Casinos in Phoenix & Scottsdale and Nearby Areas
There are eight casinos in the Phoenix area, including two in Scottsdale.
All have the regular slot machines, blackjack games and video poker games you’re used to. And, thanks to new tribal agreements with the state of Arizona, Phoenix casinos are now allowed to have sportsbooks and spread table games like real dice craps, roulette, Pai Gow and baccarat.
While you won’t get served free alcohol like you would in Las Vegas, you will be able to experience fine restaurants, entertainment options, and other amenities you’d find at resorts along the Strip.
Here’s a rundown of the eight casinos in the Phoenix and Scottsdale areas:
Casino Arizona
(Black pin on map)
One of two casinos located in Scottsdale, Casino Arizona is located 14 miles east of downtown Phoenix and is the closest casino to downtown.
It’s owned by the same tribe that owns its larger, fancier sister resort: Talking Stick a few miles north.
Located just off of Highway 101, or Loop 101, Casino Arizona has over 900 slot machines, and over 50 table games, including blackjack of course, but also EZ Baccarat, Let It Ride, 3 Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker and Roll to Win craps (a hybrid between live and electronic craps).
(Each pin represents one of the 8 Phoenix-area casinos)
No poker room here, but there is a popular 1,000 seat bingo hall and Keno lounge as well.
The resort has five restaurants ranging from the Eagles Buffet to the Cholla Steakhouse & Lounge, to your standard casino coffee-shop type of restaurant.
524 North 92nd Street
Scottsdale, AZ. 85256
Phone: (480) 850-7777
Website: CasinoArizona.com
Desert Diamond Casino West Valley
(Purple pin)
This is the newest casino in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and the only one in Glendale, on the western part of Phoenix. It’s 19 miles north and west of downtown Phoenix, and would take you about a half hour to drive there.
The Desert Diamond Casino West Valley opened on December 20, 2015, but an elaborate, $400 million dollar expansion completed in February of 2020 refreshed the resort considerably.
The casino now boasts a 75,000 square foot gaming floor, with with 1,400 slot machines, and 48 table games, including Pai Gow Poker, Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’ Em, live craps, roulette, mini baccarat, and 3 Card Poker. There’s also a 380 seat Bingo Hall, with games daily.
Being so close to State Farm Stadium and Gila River Arena, the new Desert Diamond Sportsbook is a natural fit, with several betting kiosks spread throughout the casino.
Desert Diamond West Valley’s 27 table poker room has a ton of TVs, and lots of high hand and other promotions.
In addition to the food court, there’s a steakhouse, a sports bar and more.
Address, Phone & Website
9431 W Northern Ave
Glendale, AZ 85305
Phone: (520) 294-7777
Website: Desert Diamond West Valley Casino
We-Ko-Pa Casino (Burgandy pin)
The furthest north of any of the Phoenix and Scottsdale area casinos, the We-Ko-Pa (formerly called Fort McDowell Casino), is 31 miles northeast of Phoenix. It’s roughly a 30 minute, to one hour drive, depending on traffic.
Situated seemingly in the middle of nowhere, it’s pretty nonetheless. A massive expansion completed in the fall of 2020 brought the complex up to 166,000 square feet, and it now features 850 slot machines and video poker games, and lots of the normal table games, including 22 blackjack tables, along with 3 card poker, Roll to Win craps, and Progressive Pai Gow. Limits go from $5 to $1,000.
The new bingo room has seating for 750 players, and is smoke-free. A Betfred Sportsbook is on the way, but in the meantime, there are 8 self-serve betting kiosks available.
Six restaurants dot the property, including a buffet, Ember (fine dining), a sports bar, and more.
The 246 room home attached to the casino has a spa, beautiful pool area, and a gorgeous 18 hole golf course.
We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort Address, Phone & Website
10424 N. Fort McDowell Road
Fort McDowell, AZ. 85264
Phone: (480) 837-1424
Poker room (480) 789-4284
Website: WeKoPaCasinoResort.com
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino
(Pink pin)
Having opened in 1994, this is one of Arizona’s older casinos, however a $100 million dollar plus renovation and expansion was completed in 2019.
According to a story in the Arizona Republic, the popular resort welcomes 700,000 visitors a year. It gets its name from the Ak-Chin Indian tribe, who owns the casino resort. The tribe has partnered with Caesars Entertainment in running it, meaning you can use your Caesars Rewards card at Harrah’s Ak-Chin casino.
This is the southernmost of all the Phoenix casinos, being 37 miles south of Phoenix, in Maricopa. The drive can range from 40 minutes to an hour and 40 minutes, depending on traffic.
Ak-Chin Casino Slots & Games
Harrah’s Ak-Chin has 1,135 slot machines and video poker machines. Table game limits start at $5, and include blackjack, live craps, roulette, Pai Gow Poker, Mississippi Stud, 3-card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
The new bingo hall seats over 400 players and there is a modest sportsbook.
With a 12 story, 229 room hotel tower completed in 2019, the resort now has 529 rooms. Based on hotel room count, Harrah’s AK-Chin is the biggest hotel/casino in the Phoenix area.
The Events Center at Harrah’s Ak-Chin has seating for 2,000 people. In addition, the property boasts a 20,000 square foot ballroom and a 3,000 square foot spa.
The resort’s five restaurants include everything from a Dunkin Donuts to a gourmet chophouse. The pool area’s grounds are beautifully landscaped. There’s even a swim-up bar.
Harrah’s AK-Chin Casino has free daily shuttle service to and from various points around the area. The current schedule can be found here:
https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-ak-chin/casino/free-ride-free-play
Another attractive feature is the AK-Chin Multi-tainment Center across the street from the casino/hotel. If you get tired of losing in the casino, you can skip on over there via the pedestrian bridge to check out the bowling alley, movie theater and restaurants.
Harrah’s AK-Chin Casino Address, Phone & Website
15406 N Maricopa Rd
Maricopa, AZ 85139
(480) 802-5000
Website: Caesars.com/Harrahs-AK-Chin.com
Lone Butte Casino
(Green pin)
Not the largest casino, Lone Butte is situated 18 miles south of Phoenix, about a 25 to 40 minute drive into the outlying town of Chandler, Arizona. It opened in November of 2008.
In addition to the 1,200 slots, there are 24 table games, (not including the poker room). These include now live dice craps, blackjack and roulette.
There is a 750 seat bingo parlor and new 8,000 square foot, 30 table poker room, complete with 9 different 90 inch TV screens. They spread limit, Omaha, and have a bad-beat jackpot.
Lone Butte Casino is home to a Bet MGM Sportsbook.
Your eating options at the Lone Butte include the Full House Cafe, (open 24 hours), and a food court (with a Panda Express).
Lone Butte Casino Address, Phone & Website
1077 S. Kyrene Road
Chandler, Arizona 85226
(800) 946-4452
Website: PlayatGila/LoneButte.com
Talking Stick Resort & Casino (Blue pin)
Perhaps the most “Vegas-y” of all of the casinos near Phoenix, Scottsdale’s Talking Stick is 20 miles away from downtown Phoenix, or roughly a 25 to 45 minute drive.
It’s located in a beautiful area just east of Salt River Fields, which is the large baseball field complex that acts as the spring training home to both the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks.
The biggest and arguably nicest casino in Phoenix area, the casino space is reported to be just shy of 100,000 square feet. This puts it on par with some of the famous casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.
The hotel has been ranked as a AAA Four Diamond Resort. The 15 story hotel has 496 rooms, six restaurants, four lounges. Behind the resorts sits the 36 hole Talking Stick Golf Club.
On the 14th floor of the resort, the well-regarded Spa at Talking Stick has over 13,000 square feet of relaxation (as long as you don’t look at the bill).
Talking Stick Casino
Down below in the casino are more than 800 slot machines and video poker games, along with a Keno hall complete with Keno tournaments.
You table game players will find most of the usual favorites among 50 table games. There have Roll to Win Craps here, along with Let it Ride, Pai Gow, 3-Card Poker, High Flush, Blackjack, EZ Baccarat, and electronic roulette.
Talking Stick’s poker room, (called the “Arena Poker Room”) is the by far the largest in Phoenix, with 47 tables. It plays host to a number of tournaments, big and small, including the Arizona State Poker Championship.
The 25,000 square foot Salt River Ballroom and 10,000 square foot concert venue hosts concerts and performances by big-name acts, from Terry Fator to Alice in Chains to Jay Leno.
Talking Stick Address, Phone Number & Website
9800 Talking Stick Way
Scottsdale, AZ 85256
(480) 850-7777
Website: TalkingStickResort.com
Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino (Brown pin)
Nicknamed the “VQ”, this new version of the Vee Quiva opened in July of 2013. The resort is 15 miles southeast of Phoenix, just off the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.
Twenty table games can be found inside here, along with 1,300 slots, including favorites like Shark Week and Lightening Link. The table game selection includes blackjack, craps and roulette. Like it’s Gila River cousins, there is a BetMGM Sportsbook here.
The VQ has a 90 room hotel. While small, it has received the AAA Four Diamond Award.
There are two restaurants here, (including a the Full House coffee shop). Vee Quiva’s food court includes a Panda Express, and a Fatburger.
As with some other Phoenix casinos, the Vee Quiva has a free shuttle that picks up passengers from several different stops throughout the Phoenix area.
Vee Quiva Casino Address, Phone & Website
15091 South Komatke Lane
Laveen, AZ. 85339
(800) 946-4452
Website: PlayatGila.com/veequiva
Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino (Yellow Pin)
Conveniently located just off Interstate 10, the Gila River Resorts – Wild Horse Pass is 18 miles south of Phoenix, or roughly a 30 minute drive.
The resort opened in October of 2009. It gets great reviews and competes with Talking Stick Resort as one of the largest casinos in Arizona, although it is not as luxurious.
Wild Horse’s website says they have 100,000 square feet of casino space. After a $143 million dollar expansion completed in January of 2022, the new 11 story Sunrise Hotel tower brought the resorts room count to 467 rooms.
There are 1,100 slot machines, and 20 table games, (including live craps, roulette and blackjack), and a BetMGM Sportsbook. You’ll also find a 1,400 seat concert arena.
Dining options include Shula’s American Steak House, a 24 hour café, the popular Ling & Louies, and a food court.
In January 2022, Gila River Resorts & Casino Wild Horse Pass completed a $180 million dollar expansion that added 205 new hotel rooms, a swimming pool area, enhanced gaming floor, and more.
Wild Horse Casino Address, Phone Number & Website
5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard
Chandler, AZ 85226
(800) 946-4452
Official Website: PlayatGila.com
More Casinos Coming to Phoenix
An April 2021 agreement with Indian Tribes signed by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is going to result in two more casinos being built in the Phoenix valley. The compact also will allow sports betting and new table games, such as craps and roulette. We’ll update this when the sportsbooks and new casinos are announced.
Other Casinos Near Phoenix
One other note, this list only includes casinos in and around the Phoenix area and does not include the four casinos in Tucson (116 miles south), nor outlying casinos like the Apache Gold Casino, which is 96 miles away (close to a 2 hour drive), east of Phoenix.
(By Steve Beauregard. All casinos photos courtesy of each respective casino except for official city websites: Talking Stick (ExperienceScottsdale.com), and Harrah’s AK-Chin, Wild Horse Pass and Lone Butte – from VisitPhoenix.com)