TUCSON, Ariz. (September 23, 2025) — The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise announced today that Karen A. Listo will serve as the new General Manager overseeing Desert Diamond Casino West Valley and Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks, operating in the West Valley of the Phoenix metro area. Karen had been serving as Interim General Manager for both properties so her transition to this permanent position will be seamless.
With over 30 years of gaming experience, Karen brings a wealth of industry expertise to her role in leading the West Valley properties. During her tenure Desert Diamond Casino has grown into Arizona’s premier gaming operation with five casinos, three in Southern Arizona and two in the West Valley. Most recently, Karen served as General Manager for the Southern Arizona properties before stepping into the Interim GM role at West Valley. She is an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation from the Sells District and has a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix.
Daniele Chilton, CEO for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said, “We are thrilled Karen has accepted the General Manager position for our two West Valley properties. Our gaming operations now employs nearly 4,000 team members across our facilities and has become a major economic engine for the Tohono O’odham Nation and the Arizona economy. With her extensive leadership skills, Karen will play a key role in growing our West Valley operations.”
Karen A. Listo, GM for Desert Diamond Casino’s West Valley properties, said “I am both humbled and honored to serve as General Manager for our two West Valley casinos. In just a few short years our West Valley operations have earned a reputation as leaders in gaming entertainment across the Phoenix Valley. We have built a strong enterprise from our humble beginnings as a bingo facility, and I look forward to working to continue to build on this success and move our operations forward.”
Desert Diamond Casino, with three locations in Southern Arizona (Tucson, Sahuarita, and Why) and two in the West Valley, is owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, an enterprise of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Additional information can be found at www.ddcaz.com or by calling 833-DDC-2WIN. Follow Desert Diamond Casino on X.com(@DDCWestValley), Facebook (@DDCWestValley), and Instagram (@desertdiamondwestvalley).