Casino fever continues unabated

The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise continued to top expectations in 2010, with its Fire Rock Navajo Casino one of only a handful of tribal casinos in New Mexico to show an increase in revenue for the year.

The casino reported 9 percent growth, which paved the way for plans to build five more casinos in and around the reservation.

Emboldened by the continued success of Fire Rock, the Navajo Nation Council agreed to back a $100 million loan and to postpone repayment of the internal loan used to build Fire Rock. Instead of repaying the Fire Rock loan at the original date, the gaming enterprise can now use that money for new construction.

In the fall it opened a second, smaller gaming facility east of Shiprock, called Flowing Waters Navajo Casino. Business here is also exceeding projections, according to the gaming enterprise.

Plans to build a small casino in Chinle, however, hit a snag when the owner of the site originally chosen requested changes to the lease agreement. The search is underway for a new site and the gaming managers hope to have the Chinle facility up and running in 2011.

The enterprise is also moving forward with plans for casino developments near two major towns in the region, Farmington and Flagstaff.

Land has been acquired for the larger of the two, a casino resort in Leupp Chapter about 25 miles east of Flagstaff. The prospect for the Twin Arrows Casino Resort is clouded, however, by a lawsuit that could result in a lien against the land. The plaintiffs, Navajos in the former Bennett Freeze area, say the money used to buy the land came from a fund intended to benefit them and their area, and they claim the Twin Arrows casino will not do so.

Construction on Twin Arrows is planned to start in 2012. Construction will start in 2011 on Northern Navajo Casino, and a site for it has been chosen in Upper Fruitland Chapter.

NEXT, No. 9: Two landmark lawsuits settled

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