Celebration Features Celebrity Poker, Master Chefs and $500,000 in Cash and Cars


DURANT, Okla. (February 10, 2010) – A crowd of thousands from Dallas to Tulsa were on hand Tuesday, February 9, to witness the grand opening of the new $300 million Choctaw Casino Resort, located off HWY 75 in Durant, Oklahoma.

According to Chief Gregory E. Pyle, “This is a proud day for the Choctaw Nation as we open the doors and show our guests what we’ve been working so hard to complete. The new Choctaw Casino Resort means new opportunities for our area and we’re glad to have so many guests share in our excitement.”

A host of celebrities were on hand to welcome guests including world-renowned Master Chef Roland G. Henin and professional poker players TJ Cloutier, Kathy Leibert and Tom McEvoy.

Gamers quickly filled the 110,000 square foot gaming floor to try their luck at one of 3,000 slot machines, 30 poker tables and 38 table games. With each play, Choctaw Players club members are earning entries for the grand opening cash and Lexus® giveaways worth $500,000. Wednesday and Thursday, Choctaw Casino Resort will give away $1,000 every hour from noon to 9 pm. On Friday through Saturday, $10,000 will be given away every hour from noon to 9 pm. In addition to the cash prizes, Choctaw Casino Resort also will award lucky visitors with a Lexus GS 350, RX 350 SUV, or a 250 convertible.

Poker players made their way to the new Poker Room as the celebrity tournament featuring TJ Cloutier, Kathy Leibert and Tom McEvoy began. Through February 14, guest can play poker with the pros and attend seminars complete with questions and answer sessions.

The six-day affair also features Master Chef Roland G. Henin, one of 60 Certified Master Chefs in the United States. Master Chef Henin is teaming up with new Choctaw Casino Resort Executive Chef Christopher Tunnell to provide culinary delicacies such as lobster, prime beef and macaroni and cheese with truffles.

While Master Chef Henin is an award-winning, internationally recognized culinary expert, who coached the U.S. Olympic Culinary Team to the gold in 1992, Choctaw Casino Resort Executive Chef Tunnell is a Tulsa, Oklahoma native who is classically trained through the American Culinary Federation and has received top training honors from venues such as Mandalay Resort Group, Harrah’s Hotel and Casino and The MGM Mirage Corporation.

Executive Chef Tunnell leads a staff of more than 200 under the management of the Delaware North Corporation to service a variety of restaurants at the new Choctaw Casino Resort including 1832 Steakhouse, Tomatillo’s Mexican Grill and a Food Court which includes Americo’s Italian, Durant Station Deli, Dixon’s Grill and the famous Salt Lick Bar-B-Que of Austin.

The staff also provides room service to the 330 newly furnished hotel rooms with amenities such as room service, flat screen TVs, marble top vanities and over-sized showers or Jacuzzi tubs. The new hotel also features Oka Spa, a full service spa that uses organic products, and retail outlets Choctaw Trading Company, Chahta Gifts, and Bijoux Terner.

To book a dinner reservation, room, or spa service at the new Choctaw Casino Resort, call 1-800-788-2464 or visit www.choctawcasinoresort.com.