The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise recently celebrated the sixth anniversary of Fire Rock Navajo Casino near Gallup, New Mexico. The first Navajo Nation Gaming casino, Fire Rock opened on November 19, 2008 and today employs 330 workers, 98 percent of whom are Navajo. The property offers 917 slot machines, nine table games, live roulette, bingo, , virtual horseracing, the Cheii Grill & Pub and a food court. It supports Navajo and community vendors including local farmers, Navajo beef ranchers, artisans and musicians.
Led by Chief Executive Officer Derrick Watchman, Fire Rock offers leadership, hospitality, gaming and management job training for tribal members who are employed at the casino and at Navajo Gaming’s additional properties that have opened over the past six years.
“We are proud of all that Navajo Gaming and our 1,400 employees have accomplished the past six years. Hundreds of Navajo jobs, valuable job training and millions of dollars in revenue have been distributed to the Nation and we are grateful for support from the community, Church Rock Chapter, the Navajo Nation president and his administration, the interim speaker, Navajo Nation Council and its committees and talented Fire Rock employees that have made the past six years so successful,” Watchman said.
