Construction crews are working around the clock seven days a week to fulfill the commitment by the Tohono O’odham Nation to open its 0 million Desert Diamond West Valley Resort in Glendale by the end of the year.
The first building to open will be a temporary casino. It will include several hundred slot machines but blackjack, poker, bingo or entertainment. That will come when the permanent structure is completed sometime next year. The permanent structure will also have four eateries and a food court. Once it is completed the temporary structure will become a warehouse.
Tribal Chairman Edward D. Manuel predicted this week, “It’s going to generate enough revenue for the Nation, for the city of Glendale and for the state of Arizona.” He added that the purpose of the casino is to create jobs.
The casino is very controversial, and has been fought tooth and nail by the state of Arizona, and two other gaming tribes, the Gila River and Salt River tribes. Manuel dismisses their opposition as based solely on their fear of losing money.
To the Daily News-Sun Manuel quoted someone else as saying, How can they be concerned when you have auto dealers, who are all situated in an auto mall, all sell different brands of vehicles, they’re all selling the same product, and they get along?”
Manuel believes that gaming revenues will actually rise in the Phoenix valley because “more people will be going to more casinos.”
