We-Ko-Pa Casino | 2024 Updates

Nation | Tribe: Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation

WE-KO-PA CASINO RESORT

10438 North Fort McDowell Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85264

(480) 789-5300
(855) 957-9467

We-Ko-Pa Casino opened Oct. 29, 2020. The 166,341-square-foot casino features 1,100 slot machines, 12 table games, 5 poker tables and a sportsbook. This destination casino has six restaurants, an AAA Four Diamond hotel with 245 rooms, a conference center, RV park, and an award-winning golf course.

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We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort

WE-KO-PA CASINO OPENED OCT. 29, 2020
We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is located off route 87 on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Reservation about 20 miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

WE-KO-PA CASINO REPLACED FORMER FORT McDOWELL CASINO
The former Fort McDowell located at 10424 North Fort McDowell Road in Scottsdale was shut down Oct. 26, 2020 and replaced by the We-Ko-Pa Casino. which opened Oct. 29, 2020. The Fort McDowell Hotel remains open.

History
The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. In 1984 the tribe began its first gaming operation when it opened Ba'Ja Bingo. In 1992 the operation expanded by adding slot machines and renaming itself the Fort McDowell Casino. After 28 years Fort McDowell Casino was permanently closed on Oct. 25, 2020 and was replaced by the We-Ko-Pa Casino on Oct. 29, 2020.

News Headlines

Arizona's First Casino Opened 40 Years Ago Today! Oct. 29 October 29, 2024 - Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation opened the first gaming facility in Arizona on Oct. 29, 1984. It was a high-stakes bingo parlor, named Ba'Ja Bingo, that was built at ... Read more We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort Earns Tripadvisor 2024 Travelers' Choice Award June 5, 2024 - We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort has earned a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award for the third year in a row. The award recognizes We-Ko-Pa as a top 10% ... Read more We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort earns Tripadvisor 2023 Travelers' Choice Award June 8, 2023 - We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort has earned the Tripadvisor 2023 Travelers' Choice Award for the second consecutive year. The award celebrates We-Ko-Pa for ... Read more Fort McDowell Yavapai Tours Return October 22, 2022 - The Fort McDowell Yavapai Tours returned Tuesday after shutting down for the COVID-19 pandemic. The guided tours explore the culture and history of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation with visits to the Yavapai Cultural ... Read more We-Ko-Pa Casino's Ember Restaurant receives 2022 Wine Spectator Award August 7, 2022 - For the second consecutive year Ember Restaurant at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort has won the "Best of Award of Excellence" in this year's Wine Spectator's review ... Read more Headlines continued...

Overview

WE-KO-PA CASINO - OVERVIEW

• $120M construction cost
• 166,341 square-foot facility

WE-KO-PA CASINO - GAMING

• 1,100 slot machines
• Bingo with 760 seats
• Upscale high limit slot room
• Table games
• Live poker
• Sportsbook

WE-KO-PA CASINO - RESTAURANTS & BARS

• Fine-dining restaurant
• Buffet with 300-seats
• Sports bar
• Patio lounge
• Coffee shop

WE-KO-PA CASINO - OTHER

• Entertainment stage
• Four-story parking garage

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Features | We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort

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Wekopa Resort & Conference Center

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News Articles

Arizona's First Casino Opened 40 Years Ago Today! Oct. 29

October 29, 2024

Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation opened the first gaming facility in Arizona on Oct. 29, 1984. It was a high-stakes bingo parlor, named Ba'Ja Bingo, that was built on the site of the later Fort McDowell Casino.

This photo was published by The Arizona Republic on March 21, 1984. The caption reads:

"Officials of the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation seem pleased with the site chose for the $1 million bingo parlor ... The 30,000-square-foot facility is being built on Fort McDowell Road north of Beeline Highway. A pre-opening party is planned for August."

- The Arizona Republic, March 21, 1984

A few years earlier, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Native American tribes have the right to operate high-stakes bingo on their reservation without jurisdiction of state and local laws. The case was Seminole Tribe v. Butterworth and was decided on October 5, 1981.

In 1988 the federal government passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which established gaming rules for casinos on Indian lands. The law allowed Ba'Ja Bingo to expand with more slot machines and table games. In 1992 the expansion continued and the name was changed to Fort McDowell Casino.

Fort McDowell Casino was permanently closed on Oct. 26, 2020 and replaced by We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort on Oct. 29, 2020. We-Ko-Pa is a 166,341 square-foot destination casino and resort. The casino features casino features 1,100 slot machines, 12 table games, 5 poker tables and a sportsbook. The hotel has a AAA Four Diamond rating with 245 rooms, a conference center, RV park, and two award-winning golf courses.

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We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort Earns Tripadvisor 2024 Travelers' Choice Award

June 5, 2024

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort has earned a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award for the third year in a row. The award recognizes We-Ko-Pa as a top 10% choice in Tripadvisor listings of favorite destinations, hotels, and restaurants during the past year. Winners are determined by the quantity and quality of ratings posted.

"We take pride in delivering exceptional guest experiences, whether it's an exhilarating evening at our state-of-the-art casino, a relaxing stay in one of our luxurious guestrooms, or a memorable meal in one of our innovative dining outlets."

- Jeffrey Duke, We-Ko-Pa Acting GM

Tripadvisor is the world's largest travel recommendation resource with more than one billion reviews of nearly eight million businesses.

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is owned and operated by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

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We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort earns Tripadvisor 2023 Travelers' Choice Award

June 8, 2023

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort has earned the Tripadvisor 2023 Travelers' Choice Award for the second consecutive year. The award celebrates We-Ko-Pa for its exceptional hospitality and consistently outstanding reviews from travelers, and places We-Ko-Pa among the top 10% of Tripadvisor ratings worldwide.

"We're thrilled to receive Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Award once again. This award is especially meaningful because it comes from the travelers themselves - the people who play in our state-of-the-art casino, enjoy our luxurious accommodations, dine at our variety of fast and casual restaurants, and relax in our spa."

- Aaron Moss, GM We-Ko-Pa Resort

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and features a casino, six restaurants, an AAA Four Diamond hotel with 245 rooms, conference center, RV park and golf course.

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Fort McDowell Yavapai Tours Return

October 22, 2022

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Tours returned Tuesday after shutting down for the COVID-19 pandemic. The guided tours explore the culture and history of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation with visits to the Yavapai Cultural Center, Cemetery, Wassaja Preschool and the Farm at Fort McDowell.

Tour buses depart the River of Time Museum & Exploration Center at 8am. After the tour, lunch is held at Ahnala in the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort. Visitors then return to the River of Time for a tour of the museum and gift shop.

For more information and reservations, visit www.riveroftime.center or phone 480-837-2612. Tour tickets are $75.

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We-Ko-Pa Casino's Ember Restaurant receives 2022 Wine Spectator Award

August 7, 2022

For the second consecutive year Ember Restaurant at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort has won the "Best of Award of Excellence" in this year's Wine Spectator's review of the world's best wine lists. Ember offers a world-class selection of 800 wines by the bottle and 26 wines by the glass.

"That we won this award two years in a row, which also happens to be how long Ember has been open, is a testament to our entire staff's commitment to excellence."

- Zac Gallo, Executive Director of Food and Beverage for the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort

Wine Spectator has recognized and honored the world's best wine lists since 1981. Ember is one of 21 restaurants in Arizona to receive this award.

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We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort celebrates first-year accomplishments

November 6, 2021

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort celebrated its first anniversary last Friday having opened October 29, 2020. The first year ended with many noteable and outanding accomplishments.

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation issued this statment:

"For more than 37 years, our tribal nation has taken great pride in offering excellence in gaming, and we're thrilled to continue this legacy in our beautiful new facility.

"We'd like to invite everyone to celebrate our one-year anniversary and experience the magic of We-Ko-Pa for themselves."

- Bernadine Burnette, President Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort First Year

• We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort was named "Best Casino" for 2021 by PHOENIX Magazine

• We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort was a finalist in AZRE Magazine's 2021 Real Estate and Development Awards

• Ember, a fine-dining steakhouse, won Wine Spectator "Best of Award of Excellence" for 2021

• Opened Dining Studio at Dragon Wok & Noodle and Las Tapas.

• Signed new state-tribe gaming compact to modernize casino games and add sports betting.

• Introduced two new table games including craps and roulette.

• Opened The Mint slot room with 75 new slot machines.

• Partnered with Betfred Sports to operate retail sportsbook (future)

New plans for growth and change will continue in the coming year at We-Ko-Pa. A new sportsbook with Betfred Sports will launch soon along with the opening of Amore, an Italian venue in the Dining Studio.

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We-Ko-Pa is nominated for design award

February 14, 2021

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is a finalist for this year's AZRE Magazine Real Estate and Development (RED) Awards. The magazine recognizes We-Ko-Pa for its "state-of-the-art construction and its contemporary, elegant design."

The RED Awards are considered by many to be "the Academy Awards of Arizona's commercial real estate industry."

The awards recognize Arizona's best commercial real state projects in a variety of categories. The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is nominated in the Hospitality category.

This year's award winners will be announced March 11th and all finalists will appear in the March/April 2021 publication of AZRE magazine.

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We-Ko-Pa is Golfweek Magazine's Best Arizona Course

February 14, 2021

Golfweek, the renowned US golfing magazine, rates the Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club as the #1 Best Course in Arizona. The Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa is rated the 7th Best Course.

Golfweek is a leading industry source that ranks golf courses based on a 1-10-point rating system. Golfweek uses over 750 professional raters to rank the top courses in the country.

The Top Ten Arizona Courses according to Golfweek are:

1. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) - Fort McDowell
2. Quintero - Peoria
3. Ritz Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain (Saguaro Tortolita) - Marana
4. Wickenburg Ranch - Wickenburg
5. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium) - Scottsdale
6. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes - Maricopa
7. We-Ko-Pa (Cholla) - Fort McDowell
8. Troon North (Monument) - Scottsdale
9. Ventana Canyon (Mountain) - Tucson
10. Troon North (Pinnacle) - Scottsdale

Golfweek is owned by Gannett's USA Today Network.

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We-ko-pa Casino celebrates grand opening

November 1, 2020

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort opened its new casino on Friday Oct. 29 at 6 PM. An immediate celebration began with promotions running through the weekend. Each guests received a chance to win a share of $360,000 in cash and prizes.

The new casino is a 166,341 square-foot facility costing $120 million. Gaming includes 900 slot machines,table games, poker room and a bingo hall. There are also nine restaurants and bars.

We-Ko-Pa Casino replaces the Fort McDowell Casino was shut down permanently at midnight on Oct. 26, 2020.

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We-Ko-Pa Casino celebrates "topping out" milestone

June 6, 2019

Tribal leaders and members of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation gathered at the construction site of the new We-Ko-Pa Casino to celebrate the placing of the final steel beam. The event marks the half-way point for construction that began June 29, 2018 and will finish in the summer of 2020.

The ceremony decorated the final beam with a flag of the United States and a flag of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The beam also carried a project banner, an artificial Christmas tree, and signatures of the Yavapai Nation tribal leaders and elders, project leaders, casino employees, tribal members and construction crew.

The beam was then hoisted into position on top the new Porte Cochere.

Bernadine Burnette, President of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, said during the ceremony

"Every beam we lay, and every milestone we achieve, brings us one step closer to realizing our dream of creating an unrivaled entertainment, gaming and dining destination for Valley residents and visitors to the area.

"The casino's topping-out ceremony is a celebration for all of us - the tribal council, our tribal members, our loyal and valued guests, and all the employees who so proudly represent our culture. It's truly a monumental day for the Yavapai Nation."

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Fort McDowell Casino will be replaced by We-Ko-Pa Casino in October 2020

June 6, 2019

A replacement for the Fort McDowell Casino, named the We-Ko-Pa Casino, is currently under construction at the We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center. The new casino will be connected directly to the We-Ko-Pa Hotel by a garden court atrium.

Plans for this $120 million casino were announced by the Yavapai Nation in June 2018 followed by a groundbreaking June 29, 2018. A grand opening is expected in the summer of 2010.

The new We-Ko-Pa Casino will be larger than the Fort McDowell Casino with 166,341 square-feet of smoking and non-smoking gaming space, 1,100 slot machines, high-limit slots room, 760-seat bingo, table games and a live poker room.

The new construction will also add a four-story parking garage, covered valet parking, new restaurants, sports bar, patio lounge and gift shop.

The existing Fort McDowell Casino will continue to operate until the new We-Ko-Pa Casino opens in 2020. At that time the Fort McDowell Casino will close. There are currently no future plans for that building, however, the tribe has planning groups reviewing options to determine the best opportunities for its use.

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Fort McDowell Casino reopens May 15

May 14, 2020

Fort McDowell Casino will reopen at 10 AM Friday May 15 with a phased-in program to comply with federal, state and local health agency guidelines. Not all facilities will be open at first, and many will be limited in capacity.

All guests and workers will be temperature checked at entry for temperatures of 100F and under. There will also be occupancy limits, hand sanitizer stations, and stringent COVID-19 safety and sanitation protocols throughout the properties.

Slot machines will operate with extra spacing for social distancing. Blackjack tables will be open. Bingo will begin May 22, however Bingo Buses are currently suspended. Poker is delayed pending guidance from government health agencies.

The hotel also reopens May 15. Room reservations resumed new bookings on Monday May 11.

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We-Ko-Pa Casino celebrates groundbreaking

June 29, 2018

The Yavapai Nation held a ground breaking ceremony today to celebrate the start of construction on a new $120M casino. This all-new casino will connect to the We-Ko-Pa Hotel and will replace the Fort McDowell Casino when finished in 2020.

The Fort McDowell Casino first opened as a bingo hall in 1984 and expanded its casino games over the past 35 years. The new casino will be named the We-Ko-Pa Casino to consolidate its brand with the We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center and the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

Construction will begin this summer and take two years to complete. The expected opening for the new casino is late spring or early summer of 2020.

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Fort McDowell will build a replacement casino

June 15, 2018

A ground breaking ceremony will be held on June 29 for the new casino owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The ceremony will be held at 9 A.M. Members of the tribe, Arizona state officials, and members of the nearby communities are expected to attend.

When completed the casino will be 166,341 square feet. Plans include a garden court, fine dining, a sports bar, an entertainment venue, and other amenities for guests to enjoy.

The new casino will be a replacement for the current casino owned by the tribe. Fort McDowell Casino is 150,000 square feet. The original building will remain. However, plans for the building have not been announced.

The current casino location will remain open while construction continues on the new gaming venue.

The cost for the new casino has not been released. However, officials for the tribe have stated that the cost for the casino would be multimillion dollar.

The project was developed as a way to strengthen the economic independence for the tribe. Revenue made from the casino will go to support tribal members. As well as benefiting the surrounding communities.

Nearly 30 years ago the tribe built the first bingo hall in the Phoenix area to offer high stakes games.

Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of summer. The grand opening is estimated to be by the spring of 2020.

The new casino will be located east of Phoenix by 30 mins off of the Beeline Highway.

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News Headlines Continued

2022

Update: "How a Native American tribe changed the gambling industry by standing up to the FBI" June 2, 2022 - A 1992 confrontation between the FBI and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation became a turning point in the history of the Indian gaming industry. ... Read more "How a Native American tribe changed the gambling industry by standing up to the FBI" - Arizona Republic May 25, 2022 - A 1992 showdown between the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the FBI was a turning point in Indian gaming history. ... Read more

2021

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort celebrates first-year accomplishments November 6, 2021 - We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort celebrated its first anniversary last Friday having opened October 29, 2020. The first year ended with many noteable and outanding accomplishments. ... Read more Arizona approves 18 sportsbook licenses to launch Sept 9 August 29, 2021 - The Arizona Department of Gaming announced its selection of 18 sportsbook applicants to open the state's first sports betting operations beginning September 9th when the NFL kicks off its ... Read more 2021 Best Golf Courses at Native American Casino Resorts August 5, 2021 - On August 1 Golfweek has published its Best 2021 list of Top 50 Casino Golf Courses. Thirty five of these courses are located at Native American casinos. These are listed and ranked below. ... Read more "Top 10 Arizona Casinos for 2021" by Ranking Arizona April 14, 2021 - Ranking Arizona has published its 2021 list of the Top 10 Arizona Casinos. The list is part of the annual ranking of the "Best of Arizona Business" based on voter opinions gathered by AZ Big Media. ... Read more We-Ko-Pa is nominated for design award February 14, 2021 - We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is a finalist for this year's AZRE Magazine Real Estate and Development (RED) Awards. The magazine recognizes We-Ko-Pa for its "state-of-the-art construction and elegant design." ... Read more We-Ko-Pa is Golfweek Magazine's Best Arizona Course February 14, 2021 - Golfweek, the renowned US golfing magazine, rates the Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club as the #1 Best Course in Arizona. The Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa is rated the 7th Best Course. ... Read more

2020

We-ko-pa Casino celebrates grand opening November 1, 2020 - We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort opened its new casino on Friday Oct. 29 at 6 PM. An immediate celebration began through the weekend by giving guests a chance to win some of the $360,000 in cash and prizes. ... Read more Fort McDowell Casino reopens May 15 May 14, 2020 - Fort McDowell Casino will reopen at 10 AM Friday May 15 with a phased-in program to comply with governmental health agency guidelines. Initial gaming includes slot machines and blackjack. Bingo opens May 22. Poker is ... Read more

2019

We-Ko-Pa Casino celebrates "topping out" milestone June 6, 2019 - Construction on the new We-Ko-Pa Casino reached the halfway milestone as the final beam was hoisted into place. The new casino will replace the Fort McDowell Casino when it opens ... Read more Arizona
Fort McDowell Casino will be replaced by We-Ko-Pa Casino in October 2020 June 5, 2019 - Fort McDowell Casino will continue to operate until next year when it is replaced by the opening of the all-new We-Ko-Pa Casino which is currently under construction. ... Read more

2018

We-Ko-Pa Casino celebrates ground breaking June 29, 2018 - The Yavapai Nation broke ground today on its new 166,341 square-foot casino. Construction will take two years and is expected to be finished in early 2020. The new, larger facility will replace the 35 year old Fort McDowell Casino. ... Read more Fort McDowell will build a replacement casino June 15, 2018 - The Yavapai Nation will build a new 166,341 square foot casino to replace the existing Fort McDowell Casino. The new casino will open in the spring 2020. ... Read more