The new Santan Mountain Casino in Chandler, featuring an open floor plan, large banquet spaces for weddings, and a unique white roulette wheel, is set to become a community entertainment hub when it opens its doors on June 30.
Last week, the public had their first peek at the $180 million casino complex. It took approximately two years to construct. Despite the confirmed opening date of June 30, the Gila River Tribe, who runs the casino, might host a soft launch earlier.
The tribe’s fourth casino will be the new Santan Mountain Casino, located at the intersection of Gilbert Road and Hunt Highway.
The casino will feature a restaurant that will utilize locally-sourced food.
There are 24 Class III casinos run by sixteen tribes in Arizona. However, real money online casinos are still banned in the state. Given the success of online sports betting in Arizona, legislators might consider mirroring this success with online casinos soon.
Blake Katsnelson, the general manager of Santan Mountain, informed the East Valley Tribune that the casino aims to fill a gap in the area’s entertainment offerings.
“Our primary concentration is on the homes and rooftops in this area, providing them with some form of engagement. There isn’t much within a 15-mile radius except for downtown Gilbert. We observed a lack of entertainment. Hence, this location was selected with that objective in mind.”
With over 800 slot machines and more than 25 table games, Santan Mountain is a gaming paradise. It’s the first casino to open in Arizona after the enactment of the extended tribal gaming compact. This compact permits legal sports betting and the introduction of games such as craps and roulette.
A food court housing three restaurants will be established, along with a separate restaurant named Honey and Vine. H&V guarantees the use of ingredients sourced locally from the Gila River Indian Community.
BetMGM Arizona will operate what is being touted as the largest casino sportsbook in Arizona, which will also be included in the casino.
At least not immediately, the Gila River Tribe does not have any plans to incorporate a hotel.
Santan Mountain expands Gila’s presence in the Phoenix area.
Santan Mountain is set to be added to the Chandler skyline, joining its sister properties, Wild Horse Pass Casino and Lone Butte Casino. Meanwhile, the tribe’s Vee Quiva Casino is located in Laveen, approximately 25 miles away.
In January, Stephen Roe Lewis, the Governor of the Gila River Tribe, informed KTAR news that the company was at ease with the idea of introducing a fourth establishment to the landscape.
Not only is Santan Mountain set to boost our income, enhance our sustainability and provide crucial services for our community, but it will also raise our standing within the gaming and hospitality sector as we persist in building our entertainment empire.
A job fair will be held at Santan Mountain to fill positions at the casino.
Discussion of a grand opening concert to commemorate the June 30 inauguration is ongoing, but the performing artist is yet to be announced. Administrators of Santan Mountain are set to organize a job fair soon, aiming to fill several of the projected 700 vacancies.
The city of Chandler plans to install a traffic light at the intersection of Gilbert and Hunt Highway to alleviate anticipated traffic congestion. Jason Crampton, the senior transportation planner for the city, expressed concern to the East Valley Tribune about traffic congestion in the area.
Based on the traffic studies I’ve seen, the expectation is that the system won’t be overwhelmed. It’s likely to add a few thousand trips, but it’s not anticipated to overly burden the main streets.
Desert Diamond Casinos is constructing a new casino in Chandler, near Loop 303 and Northern Avenue in Arizona, set to open in late-2024. This means that Santan Mountain will soon no longer be the newest casino in the state.
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