CATOOSA, OK – Leaders from Cherokee Nation, Cherokee Nation Businesses and Cherokee Nation Entertainment joined community members at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, the tribe’s gaming and hospitality enterprise.
Cherokee leaders – including Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner, Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses; Bill John Baker, Executive Chairman of CNB; and Mark Fulton, President of Cherokee Nation Entertainment – reflected on the milestone and highlighted the enterprise’s growth into one of the region’s largest gaming and hospitality operations and a major driver of economic opportunity for the Cherokee Nation and surrounding communities.
“Thirty-five years ago, the Cherokee Nation stepped boldly into a new era, rooted in the belief that economic opportunity could transform lives,” said Chief Hoskin. “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.”
The Cherokee Nation’s gaming story began in the late 1980s, when then Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller championed a bold and unconventional vision for economic growth, advocating for the Cherokee Nation Tribal Gaming Act, passed by the Council in 1989, with a clear purpose: to improve the lives of Cherokee citizens.
That vision took its first major step forward in 1990, marking the Nation’s entry into gaming with the opening of the Cherokee Nation Bingo Outpost in Roland, the facility that would later become Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland.
The small outpost, which employed 64 people, later led to expansion with additional Bingo Outposts opening in Catoosa in 1993 and West Siloam Springs in 1994. By 2004, the Nation advanced its operations further by transitioning its bingo facilities to Class III gaming, beginning with a major expansion in Catoosa, laying the foundation for today’s robust casino and hospitality business, which now 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 within 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, among others.
Today, Cherokee Nation Entertainment operates 11 casinos, including 10 casino locations throughout the Cherokee Nation. Following its recent acquisition of Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, MS, the company became one of a few tribally owned gaming enterprises competing in commercial gaming jurisdictions. Its vast gaming operations include a horse racing track, four resort hotels with more than 1,800 rooms, multiple restaurants and entertainment venues, and a golf course.