The new Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks in Waddell opened with a private ribbon-cutting ceremony for tribal members and dignitaries.
The state-of-the-art casino features 900 slot machines, a poker room, a sportsbook, and table games, including blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. It has created over 1,000 permanent jobs.
Located at 8200 N. Sarival Avenue, near Loop 303 and Northern Parkway, it is in one of the fastest-growing parts of the Valley.
“I want to make sure that we’re continuing to grow and expand as much as we can when it comes to our economic development in the West Valley,” said Glendale Councilmember Lupe Conchas.
“Because we know that when it comes to revenues and when it comes to making sure that our police, fire, parks, trash and water and other services, that that we need to have revenue, and so we need to figure out what are some other ways that we can work together to create revenue for our residents.”
The Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks has a fully equipped sportsbook with wall-to-wall TV coverage, and a betting counter.
In addition to a world-class gaming experience, the property also features restaurants options, including the high-energy Pub Stop, Chuck’s Burgers, a Starbucks coffee shop. Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks will be the only casino in Arizona to offer the high-end restaurant Morton’s The Steakhouse. The iconic Lightning Lounge center bar pays homage to nearby Luke Air Force Base.
Construction of the $450 million project began in April 2023 and created over 5,500 construction jobs. The Hunt/Penta Joint Venture served as the general contractor, while JCJ Architecture led the design of the facility. In future phases, Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks at San Lucy will eventually expand to include a hotel, conference center, an outdoor pool, and other amenities.
With the doors now open, Conchas said that all of the sacrifices made along the way will pay dividends in the long run.
“All of the work that has led up to today has been work of people before I got into council, but also it’s the resiliency,” he said. “I heard the theme of resiliency from Tohono O’odham Nation, especially learning the history of the San Lucy community.
“So, I look forward to creating stronger ties between my district in the city of Glendale and the San Lucy people, and also supporting the Tohono O’odham Nation to ensure that we’re good partners. I want to be the best partner that I can be for them, and I want to make sure that everybody benefits from this casino, and everybody benefits from the economic opportunity and the economic development that’s happening in the West Valley.”
Mike Bean, CEO of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said, “Our philosophy in designing this property was to ensure that there was something for everyone to enjoy, from gaming to dining to nightlife. We are well positioned to grow with the West Valley community and be an economic driver for years to come.”
Verlon Jose, chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, said, “This new facility is a testament to the resilience of the O’odham and was made possible through the efforts of many Nation leaders across generations. The White Tanks casino will generate major economic opportunity for our Nation, for the West Valley and all of Arizona.”
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