MHA Nation Plans $2B Casino Resort in Las Vegas

Tribal leaders face backlash from members over financial troubles at home.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:18am

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A minimalist studio photograph featuring a stack of casino chips, a pair of dice, and a luxury pen arranged on a clean, monochromatic background, symbolizing the abstract concepts of corporate strategy, finance, and risk in the casino industry.A conceptual still life captures the high-stakes world of casino development as the MHA Nation pursues a major new resort in Las Vegas.

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation has announced plans to build a $2 billion casino, hotel, entertainment, and sports complex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tribe purchased over 20 acres of land in the city starting in 2020, but the plans have faced criticism from tribal members who are concerned about financial difficulties and lack of transparency within the tribal government.

Why it matters

The MHA Nation's Las Vegas casino project has raised concerns among tribal members who are already grappling with staff layoffs, hiring freezes, and funding issues on the Fort Berthold Reservation. The tribe's leadership is facing calls for accountability and transparency around its spending and operations, even as it pursues the high-profile Vegas development.

The details

The MHA Nation first purchased 8.7 acres of land in Las Vegas through a bankruptcy case in 2020, followed by additional parcels totaling 23 acres. In February 2025, the tribe applied for a pre-review with Clark County for preliminary plans that include a casino-hotel, entertainment theater, convention center, and possibly a 15,000-20,000 seat sports center. Tribal Chairman Mark Fox said he is seeking a professional sports team, potentially an NBA expansion franchise, to anchor the sports complex. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has expressed support for the project.

  • The MHA Nation purchased the initial 8.7-acre parcel in Las Vegas in 2020.
  • The tribe bought the 13-acre parcel once owned by the Route 91 Harvest Festival in 2020.
  • The MHA Nation acquired the White Sands Motel in 2020 to finalize the 23-acre land deal.
  • The tribe applied for a pre-review with Clark County planning in February 2025.
  • Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo met with Chairman Fox about the project in August 2025.

The players

Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation

A federally recognized Native American tribe based in North Dakota that has announced plans to build a $2 billion casino resort in Las Vegas.

Mark Fox

The chairman of the MHA Nation who is leading the tribe's efforts to develop the Las Vegas casino project and secure a professional sports team to anchor the planned sports complex.

Jim Gibson

A Clark County Commissioner who has stated he expects to see something "pretty significant" from the MHA Nation's casino plans.

Joe Lombardo

The Governor of Nevada who has expressed support for the MHA Nation's casino development in Las Vegas.

Fredericks and Carol Good Bear

Tribal members who filed a lawsuit against the MHA Nation's leadership over the use of the "Peoples Fund" and a $250 million withdrawal, though the case was ultimately dismissed.

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What they’re saying

“I'm expecting to see something pretty significant.”

— Jim Gibson, Clark County Commissioner

“The MHA Nation Supreme Court has affirmed the lower court's dismissal of our case. The Court did not hold that the People's Fund issue is unimportant. Instead, the Court held that this dispute cannot move forward in court because the Tribal Business Council raised sovereign immunity as a defense, and the Court concluded that we have not been deprived of property as required to invoke under the Indian Civil Rights Act ('ICRA') sufficient to trigger our Constitution's limited waiver for ICRA claims because the People have received all disbursements to date.”

— Fredericks and Carol Good Bear, Plaintiffs

What’s next

The MHA Nation will continue to work with Clark County officials on the casino resort project, with the goal of securing a professional sports team to anchor the planned 15,000-20,000 seat sports complex.

The takeaway

The MHA Nation's ambitious Las Vegas casino development has sparked controversy within the tribe, as members demand greater transparency and accountability from tribal leaders amid ongoing financial challenges on the Fort Berthold Reservation. The project's success could hinge on the tribe's ability to address these internal concerns while navigating the complex regulatory environment in Nevada.