In the western American state of Arizona and the federally-recognized Gila River Indian Community has reportedly announced plans that are to see it open a fourth tribal casino on land just south of the city of Phoenix.

According to a Monday report from The Arizona Republic newspaper, the tribe’s Gila River Hotels and Casinos enterprise is already responsible for the gambling-friendly Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte and Vee Quiva facilities but has now been given official permission to open a compatriot property that could cost up to $100 million.

Employment expectation:

The Gila River Indian Community’s leadership reportedly approved the plan for the coming development at a special Friday meeting in hopes of bringing up to 1,000 new jobs to its reservation, which covers nearly 600 square miles of Pinal County and Maricopa County land. This consent purportedly moreover came with an associated budget for the design and construction of a venue that will offer gaming tables and a sportsbook as well as a possible hotel.

Gubernatorial grant:

The newspaper reported that the plan from the Gila River Indian Community follows its inking of a new gaming compact with the administration of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey in April. This historic agreement purportedly represented the most comprehensive update to the state’s gambling landscape in decades and could eventually lead to the construction of at least four new tribal casinos statewide including a pair for the area around Phoenix.

Securing safety:

Stephen Roe Lewis (pictured) serves as the Governor for the Gila River Indian Community and he reportedly told The Arizona Republic that the tribe has been attempting to acquire an amended gaming compact for years with the new arrangement representing ‘historic news’ for his community.

Lewis reportedly declared…

“Adding a fourth casino will bring additional revenues, security and critical services to community members. In addition, we anticipate being able to add hundreds of new jobs for which community members can take advantage and we expect that many of these will be filled by community members.”

Future forecast:

Lewis reportedly also told the newspaper that he is currently unable to give an estimate as to when the new property may open but is hoping that the endeavor will allow the Gila River Indian Community to responsibly ‘grow the market.’ The representative furthermore purportedly disclosed that his tribe is committed to being a good neighbor and will now begin liaising with local communities to address concerns such as traffic congestion.

Prominent praise:

As such and the Vice-Mayor for the nearby Phoenix suburb of Chandler, Mark Stewart, reportedly told the newspaper that his community currently has an ‘impeccable’ relationship with the Gila River Indian Community courtesy of past water usage and veteran memorial projects. The Republican purportedly went on to describe the tribe as a ‘great neighbor’ before proclaiming that anything it does ‘with business or with entertainment’ is bound to be good for his small city.

Stewart reportedly told The Arizona Republic…

“It just gives us more options. It is really impactful to our community as a whole so we’re just happy that we’re part of the community with the Gila River Indian Community.”