The Muscogee Nation just broke ground on a $100 million casino and hotel in Coweta, Oklahoma.
The Coweta Casino Hotel is being funded by Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises and will feature 750 gaming machines, a 46-room hotel, a full-service restaurant and an event space. An artist's rendering of what the entrance to the casino will look like is below.
A video of the groundbreaking ceremony was posted on the Muscogee Nation X account.
Breaking ground on our newest $100 million investment in the community of Koweta this afternoon! Progress and Prosperity! #ForOurPeople#ForOurCommunities#ForOurFuture#MNGEpic.twitter.com/HWcfn0QF7p
— The Muscogee Nation (@MuscogeeNation) November 7, 2024
The casino is set to open in the spring of 2026.
Coweta Casino Expected to Create Hundreds of Jobs
Leaders of the Muscogee Nation say the Coweta Casino will benefit both the city and the tribe. The project is expected to give the local economy a nice boost by adding a hotel and restaurant to the area. Plus, it’s going to create at least 250 new jobs.
"We're going to generate 250 new permanent positions. I think it will drive great economic opportunity here," said Pat Crofts, the CEO of Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises. "The local chamber, the regional chamber, has calculated during construction it'll generate over $100 million of economic benefit to the region and around $50 million a year every year after, so it's going to generate a lot of jobs, generate a lot of interest, just be a really nice help for the city here."
In addition to bringing more jobs and improving the local economy, the casino is also expected to attract tourists.
Some Residents Concerned About Casino Opening
But not everyone is not on board.
Paije Dabbs, who recently moved to Coweta from Las Vegas, told Tulsa Public Radio that the casino could disrupt the peaceful nature of the town.
“All the casinos in Vegas bring quite a bit of combustion and people, and also bring revenue to the town as well,” Dabbs said. “So hopefully it brings enough revenue but not enough problems and hardships to people.”
Crofts reassured residents that the casino would not significantly alter Coweta's community. Despite the $100 million investment, it will not be a massive casino like River Spirit and will not host large concerts or major events.
The impact on the community is expected to be minimal. Concerns about its size, prompted by the substantial investment, have been alleviated by the fact that it is a medium-sized casino. Its effect on traffic and the neighborhood is anticipated to be much less significant than originally thought.
Oklahoma Casinos Generate Big Business
Despite its small number of residents, Oklahoma has become the home of tribal gambling.
With 60 Native American casinos within the borders, the Sooner State takes advantage of its proximity to Texas, which has strict gambling laws. In fact, Texans regularly travel to the state on gambling trips, and this accounts for several tribal casinos being close to the state line.
The Native American casinos in The Sooner State collectively pull in billions of dollars each year, giving Oklahoma one of the largest casino markets in the United States. Part of it may have to do with the fact that sports betting is not legal in Oklahoma.
The Indigenous gaming sectors in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa regions alone generated nearly $7 billion in revenue last year.
Currently, 35 tribal nations within the state have gaming compacts. Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the net revenues generated by tribal casinos must be allocated to specific purposes, including tribal programs that enhance community welfare, charitable organizations, and local government agencies.
