The first stage of the new building will include a 184,000-square-foot-casino floor with 900 Class III slot machines, a poker room, a retail sportsbook and table games like blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat; as well as dining and other facilities. A 3,400-space parking structure and surface parking will also be built.

The construction of this $450m project is expected to take about 19 months to complete.

The building, located on 80 acres of reservation land in unincorporated Maricopa County in the west of Glendale, Arizona, is designed by JCJ Architecture. It will also include a hotel, conference centre, outdoor pool and recreational amenities, among others.

Further, over 5,500 employment opportunities will be created during construction, which is being overseen by the Hunt/Penta Joint Venture as general contractor. After completion, the full-service casino and complex will have 1,300 workers.

Ned Norris Jr., Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, said: “This is a special day for all Tohono O’odham. We are making good on our promise to provide for future generations of our tribal citizens. This groundbreaking serves as an important milestone to celebrate our progress as a Nation.”

Mike Bean, CEO of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said: “Our new Desert Diamond Casino will bring more jobs, economic opportunity, and entertainment options to this region. We’re excited to continue the local partnerships we’ve developed over the past 10 years and build new relationships to benefit the West Valley community.”