New Iowa Tribe casino and hotel
Years of groundwork gave way to the start of construction on a new casino west of Chandler by the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma. The new gaming complex is set for completion by 2026, according to chairman Jacob Keyes.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 2 in the parking lot of the Ioway Casino, which sits across the road from where the new casino will be built. It was attended by local and other dignitaries, including Rep. Kevin Wallace, Sen. Grant Green, the business committee from the tribe, representatives from Caesars Entertainment, the mayors of Chandler and Wellston and members of the Iowa Tribe.
According to Keyes, the plan is to ultimately develop all of the tribe’s property in that area, which spans from the current casino all the way to the turnpike. The project will be completed in phases, starting with the 100,000-square-foot casino, followed by the attached hotel. While Keyes said they haven’t finalized the size of the hotel, they are targeting about 100 rooms.
“If things align the right way, we could have them both open at the same time,” Keyes said. “I think where we’re trying to set our expectations and trying to be realistic… we kind of aim at starting construction on the hotel towards the end of construction on the casino and then open it shortly after.”
The chairman said the tribe is back in talks with the state over the turnpike exit. He is hoping that something comes from these talks, but it’s not 100% necessary for the project to be successful.
“Rt. 66 still has a lot of traffic and you’ll still be able to see the property from the turnpike, so we’re confident in the ability to make it work,” he said.
The casino will have more games, plus a restaurant with a bar, another bar, and a pick-up-and-go food option. However, the biggest improvement will be the addition of Caesars Rewards, Keyes said. The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma is partnering with Caesars Entertainment to manage the casino. Not only will this expand the loyalty program network, but it also means more and better jobs for locals.
“Having the ability to create jobs for a company like that with great benefits, opportunities to move up, whether it’s in gaming or hospitality, I think it creates a lot of opportunity for people in that area,” he said.
For the rest of the property, Keyes said they hope to build more economic opportunities. While discussions have begun, nothing is currently set. However, they are considering an event space and possibly housing to help recruit labor.
“It’s going to require a lot of staff, a lot of employees, so we’ll have to recruit talent from our surrounding areas,” he said.
Chandler Mayor Kent McVey thinks the casino will bring added employment opportunities. “It could attract more travel and tourism coming through the area,” he said.
Rep. Wallace said at the groundbreaking ceremony that Oklahoma is very competitive in the gaming industry and that the casino is going to be great for Lincoln County, every municipality, the state and the tribe.
“I am very thankful that Harrah’s and Caesars have seen this opportunity and are going to come to Oklahoma,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to bigger and greater things for all of us here in a joint partnership.”