The dispute arose after the tribe announced the casino way back in January 2009. The state refused to certify the new facility for Class III games even though numerous court rulings supported the tribe's right to engage in gaming at the site in Glendale, a suburb in the West Valley of Phoenix. Still, legislation that would curtail the tribe's gaming activities remains a threat. Rivals like the Gila River Indian Community and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community have spent millions of dollars in lobbying fees in hopes of stopping the new development, which they fear could erode their existing facilities in the Phoenix area. But with the state on its side, the tribe is moving forward. Construction is expected to take about 20 months. “We are very excited to be moving forward with a world-class resort and casino that will offer a wide range of new amenities to our guests and create opportunity for the West Valley,” Andy Asselin, the chief executive officer of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise said. “This has been a long time coming, and we will continue to work with the community to ensure that construction proceeds smoothly.”
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