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“We were trying to anticipate the approval of the compact, but it kind of came without warning,” said William Bohannon, tribal business manager. “We don’t have a specific timeline on when it will open. We are trying to work on it.” He was referring to a notice which stated that the U.S. Department of the Interior had approved the tribal gambling compact between the tribe and the state.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, a division of Interior, received the compact from the tribe June 30, and Aurene Martin, assistant secretary for native affairs, signed it Aug. 13, BIA spokeswoman Nedra Darling said.

The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe is entitled under the provisions of Proposition 202, which voters approved this past November, to operate a combined 75 blackjack and poker tables at each of their casinos, said Christa Severns, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Department of Gaming.

Other tribes in the state received similar permission to operate blackjack tables for the first time. Bohannon said the tribe’s gaming commission needs to approve blackjack before the games begin, adding that he does not know when the panel will take up the matter at its weekly meetings.

The tribe prepared for the arrival of blackjack by installing the tables about a month ago, casino manager Bill Maxwell said.
Maxwell said the tribe plans to hire 30 people to run the blackjack games, including dealers. Bohannon said he does not know how many employees have been hired, adding, “There has been some training. We’re trying to gear up for it.”

In addition to hiring and training staff, the tribe also sought to accommodate the blackjack pit by changing the slot floor layout, Bohannon said. “Then, of course, we had to add surveillance equipment,” he added. Bohannon said he anticipates that blackjack will become popular with casino customers and draw more people.

“We expect a whole new venue with blackjack, drawing a whole new clientele,” he said. “There are a lot of people who don’t enjoy slots, but enjoy table games,” he said. The tribe opened the Yavapai and Bucky’s casinos around 1992, spokesman Steve Tripp said.