Casino Arizona Reopening

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Lawmakers on the Navajo Nation approved legislation Monday to reopen the tribe’s four casinos, even as the tribe’s health director warned that the coronavirus is spreading uncontrollably.

Along with Fort McDowell Casino and Casino del Resort opening on May 15, the Gila River Casinos-Wild Horse Pass, Harrah’s Ak-Chin in Maricopa, Lone Butte and Vee Quiva are slated to open on May 15. Reopening with Restrictions The five casinos — Fort McDowell Casino, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Hotel and Casino, Lone Butte, Wild Horse Pass, and Vee Quiva — will reopen on Friday. Harrah’s and Fort.

The tribe’s casinos in Arizona and New Mexico have been closed since March. The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise got the blessing of the Navajo Nation Council to reopen them at a minimum 50% capacity later this month, but it still needs an OK from the tribal president.

Navajo President Jonathan Nez has 10 days to act on the legislation once it reaches him. He has not indicated whether or not he’ll support it.

The casinos employ nearly 1,200 people, most of whom are Navajo. They have been on paid administrative leave. The gambling enterprise has used federal Paycheck Protection Program funding and a share of the tribe’s coronavirus relief funding to stay afloat.

“Our concern is that if we’re unable to reopen, we’re going to be forced into a situation where we would no longer have the cash reserves to be able to open again at some point in the near future,” the enterprise’s interim chief executive, Brian Parrish, told lawmakers.

The enterprise also wants to fully open a new travel center east of Flagstaff adjacent to its Twin Arrows Casino Resort. The tribe’s other three casinos are in northwestern New Mexico.

Parrish said the enterprise has drawn up a health and safety plan in line with recommendations from tribal and federal health experts. It includes social distancing, no smoking, partitions, hand sanitizer and face shields. Safety isn’t guaranteed, but Parrish said employees and patrons will be safer at the casinos than other places off the reservation.

Navajo Nation Council Delegate Carl Slater said he couldn’t support the reopening while COVID-19 cases are surging across the reservation and in neighboring states.

“My fear is that we will overwhelm our healthcare system,” he said.

Tribal health officials reported 47 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Monday and three additional deaths. The latest figures bring the total number of reported cases to 11,875 and death toll to 584 since the pandemic began.

Tribal health officials said 126,331 people on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah have been tested for COVID-19 since the pandemic started and 7,568 have recovered.

A shelter-in-place order, mask mandate, daily curfews and weekend lockdowns remain in effect on the Navajo Nation.

Dr. Jill Jim, who oversees the Navajo Nation Department of Health, said the tribe was doing well in September but has been seeing close to 100 new cases per day lately. The tribe also is in need of more contact tracers, she said.

“We’re all at uncontrolled spread, she said.

Under the executive branch’s reopening plan, tribal casinos would not be allowed to operate until community spread is low, Jim said.

Most people experience mild or moderate symptoms with the coronavirus, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

But for some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

In other coronavirus-related developments on the Navajo Nation:

—A website for Navajos to apply for hardship assistance due to the coronavirus crashed Monday, the day it opened. Tribal controller Pearline Kirk said more than 16,000 applications ultimately were processed after glitches were worked out. Still, some had trouble with the site.

The tribe has approved nearly $50 million from its share of federal coronavirus relief funding to dole out to Navajos in need. The program is not first-come, first-served.

Tribal officials said all online and paper applications will be considered for funding. The deadline is Nov. 30.

The maximum financial assistance amount is $1,500 for people 18 and older and $500 for minors, officials said. The first checks are expected to be mailed in early December.

Nation Tribe: Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation

10438 North Fort McDowell Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85264

(480) 789-5300
(855) 957-9467

WE-KO-PA CASINO OPENED OCT. 29, 2020
We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is located off route 87 on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Reservation about 20 miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

WE-KO-PA CASINO REPLACED FORMER FORT McDOWELL CASINO
The former Fort McDowell located at 10424 North Fort McDowell Road in Scottsdale was shut down Oct. 26, 2020 and replaced by the We-Ko-Pa Casino. which opened Oct. 29, 2020. The Fort McDowell Hotel remains open.

Artist Rendering of We-Ko-Pa Casino. See More Renderings below.

News Headlines

History

The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. In 1984 the tribe began its first gaming operation when it opened Baja Bingo. In 1992 the operation expanded by adding slot machines and renaming itself the Fort McDowell Casino. After 28 years Fort McDowell Casino was permanently closed on Oct. 25, 2020 and was replaced by the We-Ko-Pa Casino on Oct. 29, 2020.

Overview

WE-KO-PA CASINO - OVERVIEW

• $120M construction cost
• 166,341 square-foot facility

WE-KO-PA CASINO - GAMING

Casino Arizona Reopening Date

• 1,100 slot machines
• Bingo with 760 seats
• Upscale high limit slot room
• Table games
• Live poker

WE-KO-PA CASINO - RESTAURANTS & BARS

• Fine-dining restaurant
• Buffet with 300-seats
• Sports bar
• Patio lounge
• Coffee shop

WE-KO-PA CASINO - OTHER

• Entertainment stage
• Four-story parking garage

Preview Renderings of We-Ko-Pa Casino

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We-Ko-Pa Casino

Gaming

Open 24 hours daily
Casino size: 166,341-square-feet
Non-smoking property (4 outdoor smoking lounges)

Slot machines - 900

Table Games
Play Blackjack, Free-bet blackjack, Spanish 21, Pai Gow poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Three-card poker and Push Your Luck

Poker Room
Open 24 hours. Non-smoking. Five tables. Play Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi/Lo and Spread Limit games.

Bingo hall - 770 seats

Restaurants and Bars

Ember - fine dining restaurant

Ahnala - American cuisine & coffee bar

The Buffet

The Market - quick serve items

WKP Sports & Entertainment - sports, gastropub and craft beers/p>

Daubs - Bingo Snack Bar

Casino Center Bar - lounge/bar

Entertainment

Wekopa Resort & Conference Center

HOTEL
AAA Four Diamond We-Ko-Pa Hotel
246 rooms and suites
Exclusive Sleep Number Beds
100% smoke-free rooms
Located immediately adjacent to the casino

WASSAJA CONFERENCE CENTER
Space for small events, meetings, weddings, conferences and events as large as 2,000 guests.

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

Two award-winning golf courses, Cholla Course and Saguaro Course, are located a short distance from We-Ko-Pa hotel.

RV Park

Eagle View RV Resort
9605 N. Fort McDowell Road
Fort McDowell, AZ 85264
Reservations (480) 789-5310

News Articles

We-ko-pa Casino celebrates grand opening

November 1, 2020

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort opened its new casino on Friday Oct. 29 at 6 PM. An immediate celebration began with promotions running through the weekend. Each guests received a chance to win a share of $360,000 in cash and prizes.

The new casino is a 166,341 square-foot facility costing $120 million. Gaming includes 900 slot machines,table games, poker room and a bingo hall. There are also nine restaurants and bars.

We-Ko-Pa Casino replaces the Fort McDowell Casino was shut down permanently at midnight on Oct. 26, 2020.

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We-Ko-Pa Casino celebrates 'topping out' milestone

June 6, 2019

Tribal leaders and members of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation gathered at the construction site of the new We-Ko-Pa Casino to celebrate the placing of the final steel beam. The event marks the half-way point for construction that began June 29, 2018 and will finish in the summer of 2020.

The ceremony decorated the final beam with a flag of the United States and a flag of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The beam also carried a project banner, an artificial Christmas tree, and signatures of the Yavapai Nation tribal leaders and elders, project leaders, casino employees, tribal members and construction crew.

The beam was then hoisted into position on top the new Porte Cochere.

Bernadine Burnette, President of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, said during the ceremony

'Every beam we lay, and every milestone we achieve, brings us one step closer to realizing our dream of creating an unrivaled entertainment, gaming and dining destination for Valley residents and visitors to the area.

'The casino's topping-out ceremony is a celebration for all of us - the tribal council, our tribal members, our loyal and valued guests, and all the employees who so proudly represent our culture. It's truly a monumental day for the Yavapai Nation.'

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Fort McDowell Casino will be replaced by We-Ko-Pa Casino in October 2020

June 6, 2019

A replacement for the Fort McDowell Casino, named the We-Ko-Pa Casino, is currently under construction at the We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center. The new casino will be connected directly to the We-Ko-Pa Hotel by a garden court atrium.

Plans for this $120 million casino were announced by the Yavapai Nation in June 2018 followed by a groundbreaking June 29, 2018. A grand opening is expected in the summer of 2010.

The new We-Ko-Pa Casino will be larger than the Fort McDowell Casino with 166,341 square-feet of smoking and non-smoking gaming space, 1,100 slot machines, high-limit slots room, 760-seat bingo, table games and a live poker room.

The new construction will also add a four-story parking garage, covered valet parking, new restaurants, sports bar, patio lounge and gift shop.

The existing Fort McDowell Casino will continue to operate until the new We-Ko-Pa Casino opens in 2020. At that time the Fort McDowell Casino will close. There are currently no future plans for that building, however, the tribe has planning groups reviewing options to determine the best opportunities for its use.

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Fort McDowell Casino reopens May 15

May 14, 2020

Fort McDowell Casino will reopen at 10 AM Friday May 15 with a phased-in program to comply with federal, state and local health agency guidelines. Not all facilities will be open at first, and many will be limited in capacity.

All guests and workers will be temperature checked at entry for temperatures of 100F and under. There will also be occupancy limits, hand sanitizer stations, and stringent COVID-19 safety and sanitation protocols throughout the properties.

Slot machines will operate with extra spacing for social distancing. Blackjack tables will be open. Bingo will begin May 22, however Bingo Buses are currently suspended. Poker is delayed pending guidance from government health agencies.

The hotel also reopens May 15. Room reservations resumed new bookings on Monday May 11.

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We-Ko-Pa Casino celebrates groundbreaking

June 29, 2018

The Yavapai Nation held a ground breaking ceremony today to celebrate the start of construction on a new $120M casino. This all-new casino will connect to the We-Ko-Pa Hotel and will replace the Fort McDowell Casino when finished in 2020.

The Fort McDowell Casino first opened as a bingo hall in 1984 and expanded its casino games over the past 35 years. The new casino will be named the We-Ko-Pa Casino to consolidate its brand with the We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center and the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

Construction will begin this summer and take two years to complete. The expected opening for the new casino is late spring or early summer of 2020.

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Fort McDowell will build a replacement casino

June 15, 2018

A ground breaking ceremony will be held on June 29 for the new casino owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The ceremony will be held at 9 A.M. Members of the tribe, Arizona state officials, and members of the nearby communities are expected to attend.

When completed the casino will be 166,341 square feet. Plans include a garden court, fine dining, a sports bar, an entertainment venue, and other amenities for guests to enjoy.

The new casino will be a replacement for the current casino owned by the tribe. Fort McDowell Casino is 150,000 square feet. The original building will remain. However, plans for the building have not been announced.

The current casino location will remain open while construction continues on the new gaming venue.

The cost for the new casino has not been released. However, officials for the tribe have stated that the cost for the casino would be multimillion dollar.

The project was developed as a way to strengthen the economic independence for the tribe. Revenue made from the casino will go to support tribal members. As well as benefiting the surrounding communities.

Nearly 30 years ago the tribe built the first bingo hall in the Phoenix area to offer high stakes games.

Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of summer. The grand opening is estimated to be by the spring of 2020.

The new casino will be located east of Phoenix by 30 mins off of the Beeline Highway.

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