Casino Del Sol Vahi Ta’am Opens in Tucson on Nov. 15

Casino Del Sol Vahi Ta’am is set to open today, on November 15, becoming the first casino within Tucson city limits and the third casino operated by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

The property at 1055 W. Grant Road, near Interstate 10, will open to the public after a morning ribbon-cutting ceremony and other opening events. A fireworks display is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Vahi Ta’am means “three sons” in Yoeme, the language of the Pascua Yaqui people. The casino expands the tribe’s gaming and hospitality operations in Southern Arizona and is expected to create up to 500 jobs.

Casino Adds 928 Slots and 24 Table Games

Vahi Ta’am features a 52,525-square-foot gaming floor with 928 slot machines and 24 table games.

The venue also includes a sportsbook, two restaurants and five bars. Employment opportunities cover gaming operations, food and beverage, hospitality, security and administrative roles.

Artwork throughout the property reflects local and tribal connections. A central mural titled Aniam Yo’orine, meaning Respect the World, was created by Marcelino C. Flores III, a painter and lifelong member of the Old Pascua community.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, local artist Joe Pagac painted a blue-sky and cloud scene across the casino’s 24,000-square-foot domed ceiling.

The casino is the first development planned for the site. Officials are reportedly also considering a convention center and resort hotel as potential future phases.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe has been working with businesses along Grant Road, east of Interstate 10, as preparations continue for additional development around the property.

Development Process Spanned More Than a Decade

The project traces back around 15 years to the tribe’s purchase of the former Century Park 16 movie theater site.

In 2019, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe began the process of placing the property into federal trust, a step required before casino gaming could operate on the land.

Tucson later approved an intergovernmental agreement defining the relationship between the city and tribe if the parcel became part of the reservation.

In 2022, the late Congressman Raúl Grijalva introduced legislation to place the land into trust. President Joe Biden signed the measure later that year, establishing the parcel as sovereign land and allowing the casino project to proceed.

Demolition of the former movie theater began in 2023, followed by roughly three years of construction.

The November opening brings that process to completion and gives the Pascua Yaqui Tribe a new gaming property inside Tucson itself.

Opening Expands Pascua Yaqui Gaming Presence

Vahi Ta’am joins the tribe’s existing casino operations and adds another gaming and entertainment destination in Southern Arizona.

The project has been presented as an investment in employment, tourism and economic development, while its location near Interstate 10 provides access for both Tucson residents and regional visitors.

The casino opens with a substantial gaming floor already in place, while possible future additions could broaden the site beyond gaming.