Passage of Proposition 202 Brings Immediate Expansion to Casino Arizona

Blackjack and poker - casino-style blackjack and poker - are coming to Casino Arizona.

Thanks to the passage of Proposition 202 in the Nov. 5 election, Casino Arizona will soon offer its customers a host of new amenities, including "Vegas-style" blackjack and poker, hundreds of additional slot machines, and greatly expanded food and beverage service.

"Proposition 202 is not only an important victory for Arizona's Native American tribes in their efforts toward self-sufficiency," explains Ramon Martinez, public relations manager and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community tribal member, "it means greater entertainment choices for gaming enthusiasts. We are very grateful to Arizona voters for supporting Indian gaming, and we look forward to offering Casino Arizona guests an even finer experience as a result of that vote of confidence."

Last year, players won more than $9 million in Casino Arizona poker promotions, and the passage of Proposition 202 will ensure that winning continues. Players can look forward to the biggest poker promotion of the year in January 2003 during Super Bowl weekend.

Expansion plans are already under way at Casino Arizona's two facilities. Located adjacent to Scottsdale on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the tribe operates a full-service permanent casino at McKellips and the 101 freeway, and a temporary structure, which will soon be doubled in size, at Indian Bend and the 101.

Changes at the McKellips location, which hosts one of the nation's most comprehensive contemporary Native American Cultural Arts collections, include both additions and deletions. To make room for the 80 blackjack tables eventually being added, the facility is being remodeled and bingo has hosted its final game. Casino Arizona plans to bring bingo back after another round of expansion. Off-track betting will also be removed from McKellips, and will be reopened at Indian Bend in the summer of 2003.

The Sopol Café and the Pima Maricopa Room (which housed bingo) will be closed until January. A new entrance on the east side of the building will be created, complete with an outside patio. There will be a new outdoor patio cocktail lounge and the Sopol will be upgraded to a full-service restaurant. Valet parking will also be moved to this side of the building.

Other entertainment venues within the McKellips facility will remain, including the Showroom, the Cholla Prime Steakhouse and Lounge, and the Eagle's Nest restaurant. The Showroom hosts the spectacular Showstoppers Live, a tribute to American pop music featuring the music of Elvis, Madonna, Michael Jackson, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and more. In addition, headline performers appear at the casino. Upcoming acts include Paul Revere and the Raiders on Jan. 20, 2003; Average White Band on Feb. 24, 2003; and Jose Feliciano on May 5, 2003, for Cinco de Mayo.

Those interested in purchasing tickets for any Showroom performance can visit the box office at Casino Arizona, call (480) 850-7734, or order online at ticketmaster.com.

The award-winning Cholla, which has been recognized two years in a row by the New Times Best of Phoenix awards, as well as by the Rep, offers intimate fine dining featuring regional and Native American cuisine. Menu items include peppery elk tenderloin, pan-roasted Muscovy duck, and "campfire" salmon, as well as prime steaks, poultry, pasta, and seafood. The Eagle's Nest offers freshly prepared food from its grand buffet or extensive menu. The Eagle's Nest also offers a weekend breakfast buffet, and a spectacular champagne Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Changes are also planned for the Indian Bend location. The Native American arts collection will be expanded to include exhibits at Indian Bend, and an entire new structure will be built to house the "king of all sports lounges," featuring mammoth big-screen TVs wrapping almost the entire facility. After expansion, Indian Bend will offer guests three bars, two full-service restaurants (The Wandering Horse will have a 24-hour buffet), 528 slot machines, 50 poker tables, and 40 blackjack tables.

The changes coming to Casino Arizona at Salt River not only benefit its customers, more importantly, they benefit the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Revenues from tribal enterprises such as gaming allow the Community to improve the standard of living for tribal members through better education, jobs, fire protection, care for the elderly, infrastructure improvements, affordable housing, and more. It also allows the tribe to support the broader community, through contributions such as the recent donation of more than $282,000 to the local American Red Cross for a new mobile blood donation bus and a permanent blood exhibit at the Arizona Science Center. Since opening its doors in June 1998, Casino Arizona and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community have donated millions of dollars to local charitable causes.

"Casino Arizona is proud to be a member of the Valley of the Sun community, and we look forward to building on an already strong reputation for quality and service," adds Martinez. "We're confident that the expansion activities at Casino Arizona resulting from the passage of Proposition 202 will enhance our guests' experience at both the McKellips and Indian Bend locations, and will greatly improve the quality of life for tribal members. It is a perfect example of a win-win situation."

And winning is what casino gaming enthusiasts love best.