The other Oklahoma casino closest to Dallas-Fort Worth - Choctaw Casinos and Resorts - is sticking with its June 1 target date for reopening. The casino released guidelines Thursday on what its. The new Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma, includes 776 hotel rooms, a natatorium, fitness center, business center, full-service spa, and four retail outlets. (March 16, 2020) As a public health precaution to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma decided to temporarily suspend all Choctaw Casinos & Resorts operations effective at 11:59 p.m. On March 16, 2020, until further notice. The Choctaw Casino in Durant is reopening Wednesday after more than two months of being closed. Starting Wednesday at 10 a.m., the casino will be open at reduced capacity. Seating will also be. The Casino is a beautiful place, the Spa towers rooms are awesome, and great pools, but disappointed in our 2nd trip post Covid reopening. Poor score is purely for my feeling of lack of my safety being a priority as a customer in your Casino as compared to everytime we go to Winstar and the protocols they enforce @ thier Casino.3.

1. Durant Oklahoma Casino Open Christmas Day
2. Durant Oklahoma Casino Opening
3. Choctaw Casino Durant Oklahoma Opening

byRandy Ellis

Oklahoma tribal casinos operated by the Chickasaw, Cherokee, Choctaw and Muscogee (Creek) nations will remain closed at least through May 15, tribal officials said Tuesday.

Oklahoma has nearly three-dozen tribes that operate gaming operations at more than 130 locations in the state. Those gaming operations range from electronic machines at gas stops to full scale resort casinos.

All the tribes closed their casinos in March in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Each tribe has its own government and will be making its own decision on when to reopen.

The Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) nations all have been paying their casino workers while gaming operations have been suspended and said they plan to continue doing that at least through May 15.

Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby said that in addition to casinos, Chickasaw Nation businesses, historic sites and offices whose closures were previously announced will remain closed through May 15. Chickasaw Travel Stops will remain open as a public service, he said.

“Health professionals advise that recent measures enacted to help mitigate the spread of the virus are beginning to work because of widespread participation,' Anoatubby said. “Health professionals also advise to take a cautious approach toward reopening in order to preserve recent gains and prevent a resurgence in new cases.'

Anoatubby said Chickasaw leaders continue to monitor data regarding the virus and are working to 'develop a comprehensive plan for a phased reopening of our operations while being mindful of protecting public health.'

Kristina Humenesky, spokeswoman for the Choctaw Nation, described the situation as fluid but said Choctaw tribal officials know that their casinos will remain closed at least through May 15.'Our top priority is the health and safety of our guests, associates, vendors, entertainment partners and individuals in the communities,' Humenesky said. 'We are still developing a plan in coordination with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to make sure when we open associates and guests will be safe.'We're still weighing everything and trying to determine when to reopen,' said Brandon Scott, spokesman for the Cherokee Nation.

Durant Oklahoma Casino Open Christmas Day

• Related to this story
• Article:Governor voices frustration, suggests tribal gaming fees as high as 25%
• Article:Oklahoma legislative leaders offer differing opinions on gaming compacts dispute
• Article:Attorney General steps aside from Indian gaming negotiations
• Article:Gov. Kevin Stitt asks tribes to sign gaming compact extension
• Article:Governor seeks 8-month extension to tribal gaming compacts
• Article:Tribes say 'no' to governor's proposal for a gaming compact extension
• Article:State mails out audit letters to Oklahoma gaming tribes as dispute escalates
• Article:Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs resigns from governor's cabinet, citing disagreement over gaming compacts
• Article:With governor's deadline approaching, next move in tribal gaming battle unclear
• Article:Tribe says no to state audit of gaming activity
• Article:Tribes sue Gov. Kevin Stitt over renewal of gaming compacts
• Article:Tribes sue Gov. Kevin Stitt over renewal of gaming compacts
• Article:Governor selects out-of-state law firm to represent Oklahoma in tribal gaming dispute
• Article:Oklahoma uses funds derived from gaming to defend against lawsuit brought by tribes
• Article:Governor files response to federal Indian gaming lawsuit
• Article:Gov. Stitt and tribal leaders verbally spar over gaming compacts
• Article:Oklahoma's tribal gaming compacts historically entangled with efforts to save horse racing
• Article:Speaker McCall: Gaming compacts automatically renewed
• Article:'Caught in the middle': $130 million in education funding embroiled in tribal gaming clash
• Article:Oklahoma's tribes contribute greatly to small cities, towns, some local leaders say
• Article:Ad campaign to challenge adequacy of contributions to state government by Oklahoma tribal casinos
• Article:Judge orders mediation in compact dispute between Gov. Stitt and Oklahoma's gaming tribes
• Article:Layn Phillips selected as mediator in gaming compact dispute between governor and tribes
• Article:Tribes: Stitt unwittingly renewed tribal gaming compacts
• Article:State budgets revenue from tribal gaming operations
• Article:Two Oklahoma tribes face opposition in requests to participate in lawsuit over gaming compacts
• Article:Federal judge rejects requests by two tribes to join lawsuit against Gov. Stitt
• Article:Attorney General: Gov. Stitt cannot put tribal gaming money in escrow
• Article:Wichita Tribe: State reneged on gaming agreement, jeopardizing education funding
• Article:Oklahoma gaming tribes outraged over letter from Gov. Stitt's attorney
• Article:Governor settles with two of 12 tribes involved in federal lawsuit over gaming compacts
• Article:House and Senate leaders write letter criticizing gaming compacts negotiated by governor
• Article:Week's events make future of Oklahoma tribal gaming murkier
• Article:AG opinion: Governor's recent tribal gaming compacts prohibited by state law
• Article:Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association suspends membership of two state tribes
• Article:Multiple tribes urge rejection of controversial gaming compacts
• Video:Gov. Stitt responds to tribal gaming lawsuit
• Video:Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association response to gaming compact negotiations
• Video:Gov. Stitt press conference on gaming compact negotiations
• Video:Chickasaw Nation response to gaming compact negotiations
• Video:Extension on gaming compact offered
• Video:OIGA response to Gov. Stitt
• Video:Chickasaw Nation responds to Gov. Stitt
• Video:Coronavirus in Oklahoma: State still on track to begin phased reopening Friday

Durant Oklahoma Casino Opening

'We think we've done everything we can and we're now in a wait and see mode,' said Jason Salsman, spokesman for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Related Photos

Several casinos in Oklahoma will wait until at least May 15 before opening. [File photo]

Choctaw Casino Durant Oklahoma Opening

For the past 30 years, staff writer Randy Ellis has exposed public corruption and government mismanagement in news articles. Ellis has investigated problems in Oklahoma's higher education institutions and wrote stories that ultimately led to two... Read more ›