Tohono O'odham Nation spends $200M on first phase of casino

Monday, March 2, 2015

Ongoing construction of the West Valley Resort near Glendale, Arizona. Image from Facebook

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The Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona is spending $200 million on the first phase of its off-reservation casino.

The tribe broke ground on the West Valley Resort last fall. More than 1,300 construction workers are on site in hopes of getting the initial structure open in the fourth quarter of this year, The Arizona Republic reported.

When that building opens, the tribe will continue working on a permanent casino that's due to open in early 2016. Overall, the project will cost $400 million, the paper said.

Artist's rendering of the proposed West Valley Resort. Image from Tohono O'odham Nation

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The facility is located on a site that was placed in trust in connection with the Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Replacement Act of 1986. The law compensates the tribe for a reservation that was flooded by the federal government.

The tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have deflected numerous challenges to the acquisition. Members of Arizona's Congressional delegation have introduced the Keep the Promise Act, (S.152 and H.R. 308), to prevent the tribe from using the land for gaming.

Get the Story:
Casino rising near Glendale as opponents push back (The Arizona Republic 2/27) Related Stories:
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