Two separate tribal proposals could bring new casino resorts to the Interstate 84 corridor between Boise and Mountain Home. But while the Treasure Valley continues to grow eastward, neither project has received final approval, and neither has started construction.
According to BoiseDev Editor Don Day, who broke the story, the proposals come from the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
Both want to build large casino and resort developments near I-84, but each faces a long federal and state review process.
Why The Idaho Casino Plan Matter
Casinos in Idaho are currently operated by tribes in several parts of the state, but none are located close to the Treasure Valley’s main population center. That makes the two proposed projects especially significant for Boise-area residents, travelers, and businesses along the I-84 corridor.
The proposals also arrive as development pushes east from Boise. Thousands of homes, apartments, industrial buildings, and commercial projects are planned between the Boise area and Mountain Home, including the Peregrine development near Simco Road.
Shoshone-Paiute Casino Resort Near Boise
The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, based on the Duck Valley Reservation along the Idaho-Nevada border, have proposed a casino resort on about 557 acres along I-84 near Simco Road. The site straddles Ada and Elmore counties and is less than 20 minutes from Boise by car. About 40 acres would be used for the casino itself.
The tribe is partnering with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which would provide investment and management experience. Renderings released to BoiseDev show a multi-story glass-covered hotel, attached buildings, dining, a spa, entertainment space, and other resort amenities.
This would be the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes’ first casino. Tribal leaders have described the project as a way to create jobs and generate revenue for services on the remote Duck Valley Reservation.
Where the Project Stands
The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes submitted a fee-to-trust application to the U.S. Department of the Interior in September 2025. Tribal representatives have said initial feedback has been positive, but gaming-related trust applications can take 18 to 36 months—or longer—to review.
An environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act is expected to open for public comment in the coming months, though no exact date had been announced in the latest reporting.
Shoshone-Bannock Casino near Mountain Home
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, based near Fort Hall and Pocatello, have a separate proposal for about 157 acres off I-84 near Mountain Home. The tribe purchased the land in 2020, and the site is closer to Mountain Home than the Shoshone-Paiute project is to Boise.
The proposed development is much larger on paper. Plans call for a roughly $311 million, 500,000-square-foot complex featuring:
- About 2,000 electronic gaming machines
- A 250-room hotel
- Six restaurants
- An event center
- Two movie theaters
- An arcade
- A possible horse racing track and grandstand
This would be the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ fourth casino, but their first on land outside their reservation. The tribe says revenue could support employment, housing, roads, health services, infrastructure, and poverty-reduction efforts for tribal members.
Where Does the Idaho Casino Project Stand?
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes submitted their application to the Department of the Interior in 2023. Officials have said work continues behind the scenes to meet federal requirements, but the process is complex and has not yet entered a public review phase.
Both proposed Idaho casinos must clear several major steps before construction could begin.
- First, the U.S. Department of the Interior would need to approve placing the land into federal trust for the tribe. Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, off-reservation gaming generally requires the Interior Department to determine that a casino would benefit the tribe and not harm the surrounding community.
- Second, Idaho’s governor must concur with that federal decision. After that, the tribe and state would need to negotiate a gaming compact, which the Interior Department must approve before construction can move forward.
In short, both projects remain proposals—not approved casinos in Idaho. Timelines, final designs, and even whether the projects move forward remain uncertain.
I-84 Could Become The Casino Corridor
The I-84 corridor between Boise and Mountain Home is changing quickly.
New housing, industrial space, hotels, and commercial development are planned east of the Treasure Valley, and the proposed Peregrine project near Simco Road is designed to connect with the area around the Shoshone-Paiute casino site.
Still, the casino question remains open. Both tribes have spent years working on their plans, and both say the projects could bring major economic benefits. But federal review, state approval, and tribal-state compact negotiations stand between today’s proposals and any future groundbreaking.
Original reporting by Don Day, BoiseDev.
