Choctaw Casino Oklahoma Reopening

Jena Choctaw Pines Casino will reopen on Friday, May 22, at 8 a.m. “We have carefully evaluated the recommendations from highly respected sources and have developed a comprehensive public health.

The other Oklahoma casino closest to Dallas-Fort Worth - Choctaw Casinos and Resorts - is sticking with its June 1 target date for reopening. The casino released guidelines Thursday on what its. Choctaws target June 1st reopening of casinos DURANT, Okla. (KXII) - Choctaw Casinos & Resorts announced Tuesday a target date of June 1st for the reopening of all Choctaw Casino operations.

DURANT, Okla. (KXII) - The Choctaw Casino in Durant is reopening Wednesday after more than two months of being closed.

Starting Wednesday at 10 a.m., the casino will be open at reduced capacity.

Seating will also be arranged for social distancing.

'For the first time in our history, those doors were secured,' said Regional Director of Marketing Bryan Prettyman.

There haven't been locks on the doors of the Choctaw Casino in 32 years until March, when they closed due to the pandemic.

Choctaw Casino Oklahoma Reopening

'The cleaning started and the preparing for the opening started the day we closed,' Prettyman said.

He said that included markings on the ground to keep people six feet apart, monitors above displaying ways to stay safe and sanitizing stations.

'So we're encouraging the safe social distancing throughout the property,' Prettyman said.

Now, there's reduced restaurant seating, the buffet will be served by employees and no more self serve drinks.

Every other slot machine will be out of service, along with the game tables reduced to three chairs instead of six, only every other table open.

'Probably the biggest is an increased non-smoking area to better accommodate for the health aspect of the pandemic,' he said.

He says the south casino will be entirely smoke free, plus the east and west travel plazas and travel plazas across the Choctaw Nation.

'So that's almost a 50 percent footprint of our facility here will be non-smoking,' Prettyman said.

Choctaw Casino Oklahoma Reopening Dates

They'll be closing every morning from 4 to 7 a.m. for deep cleaning.

Masks are optional for guests, but required for employees, who will complete health screenings daily.

Choctaw Casino Oklahoma Reopening Today

'Each one of them has remained on the payroll with full benefits from day one,' he said. 'I am thankful for that and I appreciate that. And I think all the associates here in Durant appreciate it too and are looking forward to coming back to work.'

They're doing a phased reopening. The gaming operation Wednesday is first, and the rest of the resort will open Friday including the hotel, pool and buffet.

The next phase will include all other Choctaw gaming destinations.

Choctaw Casino Durant Oklahoma Reopening

All concerts up until August were cancelled or postponed, and they say events after that will be monitored based on the current health situation.