The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes are excited to share we are officially working on permitting and building our first and only casino! This project will help us to once again become self-reliant and provide the resources, education and meaningful employment opportunities our tribal members need to care for their families, as well as celebrate our culture and heritage.
This page is dedicated to keeping our tribal members informed about the latest developments on the project. We encourage you to check back regularly for updates and additions to the FAQ. If you have a question you would like to ask, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
In addition to the site, please visit www.ShoPaiResort.com to sign up for project updates. This website was developed for tribal members and the larger community. It is another great resource to monitor progress on our casino. Quarterly updates will be shared with everyone who provides their email address, as well as any pressing project updates.
SEPTEMBER 2025 CASINO UPDATE:
We submitting our fee-to-trust application for gaming with the U.S. Department of the Interior. We are on track to submit our application by the end of September 2025. While we are doing everything in our power to move the application process along as quickly as possible, it is important to know fee-to-trust applications for gaming historically take 12 to 36 months, or longer, for review and approval once submitted. Timing is dependent on the Secretary of the Interior’s approval and the state’s concurrence.
As our application moves through the permitting process, we will keep you updated.
We are closer than we’ve ever been to ensuring tribal self-reliance for generations to come, while also contributing jobs and meaningful economic activity to our surrounding communities. This is such an exciting moment for our people and we are grateful you are part of this next chapter.
FAQ
PROJECT OVERVIEW & PURPOSE
Is this project really happening?
After more than 30 years of discussing opening the first Shoshone-Paiute resort and casino, we are closer than ever to making this dream a reality.
Land has already been secured for the project and we are actively working on submitting our fee-to-trust application for gaming to the U.S. Department of the Interior. We plan to submit our application by the end of September 2025.
We selected the Coeur d’Alene Tribe to work alongside us as we work to control our future and develop a resort and casino to best benefit our people. We chose to work with Coeur d’Alene because they have the expertise and necessary resources to help us get this project off the ground.
We will continue to make sure our tribal members stay updated throughout this entire process.
How will this proposal benefit the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes?
Building and operating our first casino will give the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes economic and job opportunities that do not exist on our reservation today. Net gaming revenues will provide us the resources we need to invest in our children’s education, create our own tribal law enforcement, build a state-of-the-art health center, replace failing infrastructure and address our community’s most pressing needs, including caring for our elders.
Currently, our community is lacking sustainable infrastructure, potable water, and short nearly 300 affordable homes according to a 2023 Housing Needs Assessment. We all know too well how depression, suicide, and substance abuse have impacted our community and are made even worse by limited employment and educational opportunities. Gaming would allow us to become financially secure and address these pressing community challenges.
Establishing our own independent revenue stream through gaming will also open significant new public and private grant opportunities. While many federal grants exist to help Tribes, we haven’t been able to pursue these opportunities because we don’t have the required matching funds. Gaming will give us new tools to care for our tribal members.
Why did the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes select the Coeur d’Alene Tribe?
While we’ve had many conversations with potential partners in the past about helping us build a casino, we selected the Coeur d’Alene Tribe because they were the first to offer us a true partnership, while ensuring we maintain majority ownership and control of the project.
What happens next in the approval process?
The Shoshone-Paiute Business Council is working with the project team to submit our fee-to-trust application for gaming with the U.S. Department of the Interior by the end of September 2025.
Fee-to-trust applications for gaming historically take 12 to 36 months, sometimes even longer, for review and approval. Timing is dependent on both the Secretary of the Interior’s approval and earning the state’s concurrence. A recent study showed almost 80% of Idahoans overwhelmingly support the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes building and operating their first and only casino near Mountain Home.
Once we secure approvals, we plan to set up an initial gaming site and begin construction of the resort and casino. We anticipate it will take between 18 to 24 months to open the first phase of the casino once we have our approvals.
RESORT & CASINO DEVELOPMENT PLANS
What can we expect the resort and casino to include?
To help bring the benefits of tribal gaming to our people as quickly as possible, we are planning a multi-phased project. Once approved, we envision our resort and casino would eventually include:
- 1250 tribal gaming machines
- 180+ hotel rooms
- Spa and fitness center
- Fine dining restaurants
- Food hall with multiple options
- Event and entertainment center
Where will the proposed resort and casino be located?
We are working to build the project on our aboriginal lands between Boise and Mountain Home. The 40-acre parcel we are working on placing in trust is near the Ada-Elmore County line in Elmore County. Our ancestors used to hunt and care for this land and we are honored to have this opportunity to return home.
JOBS, HIRING AND COMMUNITY IMPACT
Are tribal members going to be given preference in hiring?
Yes, there will be Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO) compliance and tribal hiring preference. We are building the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes’ Resort and Casino to benefit our people. This includes providing family-wage job opportunities to our tribal members.
Can non-tribal members apply for jobs?
Yes, job opportunities will be available for non-tribal members- there simply won’t be enough tribal members to fill all of jobs the casino will require.
We want to create a resort and casino that benefits the surrounding communities in addition to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes. Providing well-paying jobs is one way we can make sure the positive impacts of the project are felt throughout the region.
What type of gaming will be allowed?
By law, Idaho’s tribal casinos are limited to tribal video gaming machines, bingo and charity drawings. You will not find blackjack, craps, poker, roulette or any other card or dice-based table games or any sports betting, as those activities are not allowed under Idaho’s Constitution.
Tribal gaming has existed in Idaho for more than 32 years. During this time, federal, state and tribal regulations have protected consumers by preventing cheating and fraudulent practices, and ensuring the right amount of revenues go where the federal, tribal and state governments have designated.