Gila River Resorts & Casinos is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the opening of San Tan Mountain Casino in Chandler. As the first new build in a decade for the local gaming enterprise, the new property is nothing less than a showstopper.
The new property features floor-to-ceiling windows, 33,000 square feet of gaming floor, 813 slot machines, 25 table games, the only white roulette wheel in the country, BetMGM Sportsbook (the largest casino sportsbook in the state), outdoor gardens, event space, and new food concepts including Mein Dish, Upper Deck Deli, and Honey & Vine. The sit-down restaurant Honey & Vine features an outdoor patio, coffee bar, all-day food service, as well as live music.
The $180 million project took 20 months to construct and was designed and built by Steelman Partners, PENTA Building Group, and Tynan Group. The stunning property also brought tremendous economic growth, adding more than 700 new jobs to the East Valley.
The opening festivities were nothing short of spectacular. Gila River hosted a private opening for Gila River community members that included traditional dancers, music, food tasting, as well as the opportunity to try out the new gaming amenities before anyone else.
Following the community opening, Gila River hosted a spectacular grand opening weekend with aerial drone shows, showgirls, and nightly concerts by country music star Gabby Barrett. The incredible team members of Gila River were met all weekend with nonstop crowds of smiling faces eager to experience the newest casino in the state.
“We were so excited to break the mold with traditional casinos and bring a stunning new property to our loyal guests,” said Kenneth Manuel, CEO of Gila River Resorts & Casinos. “With views of the San Tan Mountains, modern touches, and elevated amenities, there is not a gaming destination like this in the State of Arizona. The growth aligns perfectly with the enterprise’s mission of driving economic stability for the Gila River Indian community and the State of Arizona.”
With the addition of the fourth property, revenue from the enterprise has funded infrastructure, education, and public safety for the Gila River Indian community. Additional revenue from the enterprise has been dispersed throughout the state for the Arizona Tribal State Gaming Compact to support local cities, towns, and counties and will support more people than ever.
In addition to celebrating San Tan Mountain’s first anniversary this summer, Gila River is celebrating an even bigger milestone, the 30th anniversary of the gaming enterprise.
What started as a humble, one-room casino with 200 slot machines has transformed into a booming organization, becoming the largest gaming enterprise in the State of Arizona. Opening in the Summer of 1994, a mission and vision was created to help fill an economic void for the Gila River Indian community. Three decades later, Gila River Resorts & Casinos is a gaming powerhouse, operating four properties, including San Tan Mountain. To celebrate the momentous occasion, each property hosted promotions June 21-23, which included 400 winners per day. Guests could also earn points to win commemorative anniversary items.