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Choctaw Casinos & Resorts facts for kids

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Choctaw Casinos & Resorts
Address image=Choctaw casino resort durant.JPG
Opening date March 8, 2006 (Durant location)
No. of rooms various
Total gaming space 218,844 sq ft (20,331.3 m2) (Durant location)
Notable restaurants Butterfields Buffet
1832 Steakhouse
Tomatillo Mexican Grill
Jackpot Java
The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que
Casino type Indian
Owner Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Renovated in 2008
Website Choctaw Casino Resort

Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is a chain of eight Indian casinos and hotels located in Oklahoma, owned and operated by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

The original location in Durant has 218,844 sq ft (20,331.3 m2) of gaming floor, over 4,200 slot machines, and 776 hotel rooms. The resort has two casinos and two hotels within the complex. The South Casino was completed in 2006 with 108,844 sq ft (10,111.9 m2) of floor space, and the North Casino was completed in 2010 with 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m2) more floor space. Choctaw Inn has 101 hotel rooms, and the newer Grand Tower has 204,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) of floor space, 330 rooms and suites, and is 12 floors tall. The $360 million resort is the flagship of the Choctaw Nation gaming industry.

Locations

History

New Choctaw Casino Resort
Looking east towards the North Casino and Grand Tower.

The Choctaw Casino Resort sits on a 50-acre site, adjacent to the former Choctaw Casino Bingo. The Choctaw Casino Bingo was built in 1987 and was the first of the Choctaw gaming franchise. In 2006, the original $60 million resort (now known as the South Casino) was completed with the construction. Soon after completion, tribal officials determined they built too small for their clientele and went underway with an expansion. In February 2010, a larger casino was built adjacent to the existing resort and became known as the North Casino. The Grand Hotel Tower is built atop the North Casino. The Bingo Hall then closed, shortly after the opening of the expansion.

Durant

Tourism

New choctaw hotel at night
The North Casino and Grand Tower at night.

The Choctaw Casino Resort and Choctaw Casino Bingo complex is a major tourist destination for Durant, the State of Oklahoma, North Texas, including the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Kansas. Some 5,000-6,000 people patronize the facility each week, about 300,000 annually. About 81 percent of the casino's customers are from Texas, and the casino is heavily marketed on television, radio, and the internet to people in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Marketing materials put emphasis on the casino's location as being "One Hour North of Dallas."

Facilities

The Choctaw Lodge and Choctaw Inn

In addition to the main tower, the Choctaw Lodge has 59 rooms. The Choctaw Inn offers over 100 rooms, and is built next to the Oasis and is linked to the casino. Both of these properties were refurbished in December 2012. The Choctaw Lodge is non-smoking and pet-friendly.

The Oasis

In addition to the casino's gaming floor, the Choctaw Casino & Resort features The Oasis swimming area where visitors will find multiple pool areas, water slides, Jacuzzis, cabanas, and dive-in movies being shown on an inflatable screen during the summer months.

Choctaw Wellness Center

The Choctaw Wellness Center has amenities including a full gymnasium and an indoor walking track.

The District

Completed in September 2015, the District is an entertainment center with attractions including a video arcade, movie theater, bowling alley, and laser tag arena. The District is a non-smoking area.

Choctaw Nation

The Choctaw casinos in Oklahoma are owned and operated by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Proceeds from the casino are used to fund many development programs benefiting local communities and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.