Navajo Nation to get first casino

2007-10-23 11:22:22

The Navajo Nation's tribal council have voted in favor of a new casino development, it has been reported.

A meeting was held in Window Rock, Arizona where the leaders voted 54 to 25, the Associated Press revealed.

JP Morgan Chase is to provide the tribe with a $100 million credit line to fund the casino, which is expected to be built in Gallup, Arizona by next summer.

The president of the tribe, Joe Shirley Jr, expects the casino to gross $32 million in its first year and there are already plans to build an even higher-grossing casino in Flagstaff.

"I think we're heading in the right direction," Mr Shirley said.

"I can't wait to see the first casino go up."

Gambling has proved a lucrative market for Native American tribes in recent years, with the Seminole tribes making enough money to buy the Hard Rock Cafe chain in 2006.