Gaming News

Choctaw Casino to Expand

OKLAHOMA – As reported by the Oklahoma Times Record: "Pocola means '10; in the Choctaw language, but to the Choctaw Nation, it stands for an even bigger number — the $15.4 million to be spent on a casino in that town.

"When construction is finished, the Choctaw Casino on 3400 Choctaw Road in Pocola will expand from 22,000 square feet to 78,000 square feet and result in more than 80 new jobs.

"Ground was broken on the project in October, but construction has been slowed somewhat by problems with soft ground and rain. It's about 35 percent complete and is expected to be finished by late fall, said Tammye Gwin, assistant director of gaming for the Choctaw Nation.

"…Prohibited by current gaming law from introducing new game types, the casino still will be allowed to increase the number of game machines to 1,000.

"The Pocola casino also will have a 300-seat bingo pavilion/theater/showroom, a 100-seat off-track betting (OTB) area, a 200-seat buffet restaurant, a 24-hour snack bar and a casino logo gift shop.

"…Gwin anticipates a 40 percent increase in employment at the casino. Eighty-one full-time and 132 part-time employees work there. Gwin said she expects the ratio of full-time to part-time to stay the same, while the total number will swell to close to 300 workers…"

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