The Harrah's Phoenix Ak-Chin Casino is located in the Santa Cruz Valley of southern Arizona at the town of Maricopa. Although the elevation here is approximately 1,186 feet, this is not a land of mountain vistas. Instead, this is the extremely beautiful and arid Sonoran Desert.

Tribal History

The casino is operated by the Ak-Chin Indian Community, which is composed of members of both the Tohono O’odham peoples (formerly known as the Papago or “Desert People”) and the Pima, or "River People." The Pima are said to be the descendants of the Hohokam, a prehistoric people who constructed the multi-story Casa Grande structure nearby during the 13th century. Both the Tohono O’odham and the Pima speak Uto-Aztecan languages.

Both groups made their living from farming. The Pimas got their water from nearby rivers. The Tohono O’odham utilized flash-flood farming, in which they planted seeds in "washes" and waited for seasonal floods. Historically, the Tohono O’odham had relatively little contact with the European settlers; the Pima traded freely with Spanish, Mexican and American settlers, and served as scouts for the U.S. Army during the Apache wars (1861–86). A 1984 water rights settlement approved by the U.S. Congress allows the Ak-Chin Community to receive 75,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water. Population of the Ak-Chin community today is relatively small; there are fewer than 600 people.

The Casino

The 40,000 square-foot Ak-Chin Casino is open 24 hours a day and has 475 slot machines with denominations ranging from a penny to ten dollars. There are also 40 poker tables and 500 bingo seats. The keno parlor opens every day at 10:00 a.m.

The facility's resort hotel features 142 premium rooms and 4 luxury suites. The hotel surround is adjacent to a lush garden courtyard and a swimming pool.

Outdoor Pool and Swim Up Bar

Hotel guests can enjoy the pool, jacuzzi and Corkscrew's, a unique swim-up bar. Patrons can swim up to the bar and order a beverage or a food item from the lunch menu.

Dining options include the Harvest Buffet, which is open for lunch and dinner; the Range Steakhouse, Agave's Southwest Restaurant, and the Munchies Deli. The Oasis Lounge offers live music and other entertainment.