Arizona Lawmakers Take Aim At West Valley Casino Development

By Nick Blumberg
Published: Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - 12:42pm

Three Arizona lawmakers are trying to stop a proposed casino in the West Valley. It's the latest in a long series of attempts to block the development.

If it became law, the bill would prevent any new Indian gambling project in the Valley that’s not on land connected to an existing reservation.

That would put a halt to the Tohono O’odham nation’s plans to build the West Valley Resort. The nation’s reservation land is in Southern Arizona, but it wants to build on unincorporated land it owns near Glendale.

Recently, the Glendale City Council dropped its long-standing opposition to the project. And the Tohono O’odham just announced the construction team that’s been chosen to build the $400 million resort.

But now it faces renewed resistance from members of Congress. A House version of the bill sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks has already passed. The Senate version was introduced Monday by Sens. Jeff Flake and John McCain. In a statement, the two said they share the objections of many Arizonans who oppose Indian gaming on land not connected to an existing reservation.