Chris Jennings
An artist rendering shows the more-than-$500 million expansion of the Choctaw Casino & Resort. The Nation anticipates it will open in the Spring of 2021 and will generate 1,000 more jobs.
On April 25 the Choctaw Nation broke ground on its largest project to date. Now on its third expansion of the Casino & Resort in Durant since 2006, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is not only breaking ground, but also breaking records with this latest growth spurt.
The number of hotel rooms will increase by 1,000, giving the casino and resort a total of more than 1,600 rooms, making it the largest hotel room count in the state.
Chief Gary Batton said, “Today is a special day for the Choctaw Nation as we embark upon an expansion journey that will result in a top-tier entertainment offering for our region and will spur economic growth for Durant and our state, plus new employment opportunities for our tribal and community members.”
Choctaw Casino Resort: Senior Bingo - See 869 traveler reviews, 154 candid photos, and great deals for Durant, OK, at Tripadvisor.
Choctaw Bingo By James McMurtry 4/17/2010 E Strap them kids in, give em a lil bit of vodka E G A In a cherry coke, we're goin to Oklahoma E To the family reunion for the first time in years E G A It's up at Uncle Slaton's cause hes gettin on in years E You know he longer travels but he's still pretty spry E G A He's not much on talk and he's just too mean to die E And they'll be comin down. Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma has a 120,000 square foot casino floor with 3,000 slot machines, 36 table games, poker room, bingo, race book, hotel with spa and full service RV Park.
Along with more rooms, the more-than-$500 million expansion will also bring an expanded game floor, new pools with a lazy river, larger parking garage, retail space, entertainment options and dining venues making the casino and resort a true destination.
“The expansion will go a long way in meeting the demands of our growing customer base,” said Batton.
The groundbreaking ceremony wasn’t all talk about potential new customers and their revenue stream.
Janie Dillard, senior executive officer of the commerce division, had praises to share all around, especially for the team that helped put the expansion efforts together, saying, “You do not do this with one person, you do it with a team of people.” Dillard went on to show appreciation to Chief Gary Batton, Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr. and the tribal council for the trust and confidence they put in the team that put the expansion together.
The Choctaw Nation opened its first high-stakes bingo hall in 1987 on the same 55 acres the casino currently sits on. Dillard was emotional when speaking about the expansion project and the casino’s history. “I was here when we had 100 employees and we were broke. When
we made the first million dollars we thought...this is awesome. That’s [the bingo hall] the little house that made us,” said Dillard.
From the time the original bingo hall started making those large profits, the Nation has used that money to help its members. Each of the expansion projects and all of the other Choctaw businesses have been able to add to the offerings of the Nation. That money has helped many people.
“It helps to put more kids through college and build more hospitals. Our tribal members are our shareholders,” said Dillard.
The additional opportunities and resources that the expansion will bring to the area were not far from Batton’s mind either.
“To me it’s about the creation of jobs and opportunities for our tribal members and the community. They say the rising tide raises all ships so that’s what we’re going to do,” said Batton.
The Nation anticipates the expansion will open in Spring 2021 and will generate 1,000 more jobs for tribal and community members.
Biskinik June 2019
Choctaw Casino Bingo in Durant, Oklahoma was the first Choctawcasino to be constructed, in 1987, and was also the original casino before the construction of new Choctaw Casino Resort in 2005. Since the construction of the original casino, it has since then sparked growth for the Choctaw gaming industry.
In 1988, the voters of the state of Oklahoma passed a law that allowed 3 different classes of gambling in the state of Oklahoma. Choctaw Casino Bingo was one of the first facilities to take advantage of the new law. Changes in the law led to the introduction of Las Vegas style slot machines and video games as well as table games including Blackjack and Poker.
Choctaw Casino Bingo is owned and operated by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Profits contribute to many development programs used to benefit local communities and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Tourists[edit]
Choctaw Casino Bingo Schedule
The Choctaw Casino Bingo and the Choctaw Casino Resort form a huge gaming complex that is a popular tourist destination for Durant, the State of Oklahoma, the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, North Texas, western Arkansas, and northwestern Louisiana.
Entertainment[edit]
Lyrics To Choctaw Bingo
Choctaw Casino Bingo provided on-site entertainment, lodging amenities at the Choctaw Casino Resort Hotel, as well as, the plethora of gaming options within the casino. Gaming opportunities include over 700 gaming machines, live dealer assisted blackjack, and a bingo pavilion large enough to accommodate over 600 bingo patrons.
Closing[edit]
Upon the opening of the new Choctaw Casino Resort, the Choctaw Casino Bingo closed in January 2010.
Choctaw Casino Bingo
Sources[edit]
Idabel Oklahoma Choctaw Casino
Coordinates: 34°01′00″N96°23′35″W / 34.01656°N 96.39318°W