Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and several state-based Native American tribes signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding that, among other things, would allow the Tohono O’odham Nation to add slot machines and table games at its Glendale casino. There were no Tohono O’odham representatives at the Monday meeting with the state’s top official.
Several years ago, the tribe announced plans to build a Las Vegas-style casino in the city of Glendale, not far from Phoenix. Its intention created a great controversy as the state and other Indian nations argued that the Tohono O’odham tribe was violating Arizona’s 2002 gambling compact.
The 2002 agreement singed between the state and tribes restricted gambling within the Phoenix metro area that was held in trust before February 2003. It has been argued over the years that Tohono O’odham’s Glendale casino was not built on such land and therefore should not be allowed to feature slot machines and table games.
The matter was brought to court and although U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell, who had been charged with the case, has sided with the tribe on several occasions, the casino opened doors late last year with Class II gaming machines only. Generally speaking, Class II gaming devices resemble traditional slot machines but offer a slightly different type of gaming options.
Under the Monday memorandum of understanding, the Glendale gambling venue would be allowed to feature Las Vegas-style gaming and thus be turned into a full-scale casino. In exchange, the Tohono O’odham tribe will not be allowed to seek additional casino licenses in the Phoenix area.
As mentioned above, the deal includes the state and all Native American tribes based within its borders. As part of the agreement, tribes will be allowed to add more poker tables and to expand their keno offering. They, too, will have to limit gambling operations to reservation land.
According to state officials, the Monday memorandum of understanding could mark the beginning of a modernization process of previous gambling compacts between Arizona and its tribes. Tribal representatives said on Monday that a new gambling agreement is a necessity and will help the state keep gambling money within its borders.
The Tohono O’odham Nation wrote in a Monday statement that it had been informed recently about the ongoing discussions over a new compact but had not been part of the process. The tribe further noted that it was concerned by the lack of communication but would consider the state’s proposal.
The agreement proposed by the state may eventually help the Indian tribe solve another problem that it has been trying to cope with for the past year since its Glendale casino opened. The Tohono O’odham Nation has been seeking a liquor license by the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control but the much-needed approval has been delayed multiple times.
