Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprises broke ground Friday on the new 75,000 square-foot “Desert Diamond” mega-casino. CEO Andy Asselin says “This is a day our guests and employees have been looking forward to for a long time.”
Located near Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, construction is expected to last two years. With an estimated cost of approximately $400 million, the project is expected to create over 1,500 construction jobs.
The casino will offer guests a venue of five restaurants along with a full array of slot machines, blackjack, poker, table games, and live bingo. Upon the completion of the casino, construction will begin on a hotel, spa, and other amenities.
Although the Valley is home to many casinos, the Desert Diamond will be the only casino north of Interstate 10 and west of Interstate 17. The location of the Desert Diamond is less than one mile from Gila River Arena, home to the Arizona Coyotes.
A temporary casino currently employing 600 hundred staff will remain open during construction. The casino will hire an additional 1,000 employees when the expansion is complete. The temporary casino has operated while resolving legal conflicts and issues due to the proximity of the new casino to the entertainment districts of both Glendale and Peoria.
