NVE Gaming Hall Project
Q&A – Potential Tribal Gaming Hall, Native Village of Eklutna.
There will be more information to share along the way in our journey to open the Chin’an Gaming Hall. We will update this page as more information becomes available. We appreciate your interest and look forward to sharing more news over time.
Is the Native Village of Eklutna building a gaming hall?
Yes! The Native Village of Eklutna has been given approval by the National Indian Gaming Commission and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to open a gaming facility which will be named the Chin’an Gaming Hall. Chin’an means “thank you” in the Dena’ina Athabascan language.
Where will the gaming hall be located?
The Chin’an Gaming Hall will be built on the Eklutna Tribe’s ancestral homelands, a short distance off the Glenn Highway in the Birchwood area near the airport and railroad.
What land will the Chin’an Gaming Hall be built on? Is this legal?
The gaming hall will be built on a Native allotment owned for decades by Eklutna Tribal members. This is authorized under federal law (the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act).
Why is the gaming hall being built in the Birchwood area instead of Anchorage?
The Native allotment, given and owned by Eklutna Tribal members and leased to the Tribe, was selected to host the gaming hall as it falls within the Tribe’s ancestral homelands and under the Tribe’s jurisdiction.
What will the gaming hall look like?
The Chin’an Gaming Hall will be a modest facility situated on six acres of land and approximately 58,000 sq. ft. in size. It will be a one-story facility, roughly the size of a large restaurant. The surrounding acreage will be designated for parking and landscaping.
The Chin’an Gaming Hall will not be like the casinos operated in Las Vegas, Atlantic City or even some of the lower 48 tribal casinos. The Chin’an Gaming Hall will not be loud in its physical or audio presentation.
Is the gaming hall open?
After receiving approval from the BIA in mid-January, the Native Village of Eklutna has now opened a temporary gaming hall facility. Construction on a permanent facility is in the planning stage, and once started, is projected to take 13 to 15 months to complete. A permanent facility is estimated to open in 2026.
What types of games will the gaming hall offer?
Both the temporary and permanent gaming hall facilities will be limited to electronic machines; there will be no card or table games. The temporary facility can open with as many as 85 electronic gaming machines, and the permanent facility could have 700 machines or more. Typical Las Vegas casinos have over 2,000 machines (plus card and table games).
Will the gaming hall have a restaurant? Will alcohol be served at the facility?
The Native Village of Eklutna hopes to open two restaurants in the permanent Chin’an Gaming Hall facility. No alcohol will be served in the temporary facility.
At this time, no decision on operating hours or serving alcohol has been made for the permanent facility. If alcohol is served, the Tribe would comply with applicable state licensing requirements.
What will a gaming hall do for the Native Village of Eklutna?
Our Tribe has struggled for many years to develop a strong tribal economy that will allow us to take the best care of our people and to be a positive partner to all our neighbors. Our now-opened gaming hall presents an incredible opportunity to reach these goals. The project’s revenue will provide critical benefits not just to the Tribe, but also to the surrounding community.
What, if any, benefits will the gaming hall provide to the local community and/or nearby residents?
Revenue from the Chin’an Gaming Hall will enable the Tribe to provide much-needed support for its members and the surrounding community including housing initiatives, employment opportunities, job training, scholarships, cultural enhancement programs, and healthcare services.
Is the Native Village of Eklutna purchasing additional lots around the Native allotment land to increase the size of the gaming hall?
The Chin’an Gaming Hall can and will only be built on the Native allotment. Some nearby land was purchased as a buffer for the project. We do not currently have plans for development on any adjacent parcels.
Was an Environmental Assessment for the gaming hall conducted?
Yes. An Environmental Assessment (EA), conducted by the BIA, was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act to assess the potential environmental impacts of the Chin’an Gaming Hall.
Did the public have an opportunity to weigh in on the gaming hall?
Yes. The EA was released in December 2024, with the public comment period ending on January 9, 2025. During this time, 84 responses were submitted by community members and organizations. The BIA carefully reviewed each response. The Tribe wants to work with all stakeholders to ensure the gaming hall is a beneficial project in every possible way.
What public safety measures will the Native Village of Eklutna put in place for the gaming hall?
The Tribe has hired security personnel, and the Anchorage Police Department will provide police services to the site as necessary. The Chugiak Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company provides fire protection and EMS services in the Chugiak and Birchwood area, including at the project site, and will serve the Chin’an Gaming Hall in the event of an emergency.
Is the Native Village of Eklutna paying taxes for fire and emergency services?
The Native Village of Eklutna and the Municipality of Anchorage have entered into an interim intergovernmental agreement under which the Tribe will help offset the costs of public safety services to the parcel. This agreement will provide a steady, predictable funding stream for local first responders.
The parcel is already within existing municipal public safety service areas; the interim agreement merely enables the Tribe to offset the potential cost increase to the Municipality resulting from the development of the parcel.
Why is NVE not paying property taxes on the project site?
In accordance with the Alaska Native Allotment Act, the restricted Native allotment/project site is not subject to local or state property tax. The Chin’an Gaming Hall will pay payroll withholding taxes.
How will the Chin’an Gaming Hall operations impact the nearby salmon stream in Peters Creek and what environmental protections are in place? What about glacial flooding and creek bed movement?
The BIA’s Environmental Assessment found that the Chin’an Gaming Hall construction and operations will not significantly impact the nearby salmon stream (Peters Creek). The project design includes a 50-foot setback from the creek to minimize environmental impact. The Native Village of Eklutna is committed to adhering to the highest environmental standards.
To handle significant flooding events (glacial or otherwise), the Chin’an Gaming Hall will include a stormwater system. The 50-foot setback also mitigates the risk of glacial flooding and creek bed movement.
What impacts will the gaming hall’s septic system have on Peters Creek?
The project’s plans include a sophisticated septic system designed to comply with all relevant environmental regulations, minimizing any risks of contamination to Peters Creek.
Is there sufficient water supply to support the gaming hall without depleting neighboring wells, and what studies have been conducted on the water table?
Yes. The Chin’an Gaming Hall is initially being served by water trucked in, and later by a groundwater well that will be installed on the property. The gaming hall will have little to no impact on the water table as described in the EA. A water feasibility study was included in the EA.
What measures are being considered to address pedestrian safety and traffic flow?
The Native Village of Eklutna recognizes the Chin’an Gaming Hall has the potential to increase both pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The Tribe is currently discussing road and access configuration improvements such as crosswalks, increased signage, paved parking areas, and access roads to accommodate pedestrian safety.