Summary:
- The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation intends to build a new casino in Idaho.
- Sho-Pai has partnered with Coeur d’Alene, the tribe that will fuel the project upfront and oversee its development and management.
- The project envisions a development spread across 557 acres, with around 40 used for the casino.
A third Native American tribe in Idaho has expressed its clear intention to open a casino near the growing Treasure Valley region.
The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation (Sho-Pai) recently presented their plan to add a new layer to an already complex race for gaming development in the area.
Big Change for Sho-Pai
The announcement comes amid the tribe finalizing the purchase of a 557-acre property spanning Ada and Elmore counties, just south of I-84 between Boise and Mountain Home.
The land is being eyed as the future home of their first casino. This would mark a major shift for the Sho-Pai, the only Idaho-based tribe without a casino to generate revenue for essential services or community support.
In a press release Tuesday night, the Sho-Pai announced they will partner with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. The latter is ready to invest upfront while overseeing the resort’s development and management.
Coeur d’Alene Chairman Chief Allan said,
We have experienced the transformative power of gaming, and we are honored to be able to help our brothers and sisters secure those same benefits
In parallel, Shoshone-Paiute Chairman Brian Mason spoke about his dream of a future where members “have the resources, education, healthcare and employment opportunities they need to care for their families” and preserve their “way of life”.
Mason envisions a future where their children “have hope and believe the best days are still ahead of them”.
The chairman also took the opportunity to speak about the lack of “meaningful economic opportunities” within the challenge-ridden community, explaining the need to provide for their people.
Tribal gaming will allow us to make these dreams into a reality
40 Acres Dedicated to the Casino
While the precise address remains undisclosed, Mason confirmed the land lies two miles south of the Orchard Access Road exit near the Boise Stage Stop.
Out of the full 557 acres, around 40 will be used for the casino itself. The tribe has not yet selected whether the development will fall under Ada or Elmore County jurisdiction.
This effort follows the earlier proposal by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes to build a massive $300 million casino resort in Mountain Home, their fourth casino and first off-reservation.
That project, still under federal review as of early 2024, sparked tension with Sho-Pai leaders, who felt their own casino aspirations in the same region were being overlooked.
Though plans for the Sho-Pai facility remain in the early stages, Mason hinted at future amenities such as modern slot machines, a luxury hotel, upscale restaurants, a spa, and entertainment venues.
The tribe has also committed to contributing five percent of net gaming revenue to support local education.
Regulatory approval will still be required from both the U.S. Department of the Interior and Governor Brad Little’s office, as well as whichever county the project ends up in.
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