- One of the lesser-known Desert Diamond Casinos is located inside the Tucson International Airport.
- Desert Diamond casinos are owned by the Tohono O’odham Nation but are open to the public.
- The Desert Diamond West Valley Casino & Resort has a luxurious spa with an extensive treatment menu.
The Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment Houses are not your average Indian casino group in Arizona. For starters, they are owned by the Tohono O’odham Nation, which has an interesting backstory with the state of Arizona. Secondly, these aren’t just dingy establishments in the middle of nowhere with slot machines and free hot dogs. These are top-notch casinos and entertainment venues that rival anything Las Vegas has to offer (on a smaller scale).
0% Casino Bet MGM Withdrawal Fee 2023 - The Biggest SurpriseThere are five main Desert Diamond Casinos throughout southern Arizona, along with one inside the Tucson airport and another inside the Standard Arizona Hotel & Casino in the small town of Winslow.
If you have never been to one of these casinos, I will go over what they have to offer. I will also give out some tips and secrets that most casual gamblers do not know about.
What Is the Desert Diamond Casino?
The Desert Diamond Casino and Resort group is owned by the Tohono O’odham Nation –– not to be confused with the Tohono Apache Tribe that owns the Fort McDowell Casino, Casino Apache, and the Gila River Casinos.
The TON has had a contentious relationship with the state of Arizona due to them building their casinos outside of the reservations. They currently have three casinos that are not on reservation land, with one more proposed.
Here is a little background into this issue so you can understand why the TOC casinos are built the way they are.
Tohono O’odham Nation Casino History
The Tohono O’odham Nation spent years fighting for state recognition in the early to mid-1900s.
Finally, in 1978, President Carter signed a bill that recognized them as an official sovereign nation. This made them eligible for certain programs and services under federal and state laws. It also meant that they were entitled to Restoration, meaning they would receive land that was once theirs.
Restoration is when the government returns land to a native tribe that was taken from them at some point in history.
The first Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel opened on Restored lands back in 1994. At the time, it was the largest employer in Sells, AZ, which is where the majority of the Tohono O’odham live. The original plan was to build a resort with a hotel, restaurant, pool, mini mart, convenience store, child care center, and a 30,000 square foot casino with 500 slot machines. They ended up exceeding those goals right out of the gate.
Best FanDuel Casino Games to Play Online in 2023The resort had a full-service hotel with 62 rooms, a restaurant, pool, mini mart, convenience store, child care center, and a 60,000 square foot casino with 1,000 slot machines.
Needless to say, they didn’t skip out on any details.
The Tohono O’odham Nation wanted to bring jobs and prosperity to their people on restored land. Unfortunately, the state of Arizona wasn’t happy about it and passed a law that banned casinos within 125 miles of a current casino.
At the time, there were zero casinos belonging to anyone other than the state of Arizona or the various Native American tribes. So, there were no casinos within 125 miles of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s land. The TON took this to federal court, and after almost 20 years of litigation, they won.
This is when the TOC began buying land outside of their reservations and building casinos.
The Chandler and Tucson casres are on land that was purchased after the ruling. The Glendale, Sahurita, and the proposed casinos in Constance and Florence were all built on Restored lands.
All Desert Diamond locations are open to the public, 24/7, and 18+. That means you don’t have to be a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation to enjoy themselves. Anyone can play a game of bingo, pull a slot arm, or take a seat at the poker table.
Now that you have some basic information about who owns Desert Diamond casinos and how they came to own them, let’s talk about the casinos.
Overview of All Desert Diamond Casinos
I had no idea there were nine different Desert Diamond Casino locations before I started researching for this article. Granted, four of them are inside other places, but they count.
You will find slot machines, video poker and Keno in each of the Desert Diamond casinos. Table games, poker, and a poker room will vary between each location. If you live near Phoenix or Tucson, there is likely a Desert Diamond Casino closer than you think.
Awesome Fort Lauderdale Ccasinos Worth Visiting Right NowLet’s start with the airports.
1. Desert Diamond Casino – Tucson International Airport
Who says you can’t gamble while you’re waiting for your flight? The Desert Diamond Casino at the Tucson International Airport (TIA) is available for all travelers 18+ to enjoy.
This might be the smallest Desert Diamond venue, but it still packs quite a punch. There are 150 slot machines from penny machines all of the way up to $25 slots. They even have a few dollar machines for the high rollers.
When you want a break from shopping and eating, hit up the slot machines for a quick thrill. You never know, you might win enough to place a big bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday at .
The best part is that you don’t have to worry about getting there early or battling a huge crowd. Anytime you are in the airport, you can get your gamble on at the Desert Diamond Casino.
One unique rule is that you must be ticked in your flight in order to redeem your rewards points or cash in winning tickets/vouchers. I am sure they do around 100 departures a day, so this shouldn’t be much of an inconvenience for most.
2. Desert Diamond Casino – Tucson
The Desert Diamond Casino Tucson is the second oldest and second largest location the Desert Diamond group owns. This establishment sits on 20 acres of land and features a stunning facade with impressive water fountains out front.
Inside, you will find more than 500 video gaming machines such as , video keno, and Keno Deluxe. There is also Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card Stud, Lowball, and No-Limit games offered in the Poker Room.
They regularly host tournaments for Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Razz. Buy-ins range from $250 for the daily Deep Stack Tournaments up to $3,500 for the Championship events.
Series of tournaments run from Sunday to Tuesday with the championship game on Wednesday.
Outside of the regular poker games and tourneys, there is a Convention Center with more than 12,000 square feet of event space. This area can be divided into three rooms if you are looking to host a more intimate gathering.
If you are hungry, grab a bite to eat at the Eagles Wings Buffet. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.
Overlooked Online Casino House Edge Tips - Page 2 of 2The Garden Bistro is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and serves fast food, sandwiches, pizza, and salads. There is also a deli that serves gourmet coffee drinks, pastries, ice cream, and fountain drinks.
Of course, you will find a full-service bar in the casino, and the lounge features nightly entertainment from local artists.
Desert Diamond Casino Tucson is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They offer valet parking and a player’s club called Diamond Club.
Joining is free, and you can earn points on all slot machines, keno, and table games. The more points you earn, the more perks you will receive.
3. Desert Diamond Casino – Sahuarita
Desert Diamond Casino Sahuarita is the largest casino in Southern Arizona, with more than 550 slots and electronic gaming machines. New games arrive often, so they always have fresh titles for patrons.
They also have roulette, Mississippi stud, mini and Midi baccarat, blackjack, pai gow progress, pai gow poker, and three-card poker on the table. Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and 7 card stud are available in the Poker Room.
The poker room has six tables and hosts daily and weekly tournaments.
The Diamond Bar and Lounge offers craft beer and cocktails while you play. If you get hungry, stop by the Tap House for some grub. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. To 3 p.m.
Brandi’s Sports Bar & Grill is open 24/7 and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night eats. Of course, you can watch the big game here as well.
No casino is complete without a buffet, which is why the Eagles Wings Buffet serves up all your favorite dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Last but not least is the Garden Fresh Salad Bar, which opens at 11 a.m. Every day and closes at varying times. (Check the schedule posted at the entrance.)
The Diamond Club is open to everyone and completely free to join. As a member, you will earn points for everything from slot play to table games and dining at the casinos restaurants.
Those points can be redeemed for food, free play, discounts, and merchandise in the gift shop.
licensed us casinosIf you plan on visiting the Desert Diamond Casino Sahaurita, I recommend joining the Diamond Club first. Then, head to the buffet for breakfast and mimosas. After you eat, map out your plan of attack.
Start left and work your way right, then hit up the Tap House for a burger and beer. Go back and play a few hands of blackjack, followed by some slots and video keno.
If you are lucky, you can win back the cost of brunch.
4. Desert Diamond Casino – Glendale
Located just minutes west of the Loop 101 and 91st Avenue exit, Desert Diamond Casino Glendale is easy to access for anyone in the Phoenix Metro area.
The Phoenix metro is the wealthiest area in the state of Arizona, so I assume this casino brings in a lot of revenue for the TOC.
This establishment is not on tribal land, which is why Governor Doug Ducey filed a lawsuit against it in January of 2021. Only time will tell how that situation plays out.
Back to the casino …
Best Online Casinos That Accept Bank Transfer Deposits in 2023-2024There are more than 200 employee’s at the Glendale Desert Diamond Casino, and they have more than 450 slot machines, keno, roulette, and video poker. Blackjack, mini-baccarat, pai gow poker and pai gow progression are available at the table games section.
The Tap House serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night bites from 7 a.m. To 9 p.m. Brandi’s Sports Bar & Grill is open 24/7, serving up breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a full bar. Of course, you can catch every major sporting event on the dozens of TVs hung on the walls.
Grab a sweet treat, sandwich, salad, or Starbucks drink at the Café & Bakery, which is open from 8 a.m. To 8 p.m. Daily. The Garden Fresh Salad Bar is open from 11 a.m. To close each day.
Head to the Eagles Wings Buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also have brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. To 3 p.m.
Hungry? Go eat.
Despite having five different places to eat, you will undoubtedly want to join the Diamond Club and earn points for every meal you enjoy at DDCG. Those points can be redeemed later for food comps, free play, and discounts.
If you plan on playing the table games or slots, I would definitely join the Diamond Club first. Then, sit down to the table with the most open chairs and a low limit.
Work your way backwards after you run out of money, and grab some tasty treats at the café and buffet. Don’t forget to save your receipts so you can earn more points for the Diamond Club.
If only all casinos made it this obvious to max out the rewards and comps.
4.5 Desert Diamond Casino – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Most major airports have an airport bar somewhere. Some are attached to a hotel or restaurant, while others are standalone establishments.
The Desert Diamond Casino in the PHX airport is the latter.
It is located in Terminal 4, which is the easiest terminal to navigate through, in my experience. Desert Diamond backs up against gates 4A-4D, which are used for Southwest flights mostly.
Caesars Entertainment Resorts in the USA — And What That Means for GamblersIf you like Southwest, this is the spot.
Desert Diamond Sky Harbor offers beer, wine, and liquor, as well as slot machines, video keno, and video poker. It is open 24/70 days a year and joins the other four airside Desert Diamond casinos.
I wouldn’t plan a road trip around this particular casino, but if you are already in the airport, it is worth a look. You never know, you might hit the jackpot before your next vacation.
5. Desert Diamond Casino West Valley
The Desert Diamond Casino West Valley is the newest addition to the group, opening its doors in October of 2019. It is also the largest casino, offering more than 500 employees a job and hundreds of slot machines, table games, and more.
DDW is located off Interstate 10 and the White Tank Mountain/Cole Road exit. It is only fifteen minutes from Wild Horse Pass Casino and 20 minutes from the Gila River Casinos. Safe to say they are not trying to step on anyone’s toes by offering table games and poker.
Maybe that’s why their poker room only has four tables instead of the six at Sahaurita.
Regardless, poker players can still enjoy low and high stakes NLHE cash games and tournaments.
Players clubs from the other Desert Diamond casinos are accepted at the West Valley location and vice versa. That means you can win prizes and comps at any of the six casinos. Who does that? Desert Diamond, that’s who!
If you are in the Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Tolleson, or the West Valley, this could be your new favorite casino.
6. Desert Diamond Casino Yavapai
The Desert Diamond Casino in Clarkdale, Arizona, is operated by the TOC under the name Yavapai Casino.
This establishment sits on the same property as the historic Jordan Hotel and the quaint Camp Verde. It is also situated next to the beautiful Mingus Mountain.
Yavapai opened in 1999 and offers hundreds of slot machines, including video poker and keno. They also have roulette, blackjack, mini-Baccarat, and Three Card Poker on the table.
The Diamond Bar & Grill is open from 6 a.m. To 8 p.m., serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks. The Wild Game Sports Bar is the place to watch sports on their many HDTVs. Happy hour runs from 4 to 7 p.m., every day.
Ohio Poker Laws - Ultimate Iowa Guide to Poker LegalityIf you are looking for a quick bite, the Fast Break serves burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, and ice cream. The Deli & Coffee Shop serves homemade pastries, espresso drinks, and fountain drinks.
Of course, there is a full-service bar behind the casino floor.
Clarkdale is roughly 100 miles from all the Desert Diamond casinos below. It takes nearly three hours to get there from Tucson and two and a half hours from Phoenix. Basically, it is too far to drive, which is why I consider this a separate entity.
Another thing that sets Yavapai Casino apart from the rest is the fact that it is open from 8 a.m. To 4 a.m. Daily. Most casinos in Arizona open at 10 a.m., which is probably to encourage people to go to the buffet for brunch.
Not Yavapai.
Early risers can get a jumpstart on gambling and breakfast burritos at the Wild Game Sports Bar.
7. Desert Diamond Casino Solomons Island, Maryland
Yes, you read that correctly. The TOC bought the Maguire Veterans Home in Solomons, MD, back in 2018 with plans to turn it into a casino.
The state of Maryland approved it on May 24, 2019, renaming it Desert Diamond Casino Solomons Island. It is officially the seventh addition to the Desert Diamond family, and the first outside Arizona.
The grand opening was September 19, 2019, and they celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
So, how far is Desert Diamond Casino Solomons Island from the others?
Well, it’s a lot further than Yavapai Casino in Clarkdale.
This establishment is roughly 2,400 miles away from the Desert Diamond Casino Tucson. That’s a straight shot, too. No going through the mountains or desert. Just pack some tunes, some podcasts, and hit I-95 or US-301.
You could fly, I guess. DIWC is roughly eight miles from BWI (Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport).
This is the largest casino the TOC has built to date, spanning 125,000 square feet. Inside, you will find 1,500 slot machines, popular table games, a 24-hour restaurant, and a high-end steakhouse.
Oh, and they have a 300-room hotel with elegant suites overlooking the picturesque Patuxent River.
Compare that to the original Desert Diamond Casino and resort with 62 rooms, and you’ll see how successful the TOC has become over the last 25+ years.
How to Sign Up for Desert Diamond Player’s Club
Everyone should sign up for the Diamond Club when visiting a new casino. Not only can you earn free play, meals, and discounts, but some casinos offer tier benefits.
For example, DDCG offers free valet parking, preferred table games seating, and a VIP line at the players club.
Sounds nice, right?
Here’s how you sign up for the Diamond Club at Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson.
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Head to the Players Club – It’s closest to the exit anyway, so kill two birds with one stone.
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Get in line and fill out the paperwork.
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Hand the formative to the clerk and wait for your card.
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Start playing!
That’s it. Now, whenever you insert your card into a slot machine, dinner, or table game, remember to feed the card.
casinos near venice floridaRepeat this process at every Desert Diamond Casino you visit, and you can rack up points faster than a cheetah running after its prey.
Best Games to Play at Desert Diamond Casino
The best games to play at Desert Diamond Casino depend on your skill level and what you came to do.
Some of you reading this today are poker sharks looking for a new place to sink your teeth into. Others are casual fans looking for a new spot to enjoy a few hands.
And some of us just love hitting the slots from time to time.
Whatever the case, each Desert Diamond Casino has something unique to offer that the others don’t.
For example, only Desert Diamond Casino West Valley has poker tournaments six nights a week. DDCG is the only casino with a golf course attached to it.
If you want to play poker in the Phoenix Metro, DDCG and DSW are your best options.
All casinos offer promotions, giving you the chance to double your winnings, or get your money back if Lady Luck isn’t smiling at your face.
Promotions change monthly, so check the website or ask a Diamond Club representative for the latest deals.
The best table game to play at Desert Diamond Casino depends on your skills. Baccarat and craps both have very low house edges if you bet on the banker and placing the pass line, respectively.
Blackjack also has a low house edge if you follow basic strategy.
Pai Gow and Three Card Poker have higher house edges but are easier to learn and master. It all comes down to what you prefer.
If you want to hit a button and relax, try slot machines. If you want a more interactive experience, table games are the answer.
And if you are a season poker pro or want to learn the game, hit up the poker rooms at DDCG and DSW.
Oh, and if you hate poker and table games but are OK with gambling alone, video poker and keno are great alternatives.
Tips on How To Get Started With Online Poker - PokerListingsFootnotes:
- TOC official site.
- Desert Diamond Casino solomons island from there.
Kevin Roberts, previously published as Aaron Jackson, is a freelance writer and intrepid traveller who's visited more than 35 countries. His work has been featured on Travel + Leisure, Global Traveler, International Living, Economist Open Future, and other publications. He's also the author of several novels under a pseudonym. Learn more at kevinrwrites.com.
When he's not writing, Kevin enjoys playing poker, producing EDM music, and learning new languages.
