GAMING AND GAMBLING

Latest gambling compact, new legislation prompts small phase of tribal casino growth

Law, compact changes in 2021 involved former governor

Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis cuts the ribbon at the June 17 soft opening of the new Santan Mountain Casino in Chandler. A few Arizona tribes have moved forward with major new casino construction plans since compact amendments were signed by Gov. Doug Ducey in April 2021.

Special to Independent Newsmedia/Kevin Hurley

There are a few more brick-and-mortar casinos cropping up in the Valley in what amounts to a mini-boom in building for the industry.

No one knows, exactly, why it’s happening now. But a spokesman for an Arizona agency has some ideas.

Amended tribal-state gaming compacts were signed by then-Gov. Doug Ducey in April 2021. Max Hartgraves of the Arizona Department of Gaming said that set in motion new parameters for how big a footprint each tribe could have, going forward, in the Arizona gaming world.

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