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The first casino to open in Tucson, Arizona's city limits is set for a November 15 grand opening
Casino Del Sol Vahi Taaʼam on Grant Road at I-10 will likely employ as many as 500 people
Tucson is getting its first casino on November 15, 2026.
Casino Del Sol Vahi Taaʼam on Grant Road at I-10 will feature a 52,334-square-foot gaming floor with 924 slot machines, including 56 high-limit games as well as seven bar-top gaming stations, table games and a sportsbook offering wagering on all major sports.
Two restaurants are also slated to operate on the property including Old Pascua Grill, a 174-seat restaurant.. Three bars will open: OP Grill Bar, Center Bar and High Limit Bar.
The casino will likely employ as many as 500 people directly.
Up until now, the closest casino to the Tucson city limits was Desert Diamond Casino Tucson on Nogales Highway, roughly 8–10 miles south of downtown. It features slots, table games, sports wagering kiosks, restaurants, and a hotel. Desert Diamond Casino is owned and operated by the Tohono O'odham Nation on tribal land.
Casino Del Sol already operates the largest casino in the Tucson area approximately 15 minutes west of the downtown area. While it has a Tucson mailing address, the tribal land status means it is not governed by the City of Tucson.
Casino Del Sol Vahi Taaʼam will be a mere 3 to 4 miles away from Tucson's downtown area. It will still operate on tribal trust land associated with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, but the site itself is located within the municipal boundaries of Tucson. Hence, the reason why it is being promoted as "the first casino within Tucson's city limits".
The University of Arizona is about 4–5 miles away while visitors arriving on I-10 from Phoenix can essentially exit and be at the casino within minutes.
A hotel is planned along with a convention center for development at a later date.
Amanda Sampson Lomayesva, Interim CEO of Casino Del Sol, said of the Casino Del Sol Vahi Taa'am grand opening:
"Choosing Vahi Taa'am reflects the culture, language and vision of the Tribe. It symbolizes light and speaks to a bright future for our team members, guests and the greater Tucson community."
If Casino Del Sol's other location is any indication, Tucson's residents and visitors alike should be in for a real treat, whether they gamble or not. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive.
426sunt writes:
"If you're in the Tucson area, this is a perfect mini vacation to get away. This was not our first stay at Del Sol We had a great room with a beautiful view. Check in was easy the room ended up being free due to being a club member."
A vacationing couple wrote of the slot variety:
"Fun environment with a bunch of slots that hit good and a bunch of table games! They give new customers $20 free play!"
Andy Myre writes:
"Love this place don’t really win that much but the vibe I get from this casino is better than any other casino in the valley. When I make a donation and have some fun at the slots I come here."
And Jesse offered:
"Did not stay in the rooms at this Casino/Hotel, but did use some of the facilities like restaurants, casino and bars. Great food, drinks, slots and table games. Nice customer service and courteous staff. Awesome place to visit or stay. I do recommend this place for a trip or just a one day visit."
But like a lot of casinos, not everyone is thrilled with the smoking.
Christine Burias had this to say:
"I was really amazed by the interior of Casino Del Sol. It truly feels like you’re walking through a cute little town, and the ceiling with the 3D blue sky design is beautiful and impressive. Unfortunately, the cigarette smoke was overwhelming throughout the entire casino. It was my first time visiting, and because of the strong smoke smell, I wouldn’t come back. I really wish they would consider making the casino smoke-free, as it would make a huge difference and allow more people to enjoy such a beautiful space."
No word yet on whether the Casino Del Sol Vahi Taaʼam will feature a designated non-smoking gaming area.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
