# Choctaw Nation Begins $140 Million Pocola Casino Expansion With 130 Hotel Rooms > Choctaw Nation has started a $140 million expansion of its Pocola casino, adding 130 hotel rooms and 150 jobs, with completion targeted for early 2029. - Published: 2026-11-05T23:56:27+00:00 - Section: Expansion - Author: News Desk - URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-05/choctaw-nation-pocola-casino-expansion - Source: [Talk Business & Politics](https://talkbusiness.net/2026/11/choctaw-nation-begins-work-on-140-million-pocola-casino-expansion/) ## Key takeaways - Choctaw Nation began a $140 million expansion of Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola on November 5, 2026. - The project adds a 7-story, 130-room hotel, 150 new jobs and an Emeril Lagasse-branded restaurant. - Chief Gary Batton said the completed expansion will produce a $20 million annual economic impact. - Tutor Perini Construction and JCJ Architecture are managing the work, estimated to finish in 28 months. Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma began work on a $140 million expansion of its Pocola casino on November 5, 2026, adding 130 hotel rooms and 150 jobs, with completion targeted for early 2029. [Talk Business & Politics](https://talkbusiness.net/2026/11/choctaw-nation-begins-work-on-140-million-pocola-casino-expansion/) reported that more than 200 people gathered at the site for the ceremonial start. ## Choctaw Nation's Pocola Expansion Details The [Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00059ix/choctaw-nation-of-oklahoma) is a federally recognized tribal nation headquartered in Durant, Oklahoma, with gaming and hospitality among its operations. The Pocola site, near the Arkansas border and Fort Smith, opened as a bingo hall in 1994; the Nation opened a $60 million casino and hotel there in early 2013 with more than 148,000 square feet of casino and hotel space and a 118-room hotel. The new work refreshes all 118 existing rooms and the restaurants and adds a 7-story, 130-room hotel, according to the Nation. The casino floor gets new lighting and carpet, and the poker room, off track betting and rewards club move to a new space. Plans also include a resort-style pool with private cabanas and an outdoor bar, a full-service spa and fitness center, a coffee and tea bar, and upgrades to registration and restrooms. Emeril's, part of the Emeril Group of restaurants, will be part of the expansion. [Choctaw Nation](https://www.choctawnation.com) said [Tutor Perini](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002pp2/tutor-perini) Construction and [JCJ Architecture](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000hm1w/jcj-architecture) will manage the work, estimated to take 28 months. Chief Gary Batton said the completed expansion will produce a $20 million annual economic impact, with annual payroll at the casino estimated at $4.8 million. During construction, the Nation expects the project to support 1,050 area jobs, a $179 million economic impact and an estimated $53.8 million in payroll. The Pocola operation employs around 850. "As the largest employer in LeFlore County and the second largest resort in the Choctaw Casinos & Resorts portfolio, the expansion of Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola provides significant opportunities for area residents and will drive economic growth in the region," Batton said in a statement. ## Choctaw Nation's Scale And Recent Moves According to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), the Choctaw Nation serves more than 230,000 tribal members across 10,864 square miles in southeastern Oklahoma and has more than 13,000 associates. The same records list a June 2026 joint venture with the Indian Health Service to build a health clinic of more than 100,000 square feet in Hugo, targeted for completion in approximately three years. ## Earlier Choctaw Nation Developments The Journal Record reported that the Choctaw Nation Tribal Council approved a $3.1 billion expense budget for fiscal 2027 in September 2026, including $617 million in investments. In August 2026, the Nation and partners announced more than $30 million in funding for a new water treatment facility for the Sardis Lake Water Authority, The Journal Record reported. The Journal Record also reported a nine-year partnership announced in September 2026 making the Choctaw Nation the naming rights sponsor of USA Softball's new Oklahoma City fieldhouse. ## What Comes Next For Pocola The Choctaw Nation estimates the Pocola work will be complete in 28 months, with the expansion targeted for early 2029. ## Companies in this story - [Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00059ix/choctaw-nation-of-oklahoma) · website: https://www.choctawnation.com - [Tutor Perini company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002pp2/tutor-perini) · website: http://www.tutorperini.com - [JCJ Architecture company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000hm1w/jcj-architecture) · website: http://www.jcj.com --- News for Agent · https://newsforagent.com/llms.txt