By SUZANNE DOWNING
Aug. 18, 2026 – The Las Vegas gambling interests behind the controversial Eklutna tribal casino have placed a major political bet in Eagle River.
Anthony “Tony” Marnell III, chairman and chief executive officer of Nevada-based Marnell Companies, contributed $20,000 last week to Ruby Jones, the recently registered Republican challenging conservative Rep. Jamie Allard in House District 23.
The contribution towers over other recent donations in Alaska’s legislative races. No other House or Senate contest has reported an individual contribution of that size in recent weeks.
For Eagle River voters, the message is hard to miss: The Las Vegas gambling company developing and managing the casino in their community is trying to own the person who represents Eagle River in Juneau.
Marnell Companies is the force behind the Native Village of Eklutna’s Chin’an Gaming Hall near the Birchwood exit. The company describes itself as the lender, developer, consultant, architect and gaming-machine vendor for the project. It also intends to manage the permanent casino.
Plans advertised by Marnell call for a 58,000-square-foot gambling hall with 700 electronic gaming machines and two full-service restaurants. The project has drawn strong opposition from nearby residents and remains entangled in legal and regulatory disputes. Right now, the casino is operating out of mobile units.
Marnell’s own corporate biography says his company is working with the Native Village of Eklutna to develop and manage “the first tribal casino in the Anchorage, Alaska area.”
Now the head of that Las Vegas company is spending heavily to influence the race for the legislative seat representing the casino’s neighborhood.
Jones has undergone a political makeover on her way into the race. She was previously registered as a Democrat, later became a nonpartisan voter and then switched her registration to Republican before launching her challenge to Allard.
Her political support, however, has continued to come heavily from the political left and organized labor.
Jones has received support from the Alaska Laborers Local 341 and the Teamsters, among other union interests. Earlier this month, hard-left Anchorage Democratic Rep. Zack Fields went door-knocking for Jones in Eagle River, raising further questions about which political caucus she would support if elected.
The Alaska Story previously reported that Jones attacked Allard for voting against a Democrat-led attempt to draw money from the Constitutional Budget Reserve. Every member of the Republican House minority took the same position as Allard, with the exception of Republicans Louise Stutes and Chuck Kopp, who caucus with the Democrat-led majority.
Jones nevertheless portrayed Allard’s vote as opposition to jobs and infrastructure, effectively adopting the Democrat majority’s argument against the Republican minority.
The $20,000 casino contribution adds a new dimension to a race already shaped by unions, Democrats and groups attempting to present Jones as a conventional Republican alternative to Allard.
Allard has been an outspoken conservative in the Legislature and previously served on the Anchorage Assembly. She has frequently challenged the Democrat-led House majority and has built her political identity around resisting pressure from unions, the political establishment and outside interests.
Marnell’s extraordinary contribution illustrates what is at stake for interests seeking a different representative from Eagle River.
A $20,000 contribution may be legal under Alaska’s current campaign-finance system, but its size and timing makes it impossible to dismiss as routine political support.
On the eve of the primary, a Las Vegas heavy hitter is betting heavily against Jamie Allard.
9 thoughts on “Organized: Las Vegas casino boss trying to buy Eagle River with $20,000 gift to candidate Ruby Jones”
“………She was previously registered as a Democrat, later became a nonpartisan voter and then switched her registration to Republican before launching her challenge to Allard………..”
Already a growing phenomenon, expect these kinds of games to escalate noticeably as the civil war within the Democrat Party grows.
This is the New Normal all across Alaska and the lower 48. Just look at the extremes the fake Independents or fake Republicans are willing to go through to be NOT associated with the Democrats.
As a side bar why is Vegas investing so much into the Eklutna illegal gambling scandal. The Federal Interior Department under Biden was PAID OFF by Vegas to administratively allow the illegal gambling. The Federal DOJ told the Interior Department to solve this issue that they created. It will be a major payout to Vegas. A massive black eye to the Federal Government for allowing illegal gambling in Ekultna.
Where is Dan Sullivan, Murkowski , and Begich? After all this is literally in Begich’s back yard.
Too easy to figure out. Even a child knows how this game works. Dangle a lollipop in front of her and the child tags along. Dangle a wad of money and a penis in front of a hooker and you got a business deal. The goodies speak for themselves.
Teamsters, casinos, politicians, any Sicilians? That’s the only thing missing here
Dont forget to include the Somalians who have been raiding the tax dollars in Minnesota soon to arrive and be on the take.
They are never honest and straightforward about what they are doing. They can’t win if they can’t cheat and they know it.
Pimping yourself out for $20K seems pretty cheap. Must have low self esteem.
Eklutna is not an Indian reservation, nor is it sovereign territory not subject to Alaska law. There is no legal status for them to have a casino. Perhaps Nick Begich or Dan Sullivan could ask the DOJ to step in and close this travesty down. The Native Land Claims Settlement gave the Indians property and a fair chance at being productive members of society. Casinos are illegal in Alaska.
The house always wins. Gambling is a tax on stupidity. Shame on us if we allow it.