In 1993, the Quechan tribe signed a compact with the state of Arizona to allow construction of a casino with 475 slot machines.[1] Construction began in January 1996.[2] The casino opened to tribe members on July 31, 1996, and opened to the general public the next day.[3][4] It was built at a cost of $13 million.[3]
In 1999, the tribe negotiated a compact with the state of California to open a casino on the other side of the state line, seven feet away from the existing casino.[5][6] Operating in California would allow the casino to offer blackjack, which was not allowed under Arizona gaming compacts at the time.[7] The extra space would also reduce crowding in the existing casino.[7] Construction of the California casino began in February 2002.[7] It opened on December 20, 2002, with 20 blackjack tables and 200 slot machines.[8] The two casinos were jointly operated as Paradise Casino Arizona and Paradise Casino California.[9]
In 2009, Paradise Casino California was closed, as the tribe's California gaming operation was transferred to the newly constructed Quechan Casino Resort, seven miles to the west.[10][11][12] The new casino resort was expected to draw away tourist traffic, leaving Paradise Casino Arizona as more of a locals casino.[13] Paradise Casino California was then converted into an 800-seat event venue, the Paradise Event Center, which opened with a Lonestar concert in June 2009.[11][14]
A major renovation of the Paradise Casino was completed in 2011.[15][16]
