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As announced earlier this year, a brand-new Arizona casino opened its doors to visitors in Chandler. A $180 million development that broke ground in 2021, Gila River Resort & Casino Santan Mountain, hosted a grand opening on June 30.
This new location brings the first casino-hosted sportsbook in the Southeast Valley of Phoenix with BetMGM. The newest Arizona casino is located at Gilbert Road and Santan Mountain Drive, just south of Hunt Highway.
Gila River Indian Community, a federally recognized tribe with nearly 14,000 members, teamed up with BetMGM in the state. The partnership allowed the operator to access the Arizona sports betting market in 2021 after Gov. Doug Ducey signed Arizona’s Indian gaming compact.
The amended state-tribal gaming compact allows various games like slot machines and tables, as well as retail and online sports betting.
BetMGM Sportsbook advertised as Arizona’s largest
There are multiple retail AZ sportsbooks and 17 online sportsbooks, with three new licensees joining the sports betting market soon. All these options make Arizona one of the most popular US sports betting states.
Gila River Santan Mountain’s BetMGM will be the first casino-hosted sportsbook in the Southeast Valley of Phoenix and the largest casino sportsbook in The Grand Canyon State. The BetMGM Sportsbook spreads across 7,000 square feet and features:
- Wall-to-wall TVs
- An exclusive bar with table games
- Upper Deck Deli and private booths with charging stations
- Custom lighting
- A DJ area
Apart from the major retail sportsbook, Gila River Resort & Casino Santan Mountain offers:
- 813 slot machines
- Table games, including mini-baccarat, craps and roulette
- A new full-service restaurant
Additional amenities include a high-limit gaming salon, indoor and outdoor space, and an event lawn and ballroom.
Gila River now operates four casinos in Arizona
Gila River currently operates two casinos in west Chandler that feature BetMGM sportsbooks:
- Gila River Wild Horse Pass
- Gila River Lone Butte Casino
The tribe also runs Vee Quiva in Laveen Village.
With headquarters in Sacaton, Gila River Indian Community is one of 16 state tribes that offers gaming in Arizona in some form.
As of March, BetMGM has collected $1.4 billion in total betting handle, having a revenue of $148 million. All Arizona sportsbooks helped set a record in March, with players placing nearly $691 million on sports bets.
