A federal judge Thursday ruled the state does not have to approve a full casino, known as Class III, near Glendale being built by the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Arizona officials, however, acknowledged they cannot stop the tribe from building a Class II casino - the main difference being the types of machines. Attorney General Mark Brnovich said that could lead to changes down the road.
Alan Meister, a principal economist with the economic consulting firm Nathan Associates, explained how a Class II casino could affect the Valley and the Tohono O’odham Nation. Meister, in the past, also did an economic impact analysis for the Tohono O’odham Nation on its West Valley casino project.
A spokeswoman for the Arizona Department of Gaming said since the state does not regulate Class II casinos, those facilities do not pay revenue sharing to the state. The Tohono O’odham Nation, though, is expected to make payments to Glendale.
