Creek Nation Casino Expansion
Wednesday September 06, 2006

Tulsa - A local casino is in the beginning stages of a major remodeling effort. Creek Nation Casino is looking to compete with other newer and more flashy gaming establishments. NewsChannel 8's Jerry Giordano has the details.

Bo Henry is taking an afternoon walk in the shadows of Creek Nation Casino. It's a place he's been to before.

"I usually go on the weekend," he says. "I play blackjack and poker."

But, the casino is going through a major expansion project. Crews are already hard at work. We saw them clearing a field late Wednesday afternoon. It's all part of a multi-million dollar facelift.

But, Creek Nation's development doesn't stop at the blackjack table. There is a lot of other development nearby as well. It gives those gamblers options of where to eat, drink and shop.

Tulsa's first riverfront development is also nearby. But, when a casino moves in or gets bigger, there can also be a negative impact. Some worry about two things -- congestion and crime. Both are on the mind of neighbor Robert Phillips.

"I think any time you have that kind of element, you run the risk of that," he says.

But, congestion and crime aside, casino growth is nothing new here in Oklahoma. Bo says Creek Nation probably felt the pressure and had to improve.

"As soon as Cherokee opened and Osage, they began to build and improve their facility."

There are currently more than 80 casinos in the state offering table games and some 30-thousand slot machines. And, tribal officials are betting an updated facility will pay off big for them.

Nevada Gold & Casinos, Inc. announced its wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Gold Tulsa, Inc. has signed contracts with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation as the exclusive developer and manager of a gaming entertainment complex in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Nevada Gold will develop and manage the new Creek Nation Casino along the Eastern banks of the Arkansas River.

The Company also will assist the Creek Nation in obtaining project financing. Nevada Gold will receive management fees after debt service over a five-year period after the new Creek Nation Casino opens.


The multi-phase project will be developed on and around the site of the existing Creek Nation Casino. The first phase will include the construction of a state-of-the-art gaming center with a hotel, meeting space and a new parking facility. The total investment will be approximately $100 million. Retail stores, restaurants and other entertainment venues are planned for subsequent phases ultimately creating Oklahoma’s largest gaming entertainment complex.


Creek Website

Some pictures from yesterday...

It looks like a driveway.

This is definitely an improvement over the way it currently looks. This looks like a nice facelift and expansion for the casino.

It's going to look very nice once they're done... I remember them talking about doing the water taxi service between the Casino and Riverwalk Crossing...

Once they're done with the new Casino... The old part is going to be the new offices for the creek and a school from what I heard...

I had not heard that about the offices and school. That's good it will be utilized.

Will the old part be demolished before it becomes offices and a school?

The old part is really new, just built last year... They do have there office next to the smoke shop but I dont know what they are going to do with that... Let me see the plans for that building...

Oklahoma Casinos are always built in bad locations.

Well Riverside used to be a fairly plain location... gettin more and more interesting like the rest of Tulsa all the time.

Riverside is the best road to drive on in Tulsa... I always take my friends for a ride on Riverside... They are amazed when they see it...

Creek Casino is building on prime land but they are building retail on to the casino and are developing that side of the river... It is going to be a Boardwalk style development...