Tohono O'odham to lease slot machine rights from Navajo
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The Tohono O'odham Nation leased the rights Monday from the Navajo Nation to add 454 slot machines to the Tohono O'odham's three casinos in southern Arizona.
The Desert Diamond Casino on Interstate 19 will get about 100 new slots by Dec. 1 in a remodeled space that had served as a taqueria, said Scott Sirois, chief executive of Tohono O'odham Gaming Enterprise.
The tribe is considering bringing Class III slots - the common slots found at most casinos - to the Golden Ha:san Casino in Why. Golden Ha:san is the only Arizona casino with Class II slots, where gamblers play against other gamblers for a common prize.
"That facility will hold right or near 100 slots," Sirois said.
The Tohono O'odham will hold on to the remaining balance of the slot rights for future use. Beyond the slot additions, the tribe is at capacity at its three casinos, including the original Desert Diamond Casino on Old Nogales Highway.
"We would need to undergo renovations or expansions (to add more slots)," Sirois said.
The Tohono O'odham currently have 1,089 slots at Desert Diamond on Nogales Highway and 776 slots at Desert Diamond on Interstate 19.
The Navajo Nation on Monday signed an agreement under which it will also lease the rights to 411 slots to the Gila River Indian Community outside Phoenix and Chandler and 180 slots to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation north of Fountain Hills. The Navajo retain 1,850 slots.
The deal is expected to generate more than $100,000 a year for the Navajo over several years.
The Navajo Nation plans to eventually build four casinos.
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pat a. (casino)
Sep 20, 2008 @ 12:53amHow about raising the percentage of the payouts on the machines. - Post a Comment »