The Tohono O’odham Nation has the Desert Diamond Casino at Pima Mine Road and Interstate 19, and the Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel at 7350 S. Valencia Road and Casino of the Sun at 7406 S. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe operates Casino del Sol Resort, Spa and Conference Center at 5655 W.

The casino would be the fifth in the greater Tucson area. “This effort builds on the strong partnership the city of Tucson and Pascua Yaqui Tribe have long enjoyed while acknowledging the cultural and historical significance of the area known as ‘Old Pascua,’” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. The tribe would comply with all building and fire codes and allow the Tucson Fire Department to review plans for compliance and conduct walk-through inspections of the buildings after construction, the proposal says. It was demolished in the late 1980s and replaced by Century Park 16 indoor theaters, which closed in 2011. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe bought the former Tucson 5 Drive-in, turned Century Park 16 theaters, in 2011 for $4.65 million. “The Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act is a bipartisan bill that will raise the tribal standard of living, improve system coordination and integration of service delivery, and promote the ongoing transmission of Yaqui knowledge, culture, history and traditions for future generations.” “I am proud to represent the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and of the effort made to protect these sacred lands,” Grijalva said. No timeline is yet known for when construction could begin. Raúl Grijalva, the bill will go before the Senate early next year and, if approved, to the president for signing.

“It’s about time we invested in the west side.” “This will enhance the area with sustainable jobs, not just for Yaquis but the whole community on the west side,” he said.

It would also preserve the existing land, the Old Pascua Village, where religious ceremonies are held.Ī new casino would provide hundreds of jobs for tribal members and other area residents, said tribal chairman Peter Yucupicio, a lifelong resident of Old Pascua.

Tucson casinos