The Desert Diamond Casino is currently housed in one of those aluminum and PVC temporary tents. On July 30th (planned) their new permanent facility will open. The new facility will be a resort and casino as they will offer gaming,lodging and entertainment (concerts).

In Arizona, Indian gaming is governed by a pact between the State and each Tribe. The State has specific guidelines about how many facilities a Tribe may have (based on Tribal membership numbers) and also limits the number of slot machines at each location (500). Furthermore, the only "chip" based games allowed by the State are poker games (seven-card stud, Hold 'em and Omaha).

When the Desert Diamond Resort and Casino opens, they will close their cardroom and move it to the new facility. They will leave behind the 500 slot machines and install 500 new ones at the resort.

I have found out that they will start a Slot Club that they will name "Players Club". (Same name as the combined Manadalay Resorts Slot Club.) Also, negotiations with the State are still on-going and it is still unknown if other table games (blackjack, Let it Ride, etc.) will be permitted. The last I heard on this (as stated before) the Gov. (Jane Hull) will permit blackjack, if poker is eliminated.

Since the casion does not know how many chips it will need, they will open the new poker room with the current chips. However, the new rack is already designed and it will feature a double diamond logo.

Jim Follis