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Viejas to build California’s largest tribal casino near San Diego
The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians have announced plans to build an $800 million casino resort near its existing casino and outlet mall on tribal lands near San Diego.
The new resort—consisting of 600 hotel rooms, 2,500 slot machines, a spa, restaurants and shops—would be the biggest tribal gambling resort in California, a state with nearly 60 tribal casinos. Viejas also would join the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of Palm Springs as the second tribe with two casinos.
The tribe hopes to complete the project in five years. Plans are subject to review and approval by San Diego County supervisors and tribal Chairman Bobby Barrett said the tribe will have to address how the project would impact traffic, water supplies and other issues.
Veijas has adequate water to provide for the new development, but the tribeis currently in negotiations to purchase additional water for the reservation.
“We will be sitting down with our neighbors,” he said.
Viejas opened its gambling hall in 1990 as a 10,000-square-foot card room in 1990 and expanded three times. A 1999 compact allowed Viejas and other tribes to operate two casinos each, but capped slots at a total of 2,000 per tribe. In 2004, the tribe signed a new deal with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger allowing it as many slot machines as it wants.
