Harrah's Ak-Chin is a hotel and casino located 39 miles south of Phoenix, Arizona in Maricopa. It is owned by the Ak-Chin Indian Community and operated byCaesars Entertainment Corporation. The casino features video poker and slot machines, as well as blackjack, keno, the only World Series of Poker room in Arizona and a newly renovated bingo hall, the only one in the Caesars Entertainment organization. In July 2011, the casino underwent a $20 million expansion, with addition of a new 152-room hotel tower that doubled its capacity. The resort is now expanding to include a 12-story hotel tower, bringing an additional 200 rooms totaling 529 total rooms. The pool and swim up bar, completed in 2012, was renovated and completed in early 2019. The resort expanded to include an 18,000 square foot multi-use entertainment space for live shows, weddings and banquets.
History
Harrah's Ak-Chin has served more than one million customers since opening on December 27, 1994. It has hosted more than 750,000 hotel guests since 2001.
Timeline
December 27, 1994 – Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino opens in Maricopa, Arizona. It is Arizona's first, and only, Indian casino to have a management partner.
October 1997 – A Harrah's Ak-Chin guest wins $330,000 on a malfunctioning Quartermania slot machine. Some debate follows as to whether or not the guest will be paid because the machine was faulty, but Harrah's eventually awards her the full sum.
June 2003 – Ak-Chin bingo operations move from the casino to the newly built Bingo Hall.
March 2001 – Harrah's Ak-Chin opens its resort hotel with 144 guest rooms and four guest suites.
February 2003 – The casino begins to offer tables games such as poker and blackjack.
November 2009 – The 148 rooms on the property are remodeled.
December 2009 – The Ak-Chin Indian Community extends the Harrah's management agreement for five more years.
June 2010 – Harrah's Ak-Chin breaks ground at the site of its hotel expansion: a five-story, 152-room hotel tower on the existing property. All 152 rooms will include upgraded amenities, including 50-inch flat screen televisions.
July 2010 – The Ak-Chin Indian Community purchases Southern Dunes Golf Club, which is managed by Troon Golf. The club is open to the public and offered as an amenity to resort guests.
November 2010 – Harrah's Ak-Chin completes a remodel of The Buffet.
July 2011 – Harrah's Ak-Chin completes $20 million expansion and opens the new hotel tower.
May 2012 – Harrah's Ak-Chin completes remodel of pool with swim-up bar.
August 2013 – Harrah's Ak-Chin completes a $1.25 million renovation of the 2765-square-foot Lounge.
December 2017 – Harrah's Ak-Chin opens renovated Bingo Hall & Wine & Small Plate Bar, Oak & Fork.
March 2018 – Ak-Chin Indian Community opens Ak-Chin Circle Pedestrian Bridge connecting Harrah's Ak-Chin and Ultra-Star Multitainment Center.
November 2018 – Addition of a 12-story hotel tower and 730-space parking garage is completed.
Amenities
Dining
Agave's Restaurant – a casual café with indoor and outdoor seating; it serves traditional breakfast and lunch cuisine daily.
Copper Cactus Grill – open 24 hours a day, this snack bar offers food on the go. Fare includes breakfast burritos, hamburgers and pizza, as well as snacks like nachos and pie.
Dunkin' Donuts
The Buffet at Harrah's – open daily for lunch and dinner, the remodeled buffet features food stations, where chefs prepare a wide array of foods, such as sautéed pasta, grilled steaks and rotisserie chicken, and wok items. Gelato is hand-served. Omelets are made to order at Sunday brunch. It has Friday and Saturday Night Seafood Buffets, and a Sunday Champagne Brunch.
Oak & Fork – open for dinner nightly, offering small plates & wine.
Chop, Block & Brew – open for lunch & dinner daily, serving gourmet burgers, craft beer and hand-crafted cocktails.
Entertainment
Harrah's Ak-Chin has temporarily suspended live entertainment during the expansion, but will soon return with entertainment for guests in The Lounge, featuring a variety of music by local bands, as well as regional and national touring acts. In 2019, Harrah's Ak-Chin will be opening an 18,000 square foot entertainment hall.
Additional amenities
The Ak-Chin property features an outdoor pool, complete with a large spa and a swim-up bar. Cocktail and food service is available for guests. In July 2010, the Ak-Chin Indian Community purchased Southern Dunes Golf Club, located near the resort in Maricopa. Southern Dunes is managed by Troon Golf. The course covers more than 320 acres and features an clubhouse. In 2009, Southern Dunes was named among Golfweeks “Best You Can Play, State-By-State” list of courses in the United States. The club is open to the public for a fee. It is offered as an amenity to resort guests. In the fall of 2012, the Ak-Chin Indian Community opened the 165,000-square foot UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle, operated by California-based UltraStar Cinemas. The project cost $50 million, and provides restaurants, a bowling alley, and areas for staging events. It is located near the city of Maricopa, which has 43,000 residents.
Awards
Harrah's Ak-Chin was named a "2010 Most Admired Company" by Arizona Business Magazine and BestCompanies AZ. *Phoenix Business Journal has ranked the facility as one of the “Best Places to Work in the Valley” in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes was ranked #5 in 2015 of "Best Courses You Can Play in Arizona" by Golf Magazine & Golfweek
Harrah's Ak-Chin was awarded the 2011 Volunteer Service Award from the Arizona Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism.
Total Rewards program
The Caesars Entertainment brand has a casino loyalty program called Total Rewards. Guests earn Reward Credits every time they play with their Total Rewards card at participating casinos. These can be used at other participating casinos.
