Garfield County commissioners hear plans for possible UKB casino in Enid – Enid News & Eagle
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Updated: May 9, 2024 @ 12:15 pm
Joe Bunch, chief of the United Keetoowah Band, addresses Garfield County commissioners on a proposed casino at U.S. 412 and Oklahoma 132.
Joe Bunch, chief of the United Keetoowah Band, addresses Garfield County commissioners on a proposed casino at U.S. 412 and Oklahoma 132.
ENID — Garfield County commissioners and representatives of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, discussed bringing a casino to the area.
The proposed casino would be located on 30 acres west of town where U.S. 412 and Oklahoma 132 intersect. The location is about three-quarters of a mile north of U.S. 412 on the west side of Oklahoma 132. In 2019, a proposal from the tribe was declined by the city of Enid, and there now is a goal to build a casino outside of Enid city limits.
Assistant Chief Jeff Wacoche said the tribe is looking for a partnership that can benefit all sides, and said there is potential for partnerships with the local fire and police departments and potential for revenue to benefit Garfield County.
According to a representative from Garfield Development, the estimated cost for the casino is around $50 million, but that can vary based on the amount of gaming machines and the overall size and amenities of the casino. There potentially could be around 500 machines, and a market study done 10 years ago suggested a starting point of $38 million in gross revenue in the first year a casino opened.
There potentially could be hundreds of jobs created for the casino, as well as large construction efforts as the casino is built.
The proposed site has water and electricity available for the construction, and there is a potential of a sewer water treatment plant to be built on the site as well. The proposed site would be a full-service casino, meaning it would offer more than slot machines. There is potential to have a hotel and other amenities on the site.
The site has an additional 110 acres that could be developed over time, and Chief Joe Bunch said it possibly could end up being one of the best casinos in Oklahoma if it was developed to that point. Bunch said the tribe does not currently operate any casinos, as it is difficult for the tribe to put land into trust.
The land for the proposed casino has been committed, and the tribe won’t purchase the land as it would be placed in trust, with half of it owned by the tribe and the other half owned by the Department of Interior. The land then becomes tribal land. Funding for the casino has been arranged by Garfield Development with the company that will make the machines used in the casino. The gaming manufacturer would continue to fund the development through a first service agreement, with that company’s machines being used in the casino.
Garfield County Sheriff Cory Rink asked who was responsible for security of the casino, which would fall to the tribe, according to Bunch. Security of the casino could fall to multiple entities, as the tribe could handle security on its own, as it has with other casinos, or local police and Garfield County Sheriff’s Office potentially could be cross-deputized in order to be able to patrol the tribal land. The same could be done with local fire departments and other first responders, as well.
It could be a year before ground would be broken, as there are several approvals that would be needed. The proposed casino would not require a public vote to be approved.
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