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Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet
(L to R)

Cuttingribbon for Desert DiamondCasino West Valley Expanded facility

Chairman Timothy Joaquin - Tohono O’odham Legislative Council

Desert Diamond Casino West Valley, Glendale: See 115 reviews, articles, and 16 photos of Desert Diamond Casino West Valley, ranked No.28 on Tripadvisor among 30 attractions in Glendale.

Chairman Ned Norris Jr. - Tohono O’odham Nation

Dr Angie Listo - Chairwoman, Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise

Frances Miguel - Tohono O’odham Nation

Rudy Prieto - CEO,Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise

Background

The new Desert Diamond Casino West Valley is the

culmination of many years of effort by the Tohono

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O’odham Nation and its Gaming Enterprise. The casino

project was first announced in January 2009. Despite

attempts by special interests to halt the project, an

interim casino opened in December 2015. The interim

property created over 700 jobs and has had hundreds of

millions of dollars in positive economic impacts.

From the start, the project was always planned to be

built in phases. Ground was broken Dec. 1, 2017 on the

next phase, a $400 million full-scale casino. More than

1,500 construction workers spent a total of over one

million hours building the massive new facility.

Facility Overview

The 1.2 million square-foot facility offers over 1,100

slot machines, 36 poker tables, 48 blackjack tables,

and live bingo. The 75,000 square-foot casino floor is

decorated with dozens of illuminated overhead fins that

dazzle with sparkling colors whenever a jackpot is hit.

Other amenities include a VIP lounge, a high limit

gaming area, two retail shops, two Rewards Centers,

and two eye-catching feature bars – the Edge Bar and

the two-story Rock Bar. Two covered parked garage on

the east and west sides of the casino can accommodate

approximately 1,950 vehicles.

New Restaurants

The new casino also features five dining venues, with

offerings from fine dining to casual quick serve. The

restaurants include:

• The Nuovo Giorno Italian Bistro, which offers a

wide range of delicious Italian-inspired offerings.

• The Winners Sports Bar is a fun and relaxing

environment to watch a game on its many

huge TV screens.

• The Fortune Café coffee shop serves guests 24

hours a day.

• The Food Court features four options, serving

Coffee & Pastries, American, Asian, and

Mexican-style meals.

• The Nineteen 86 Steakhouse, an elegant

restaurant which commemorates the 1986

federal law that made the casino possible.

Economic Impacts

With a staff of more than 2,000 team members, the new

Desert Diamond Casino West Valley is one of the region’s

largest employers. The Enterprise offers competitive

salaries with attractive and generous benefit packages

including paid time off; comprehensive medical, dental

and vision plans; 401K match; and more. Job listings are

continuously updated at ddcaz.com/careers.

The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise has also made

it a priority to contract with local vendors whenever

possible, which further enhances its economic impacts

on the area. The Enterprise works closely with regional

economic development organizations like WESTMARC

and is a proud member of multiple regional Chambers of

Commerce.

Public Safety

The safety and security of guests is the top priority

for the Enterprise. Dozens of Desert Diamond Casino

Security and Surveillance personnel patrol and monitor

the property at all times. The Tohono O’odham Police

Department maintains a substation on site, with

commissioned officers on duty 24 hours a day. The

Nation also has public safety mutual aid agreements

with surrounding jurisdictions like Glendale, Peoria, and

Tolleson in event of emergencies.

What’s Next

This is still just the beginning for Desert Diamond Casino

West Valley. The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise

intends to continue developing the property in the

coming years. Preliminary plans for future phases of

construction include additional amenities such as a hotel,

spa and convention center. These features will further

complement the West Valley’s entertainment attractions,

benefiting the region and the gaming operation.

NEW DESERT DIAMOND CASINO WEST VALLEY OPENS TODAY

State of the Art Facility Offers Slots, Poker, Blackjack and Bingo plus Five Dining Venues

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise (TOGE) opens its new Desert Diamond Casino West Valley to the public at 8:00 p.m. today. A private ribbon cutting ceremony for tribal members and dignitaries is being held this morning. The state of the art Class III casino features more than 1,100 slot machines, 36 poker tables, 48 blackjack tables, and live bingo, as well as five dining venues, VIP lounge, and other amenities.

The 1.2 million square-foot facility is located on 54 acres of reservation land at 9431 W. Northern Avenue near the cities of Glendale and Peoria, Ariz. The new casino complements the region’s vibrant sports and entertainment attractions, including Glendale’s Westgate Entertainment District and Peoria’s P83 Entertainment District. With nearly 2,000 team members, Desert Diamond Casino West Valley is one of the region’s largest employers.

Dr. Ned Norris, Jr., Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation said 'This historic day is one that our entire Nation has been looking forward to for many years. We are creating a brighter future for the Tohono O’odham, the West Valley, and Arizona. The Nation is grateful for the incredible support the project has received from the community, and we will continue working with our partners to create even greater opportunity for us all.”

Rudy Prieto, CEO of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise said, 'We’re so excited to welcome our guests to this fantastic new facility. Our construction team and all of our team members have done great work preparing for this opening, and we invite everyone to visit this beautiful new casino. From exciting games to great food, we have everything you need for an unforgettable experience!”

The Tohono O’odham Nation first announced the casino project on Jan. 29, 2009. Despite multiple challenges from special interests, an interim casino opened to huge crowds on Dec. 20, 2015. The full-scale casino broke ground on Dec. 1, 2017; construction workers spent over one million hours building the $400 million facility. TOGE will continue to develop its West Valley property in future phases of construction, with preliminary plans for a hotel, spa and convention center.

Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, with three locations in Southern Arizona (Tucson, Sahuarita, and Why) and one in the West Valley, is owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, an enterprise of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Additional information can be found at www.ddcaz.com or by calling 833-DDC-2WIN. Follow Desert Diamond Casino West Valley on Twitter (@DDCWestValley), Facebook (@DDCWestValley), and Instagram (@DiamondCasinos).

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DESERT DIAMOND WEST VALLEY CASINO

CONSTRUCTION TEAM LEAD CONTRACTORS

-----------------------------------------------------------

The Hunt/PENTA Joint Venture – General Contractors

Phoenix, AZ / Las Vegas, NV

The Hunt/Penta Joint Venture was formed to bring the best from both companies, Hunt being local with their headquarters based in Phoenix and Penta is the largest contractor in Las Vegas. Both specialize in gaming and hospitality projects. The new Desert Diamond Casino West Valley project is the second phase completed by this Joint Venture and was completed within 24 months. The Joint Venture previously served as general contractors for the interim casino completed in 2015.

Dan Holmberg, Vice President of Field Operations for AECOM Hunt, said 'This has been one of the more challenging and exciting projects I have ever had the pleasure to work on. I am very proud of the accomplishments of the team, JV Partner, subs, as well as the Client to deliver the project on time. Looking forward to the Grand Opening of this beautiful faculty.”

Rider Levett Bucknall / Summit Project Management – Owner’s Representative

Phoenix, AZ / Culver City, CA

Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), and Summit Project Management (SPM), combined forces to provide Owner’s Representation and Project Management services on the Desert Diamond Casino project in 2013, culminating in the opening of the interim casino in December of 2015. They have been overseeing the full casino project development since 2017. In their role as Owner’s Representative, RLB SPM was responsible for scope, schedule and budget management throughout the project development period.

Steve Davis, Partner at Summit Project Management, said 'Our team’s association with the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, and with the Tohono O’odham Nation itself, has been one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of my professional career. The care and commitment exhibited by everyone, every day, on the part of Tribal and Enterprise leadership, is exemplary. Everyone involved in the delivery of this project has been motivated to respond in kind, with the result being the phenomenal project we see today.”

HBG Design – Design Architect and Architect of Record

Memphis, Tennessee and San Diego, California

HBG Design has planned and designed over 22 million square-feet of resort hotels, casino resorts, entertainment venues, and more. HBG Design is uniquely positioned as one of the premier providers of professional services in the Indian Gaming industry. The award-winning firm has worked with 45 of the country’s most recognized tribes at gaming properties across the country. HBG Design were selected for the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley project in 2009. Spanning over a decade, relationships with TOGE leadership have become akin to family.

Rob Jurbergs, Lead Designer/Architect, said 'All of us at HBG are so proud of the partnership we have developed with the TOGE and Desert Diamond Casino leadership, as well as with members of The Tohono O’odham Nation over the past decade. From the formation of the project’s initial concepts, which are rooted in the idea of natural elements representing ‘dynamic earth’ -- to positioning the exterior design and interior venues to be distinct differentiators in the marketplace, our team has worked hand-in-hand to bring TOGE’s vision to life….and I believe the project is a crowning achievement for us all.”

THE TOHONO O’ODHAM NATION

Overview

The Tohono O’odham Nation, a federally recognized tribe located in southern and central Arizona, is home to more than 35,000 enrolled members.

Tohono O’odham ancestors—the Hohokam—settled along the Salt, Gila, and Santa Cruz rivers thousands of years ago. Historically, the O’odham’s land spanned from Sonora, Mexico to what is now the Phoenix metro area, and the Gulf of California to the San Pedro River.

The current-day reservation is the second largest in the U.S., with a land base of 2.8 million acres—approximately the same size as the state of Connecticut. Within these lands are 11 districts, including Sells District, which is the Tohono O’odham Nation’s seat of government, and the San Lucy District, which includes the West Valley property.

San Lucy District and the Painted Rock Dam

In the early 1970s, the federal government’s construction of the Painted Rock Dam caused continuous flooding, ruining nearly 10,000 acres in the Nation’s San Lucy District. The community was forced to relocate to a small, 40 acre parcel near Gila Bend.

To remedy this, in 1986 Congress passed the Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Replacement Act (Public Law 99-503), which allowed the Nation to purchase replacement lands and mandated that the Secretary of Interior to take the land into trust as a reservation.

Federal Law and the West Valley Property

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), passed by Congress in 1988, allows tribes to conduct gaming on their lands. IGRA generally prohibits gaming on reservation lands acquired after 1988 but explicitly includes limited exceptions which are intended to assist tribes that were disadvantaged when IGRA was enacted.

Under Public Law 99-503 and IGRA, the Nation acquired unincorporated property in Maricopa County and later broke ground on the interim Desert Diamond Casino West Valley in August 2014. The interim facility opened on Dec. 20, 2015.

Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise

The Nation launched its first gaming operation in 1984 with the opening of Papago Bingo. Taking a leadership role in negotiations with the State of Arizona, the Nation opened the first Desert Diamond Casino in 1993. Nearly a decade later, in 2002, the Nation helped secure passage of Proposition 202, which established updated guidelines for tribal gaming.

The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise currently operates four facilities in Arizona. Desert Diamond Casino West Valley is the newest facility operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation; other properties are located near Tucson, Sahuarita, and Why.

With over 2,000 team members, Desert Diamond Casino West Valley is one of the region’s largest employers. When salaries, subcontractors and the purchase of goods and services are combined, the gaming operation injects hundreds of millions of dollars into Arizona’s economy each year.

Gaming’s Impacts for the Nation

Desert Diamond Casino Sports Bar &

Revenues created by the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise don’t go to distant shareholders, they stay right here in Arizona. Gaming revenues from Desert Diamond Casino West Valley and the three other casino locations help fund vital programs for the Nation, including public safety, scholarships, infrastructure improvements, and other government services.

Supporting the Community

Arizona communities outside of the Tohono O’odham Nation have also felt the benefits of the gaming operation. The Enterprise is a major supporter of charitable organizations, having supported hundreds of non-profit partners.

The Nation works closely with neighboring communities on key issues such as public safety and transportation. Per its tribal gaming compact, the Nation has also given millions of dollars to governments and non-profits through the 12% grant program. More than 500 grants have been awarded since 2003.

Phoenix's West Valley is now home to a casino that offers poker and blackjack tables, more than 1,000 slot machines and live bingo.

The Tohono O'odham Nation's 1.2 million-square-foot Desert Diamond Casino West Valley opened Feb. 19 after more than two years of construction. It replaced the nearby interim casino, which opened in 2015 and offered slot machines.

Beyond games, Desert Diamond offers 10 options for food and drink, including a buffet, steakhouse and two-story bar in the middle of the action of the 24-hour casino. Expansion plans include a hotel, spa and convention center.

Here's what you'll find at the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley.

Poker, table games, slots

Unlike the interim location, the casino's Class III status, defined as 'full 'Las Vegas style' casino gaming' by the Arizona Department of Gaming, means enthusiasts will find card tables as well as machines.

There are 36 poker tables, 48 blackjack tables, 1,136 slot machines and live bingo.

Evening bingo sessions take place seven days a week, with doors opening at 3:30 p.m. and warm-ups starting at 6 p.m. Buy-ins begin at $20 for paper and $35 for electronic bingo. Payouts range from $250 to $1,000, going up to $10,000 for special games.

Desert Diamond's non-smoking poker room is described as 'Arizona’s newest, most spacious and luxurious poker room with 36 tables and 27 big screen televisions,' according to its website. Patrons can charge their phones at each table and order food and drinks. There also is a complimentary soda fountain.

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Card games include:

• Blackjack.
• Pai Gow poker.
• Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em.
• Omaha Hold 'Em.
• Stud poker.
• Three-card poker.
• Spanish 21.

The casino also has a high-limit section and VIP lounge.

Players club and senior discounts

The Diamond Rewards Club is free to join, offering points that can be used toward free play or purchases of food or gift shop merchandise.

For every $10 played on a slot machine (or $20 for video poker games), members earn one reward point. Every 100 points accumulated equals $1 toward purchases or free play.

There are six tiers of membership. The highest level, the triple diamond tier, includes exclusive benefits for those who amass more than 500,000 points. Those who accrue at least 50,000 points get a personal host, access to the member lounge, priority valet parking and reimbursement for ATM fees.

As for bingo, each Tuesday is Senior Discount Day for those over 55 who present a valid ID and a Diamond Rewards card. The offer is good for $5 off a paper package and $10 off an electronic package.

Everyone can take advantage of bingo promotions on other days of the week. Wednesdays are half-price, and on Saturdays, people whose birthday lands in the current month receive a buy-one-get-one-free deal on an electronic package.

Buffet and other restaurants

The Fortune Cafe buffet features Asian-inspired dishes such as curry chicken, pad Thai and Vietnamese beef pho as well as dinner entrees such as smoked brisket, grilled salmon and chimichurri flank steak.

The Winners Sports Bar boasts 'Chopped' Season 39 winner Chef Laura Gonzalez-Reyes creations such as wings, burgers and flatbreads.

Those looking for fine dining can visit the Nineteen 86 Steakhouse, which pays tribute to the year the Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Replacement Act was signed by President Ronald Reagan and the Nuovo Giorno Italian bistro.

The steakhouse serves dry-aged rib-eye, T-bone and bone-in New York steaks along with salads, seafood and chops. The Italian bistro offers pizza, pasta and risotto as well as entrees such as rib-eye braciola, chicken marsala and veal chop Milanese.

The food court is open 24 hours, serving burgers, hot dogs, wings, pasta, pizza and breakfast foods. A stand selling coffee, pastries and gelato is also open all day.

What's on the drink menu?

Most of the casino's eateries also serve alcoholic beverages.

Spiked cold brews, sake cocktails, frozen coolers and margaritas can be found at the Rock Bar from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Its mezzanine overlooks the casino floor.

The Nineteen 86 Steakhouse offers cocktails, wine by the glass and bottle and draft beer. Signature cocktails include a dark rum negroni and a smoked Manhattan.

The Edge Bar is where you will find non-alcoholic mocktails such as a no-mo mojito and strawberry spritz, as well as alcoholic cocktails such as chipotle margaritas and an Italian 75.

Desert Diamond Casino West Valley

Where: 9431 W. Northern Ave., near Glendale.

When: Open 24 hours.

Details: 833-332-2946, ddcaz.com.

Reach the reporter at kimi.robinson@gannett.com or at 602-444-4968. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The new Desert Diamond Casino is open near Glendale. Here's a guide to games, food, drinks