New Desert Diamond Casino to open this year
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The new Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks at San Lucy, Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise’s fifth gaming operation, is set to be completed by the end of 2024.
“We’re really excited … Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks at San Lucy is a $450 million project,” said Mike Bean, CEO of Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise. “And it’s the first of several phases of construction that we’re going to do.”
The casino — located at 8200 N. Sarival Avenue at the intersection of the Loop 303 and Northern Parkway — will have 900 Class III slot machines and 48 table games, including 16 poker tables, as well as tables for blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat.
In addition, there will be a high-limit slot and table game rooms, which will be adjacent to the VIP Lounge, of which access will be based on the amount of business the customer gives the casino.
“For other amenities, we’re going to have a five-venue food hall…” Bean said.
“We’re going to have a very nice sportsbook bar with lots of video screens and walk up windows to place your bets. We will have a center bar that will be accessible from the gaming floor and then we will have two additional restaurants.”
The five-venue food hall will include a deli-sh, Taqueria Ville, a burger restaurant, a food hall bar and Spitfire that will serve rotisserie chicken.
Pub Stop and Morton’s Steakhouse will also be making their way into Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks at San Lucy. The upbeat and high-end restaurants, respectively, will add a variety of atmospheres to the area. Bean added that this will be Morton’s first time in the West Valley.
“There’s something for everybody and that’s part of our approach,” Bean said.
The casino will also have a self-service beverage station and a gift shop that will sell Desert Diamond Casino-branded clothing and mementos.
Attached to the casino is a parking garage that will have 2,500 spaces with 500 additional surface parking spaces.
“There is no charge for valet or the garage,” Bean said. “We want it to always be on the guest’s menu to come visit … so they can just park for free and get them in the door as opposed to putting down barriers.”
The project is finishing up its first of three phases. Next on the agenda will be a 350-room hotel connected to the casino that includes a conference center, pool, spa, additional retail and dining, and a 2,500 seat entertainment venue.
The third phase of construction — according to Bean — will be an entertainment district similar to WestGate, but on a smaller scale.
“Our approach is to do things that are complementary and not trying to compete because there’s so much to do (at WestGate) and out here there isn’t so much to do,” Bean said.
“So, here’s an opportunity for us to bring some of those things but not all.”
From an economic impact standpoint, the casino is creating 5,500 construction jobs and will create about 1,000 permanent new jobs for the area. Bean said that the casino will likely start looking to hire for and fill those new jobs in October.
Bean said that the cities of Glendale and Surprise have been good community partners throughout the building of the facility. Glendale aided in infrastructure approvals, permits and the traffic impact study and Surprise is set to provide the casino with seamless emergency services.
Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks at San Lucy is on track for the desired 19-month construction schedule.
“(Hunt-Penta and JCJ Architecture) have been doing a great job of getting all the plans in order and getting construction started and well on its way to be opening by the end of the year, if not sooner,” Bean said.
