anniversary is a significant milestone that represents many accomplishments for our community. Over the last two and a half decades, we have built a hospitality enterprise from the ground up,” Chairman Valencia said. “We are incredibly proud of what we built and are grateful for the continued support from our employees, guests, Tribal members, and the entire Tucson community.”

Casino del Sol recently completed an expansion of its conference center. A new 73-space RV park and a new 151-room hotel, Estrella at Casino Del Sol, is set to open later this year.

The Casino of the Sun added an events center known as the Sun Room.

Tribe chair: Casino 'one potential option' for I-10 and Grant facility (KGUN9 July 8, 20190
Tucson could get a new casino (The Arizona Daily Star July 8, 2019)