DURANT — The Choctaw Nation and their construction partners, Flintco Inc. and WorthGroup Architects, have announced that the new $300 million expansion to the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant will be ready for the grand opening celebration beginning Feb. 9.

“We are ready to celebrate a milestone in the history of the Choctaw Nation with the grand opening of the new Choctaw Casino Resort,” said Janie Dillard, Executive Director of Gaming for the Choctaw Nation. “We are looking forward to watching reactions as visitors experience the new Choctaw Casino Resort.”

Billed as Oklahoma’s newest premium destination, the Choctaw Casino Resort now offers guests 110,000 square feet of gaming space which houses about 3,000 slot machines, 30 poker tables and 38 table games including Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Pai Gow Poker, Mini Baccarat and Roulette.

If it’s not gaming guests are after, the 204,000 square feet of hospitality space will provide a relaxing experience with 330 hotel rooms, an indoor/outdoor pool, fitness center and spa. The Choctaw Casino Resort also offers multiple dining experiences, from a four-venue food court to a 400-seat buffet and three other sit-down options.

In honor of the grand opening, Choctaw Casino Resort will offer guests discounted room rates ranging from $99 to $149 a night and a chance to win $500,000 in cash and Lexus® giveaways from Feb. 9–14.

Grand opening festivities will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 9, with a ribbon cutting and lighting of the hotel tower followed by fireworks. Wednesday and Thursday, Choctaw Casino Resort will give away $1,000 every hour from noon to 9 p.m.

On Friday through Saturday, $10,000 will be given away every hour from noon to 9 p.m. 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.

For the gamers, Choctaw Casino Resort will host three professional poker players — TJ Cloutier, Kathy Leibert and Tom McEvoy — from Feb. 9–14. Guests will have the opportunity to play with the celebrities in the new poker room with features a lounge and ample space for private tournaments. The celebrities also will hold seminars complete with questions and answer sessions.

Like all Choctaw Casinos, the new Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant will help fund necessary services such as health care, educational programs, housing and many other social services for Native Americans.

Choctaw Casinos and the Choctaw Nation continue to be a vital part of area communities where they provide jobs to both Indians and non-Indians, help build roads, assist local schools and donate thousands of dollars to community-based programs, charities, fundraisers and wherever a need exists.

For more information on the new Choctaw Casino Resort, visit their Facebook Fan Page (Choctaw Casino — Durant Expansion) and get updates on Twitter (ChoctawDurant).

For more information regarding the Choctaw Casino Resort grand opening, visit www.choctawcasinoresort.com.

About Choctaw Casino Resort - Durant

The Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant opened in 1987 as Choctaw Bingo. In March 2006, the current resort opened as a gaming, lodging, entertainment, dining and conference destination. Its Event Center comfortably accommodates 3,000 people and offers a state-of-the-art sound and video system and climate-controlled atmosphere. FlintCo and WorthGroup are currently overseeing an expansion scheduled to complete in February 2010. The expansion includes 330 additional hotel rooms, a natatorium, fitness center, business center, full-service spa and three retail outlets. In addition, there is a 175-seat amphitheater, five restaurants and 110,000 square feet of gaming space, including 3,000 slot machines, 30 poker tables and 38 table games. For more information, visit www.choctawcasinos.com.