Nambe Pueblo announced that its first casino is to open doors for visitors on Sunday. Nambe Falls Casino occupies a 7,310-square-foot site and features as many as 180 slot machines. In other words, it is considerably smaller than existing gambling venues in the state of New Mexico.
The pueblo has described its casino as “a boutique space” that would feature one of the region’s “most elegant gaming floors.” The “convenience-based gaming” hall is located on U.S. 84-284, north of Santa Fe, and will provide customers with a convenient parking among other things.
The casino is slated to have its soft opening on Sunday at 6 pm local time. The venue will hold an official opening ceremony on February 6.
Nambe Pueblo has been interested in managing a gambling hall for decades. A few years ago, the pueblo revealed plans for the establishment of a much larger casino and was even given the green light by a number of agencies. It planned to build a 50-000-square-feet Star Trek-themed gambling venue. However, economic concerns led to the project’s termination.
As for Nambe Falls Casino, it was developed by Albuquerque-based Development Services Group & Associates. The venue is located not far from Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino, a hotel and casino complex with 1,200 slot machines and 18 gaming tables, managed by Pojoaque Pueblo.
Construction works on Nambe Falls Casino started in May 2015, after the pueblo had secured the necessary financing with the First National Bank of Santa Fe to complete and launch the project. The casino will be managed by subsidiary Nambe Pueblo Gaming Enterprise. Pamela Gallegos will be taking the post of General Manager of the casino. She has formerly worked at Hard Rock Casino-Hotel Albuquerque.
Once it launches its casino, Nambe Pueblo will join 14 New Mexican pueblos that currently operate gambling venues within the state’s borders. Back in 2004, most of the pueblo’s members approved gambling and it signed a special gambling compact with New Mexico in a year later.
Last year, Gov. Susana Matinez and the state Gaming Control Board signed a revised compact with a number of pueblos, with Nambe Pueblo being among those. The new agreement is set to expire in 2037.
