Leaders of the Cherokee Nation, Cherokee Nation Entertainment and Cherokee Nation Businesses recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of the gaming and hospitality enterprise Cherokee Nation Entertainment.
The celebration was held December 8 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in Oklahoma.
“Thirty-five years ago, the Cherokee Nation stepped boldly into a new era, rooted in the belief that economic opportunity could transform lives,” Cherokee Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a statement. “Today, that vision continues, as we celebrate not only how far we have come, but how far we will go — as we build a brighter, healthier, stronger and more prosperous future for the Cherokee Nation and the communities we serve.”
Leaders including Hoskin, Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner, Cherokee Nation Businesses CEO Chuck Garrett, Executive Chairman of Cherokee Nation Businesses Bill John Baker and Cherokee Nation Entertainment President Mark Fulton, were among those who highlighted Cherokee Nation Entertainment’s growth into one of the region’s largest gaming and hospitality enterprises.
The Cherokee Nation’s gaming story began in the late 1980s, when then-Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller championed an unconventional vision for economic growth, advocating for the Cherokee Nation Tribal Gaming Act. The act was passed by the tribal council in 1989 with the purpose of improving the lives of Cherokee citizens.
That vision took its first step forward in 1990 with the opening of the Cherokee Nation Bingo Outpost in Roland, Oklahoma. The facility would become Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland. The small outpost employed 64 people and led to expansion with additional bingo outposts opening in Catoosa in 1993 and West Siloam Springs in 1994.
By 2004, Cherokee Nation advanced its operations by transitioning its bingo facilities to Class III gaming. Beginning with a major expansion in Catoosa, the foundation was laid for today’s casino and hospitality business, which generates more than $1 billion in revenue and employs more than 4,000 people.
“Cherokee Nation Entertainment’s growth over the past 35 years is a testament to the enduring strength of our shared company values and the collective effort of our workforce,” said Garrett. “Thanks to our early visionaries who saw the opportunities set before us, we were able to transform small bingo halls into gaming operations that are the backbone of Cherokee Nation’s economic health. As a result, we’ve positioned ourselves as an economic leader in this state, developed thousands of meaningful careers, and improved the quality of life within Cherokee Nation. Our commitment to these efforts is as strong as ever and will continue to drive our legacy.”
Cherokee Nation Entertainment’s contributions in its communities include investing in road and bridge improvements across Oklahoma; contributing to a $100 million investment by Cherokee Nation Businesses to construct four health centers across the Cherokee Nation; supporting financing to enhance municipal infrastructure for clean water in communities such as West Siloam Springs, Grove and Claremore; and donating to charitable organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association.
Cherokee Nation Entertainment today operates 11 casinos, including locations throughout the Cherokee Nation. After its recent acquisition of Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi, the company became one of a few tribally owned gaming enterprises competing in commercial gaming jurisdictions.
Its gaming operations include a horse racing track, four resort hotels with more than 1,800 rooms, multiple restaurants, entertainment venues, and a golf course.
