Though a temporary casino in Birchwood remains open, Native Village of Eklutna leaders have paused construction on a large, permanent gaming facility as they determine how a recent federal legal opinion could affect the project.
Village and casino leaders say they remain committed to building at least a 58,000-square-foot facility, the Chin’an Gaming Hall off Birchwood Spur Road, near Birchwood Airport. Plans call for hundreds of electronic gaming machines that resemble slot machines and at least two restaurants on an approximately 6-acre allotment leased to the village. If built, it would be the Anchorage area’s first permanent casino.
A cleared site on the northwest corner of the gaming hall property sits nearly ready for construction.
