The fifth casino operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona, the $450 million Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks at San Lucy in Waddell, Ariz., will open to the public on December 18. According to CDC Gaming, there will be a private event for Tohono O’odham nation members and dignitaries at 10:00 a.m., during which a ribbon will be cut.
The casino floor is 184,000 square feet, with slot machines, a poker room, a retail sportsbook, and table games, including blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. It will eventually expand to include a hotel, conference center, an outdoor pool, recreational amenities, and an amphitheater with event lawn space.
“Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks is ideally positioned to serve as an economic engine for the fast-growing West Valley,” Mike Bean, CEO of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, told ABC15. “This is the Nation’s fifth facility, and the iconic Desert Diamond Casino brand is synonymous with unmatched entertainment experience and outstanding guest service. We look forward to creating positive new opportunities for the Tohono O’odham Nation, the West Valley, and Arizona.”
According to the tribe, the White Tanks casino is the only casino in Arizona to offer cuisine from Morton’s The Steakhouse. “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, in a press release. “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.”
The Tohono Oʼodham Nation, the collective government body of the indigenous Tohono Oʼodham tribe in the United States, governs combined land of an area of 2.8 million acres. It is the second-largest Indigenous land holding in the United States. The casinos are a major source of income and employment for the tribe.
