New Mexico: Sandia Resort and Casino celebrates 25 years

New Mexico's Sandia Resort and Casino marked 25 years since its casino opened at its current site with a celebration on Wednesday evening, launching a 150-day series of events and promotions.

Sandia Pueblo Governor Stuart Paisano said the development of the casino was the result of long-term planning and persistence by past tribal leadership, KOB4 reported.

“It began almost 42 years ago with the opening of Sandia Indian Bingo, and then graduating to the big tent that a lot of people do have memories of, and then to the current location that we’re in,” he said. “They had a dream, and that dream was part of providing quality services like health care, education, housing, and infrastructure improvements to our small community."

Wednesday’s kickoff celebration included food, drinks, raffles, and entertainment, with resort officials outlining a packed schedule of summer concerts and promotional events. Paisano also teased that more could be on the horizon.

“I hope the facility will continue to be refreshed, and we’ll add a variety of different forms of entertainment," he told KOB 4. "Here in the near future, you’ll be able to see some of our additional expansions that will hopefully be announced in the future."

While the casino officially opened in 2001, the property has undergone multiple expansions over the years, including the addition of a hotel in 2005 and a golf pavilion and parking structure in 2014.

Today, the resort’s gaming floor spans approximately 140,000 square feet and features more than 1,900 slot machines.