Tribal casino operator Osage Nation has opened a casino in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. This is the second casino property the Osage Nation opened in Oklahoma this year. The 153,151 square-foot space will include 521 slot machines and a restaurant and bar called Scissortail. In addition, the casino will be a part of a 102-room hotel with a 6,000-square-foot meeting space, a fitness center, and a pool and hot tub.
Speaking about the opening to FOX23 News, Osages Casinos Chief Executive Officer Kimberly Pearson said, “This exciting venue was worth the wait, and we are thrilled to finally welcome the Bartlesville community to enjoy this space”.
Bartlesville previously had a casino that opened in 2006 (which closed on November 8 in anticipation of the new casino opening), but the Osage Nation announced plans for a new gambling location in 2021.
The construction of the venue on its 125 acres of property started in the same year but faced delays in 2022 due to problems in the supply chain of construction materials. The size of the property meant the Osage Nation and the City of Bartlesville had to share costs of $4 million to upgrade the city’s water and utility service.
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation, Geoffrey Standing Bear, mentioned the delays in his speech given at the opening, commenting, “We are grateful for the hard work and perseverance by Osage Casino and Hotel leadership, employees and our partners in construction to get this new location up and running.”
Standing Bear went on to say “This will greatly benefit, not only the Osage Nation, but also the entertainment industry in Bartlesville and the surrounding area”.
The first casino the Osage Nation opened in 2023 was also in Oklahoma, 25 miles west of Bartlesville in Pawhuska. This casino is smaller than the Bartlesville casino, featuring 47 hotel rooms, 259 slot machines, and 3,000 square feet of event space.
The casinos opening in Bartlesville and Pawhuska mean the Osage Nation now operates a total of seven casino properties, with other gambling locations in Hominy, Ponca City, Sand Springs, Skiatook, and Tulsa.
