The efforts of the leading gaming and hospitality company, Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE), toward securing a casino gaming license for Pope County from the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) continue. Earlier this week, the company confirmed it resubmitted its application with the gambling regulator. Ultimately, CNE is after securing a casino gaming license that would permit the development of a massive project called Legends Resort and Casino Arkansas.

CNE’s project has a price tag of more than $300 million. The ambitious project, planned for development in Pope County, is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. At the same time, Legends Resort and Casino is expected to generate $5 billion in economic stimulus to Arkansas for the first decade of operating.

The proposed project is expected to offer a hotel with 200 luxury rooms, as well as additional amenities, including a spa, a pool and spaces that can be used for special events, concerts or meetings. Not unexpectedly, Legends Resort and Casino is expected to offer supreme gaming entertainment with its 50,000-square-foot casino floor. The venue would become a home to a sportsbook, a poker room, as well as nearly three dozen table games and 1,200 of the most popular slot games.

“Legends Resort & Casino Arkansas, operated by Cherokee Nation Entertainment, represents an over $300 million investment that will provide a welcomed economic anchor for Pope County, the River Valley and the state of Arkansas,“

reads a statement released by Cherokee Nation Entertainment

The Company Is Ready to Commence Construction

Mark Fulton, CNE’s president, spoke about the importance of collecting community feedback. He explained that the company’s project is ahead of the competition considering that its team “listened to the community” and also engaged in voluntary work. “Once the casino license is awarded, we expect to commence the 18-month construction process after 60 to 90 days of permitting and pre-construction work,” added Fulton.

Finally, CNE’s president confirmed that the company is ready to meet its obligations under the development agreement with Pope County once the license is awarded.

“For the past five years, we have been laying the groundwork for this one-of-a-kind, shovel-ready commercial casino resort and becoming engrained in the local community.“

Chuck Garrett, CEO at CNE

Chuck Garrett, CNE’s CEO, added that the company is ready to commence the construction of Legends Resort and Casino. He spoke about CNE’s efforts in securing a Large-Scale Development permit from the City of Russellville.

Additionally, Garrett acknowledged the importance of purchasing 325 acres of land and the support for the company from Pope County leaders. Finally, the CEO said that CNE is looking forward to securing the casino license from the Arkansas Racing Commission.

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Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River has unveiled a 25,000 sq. ft. expansion of its casino floor, marking a substantial milestone in the $275 million development project. This significant addition introduces a diverse selection of gaming options to North Carolina bettors, elevating the casino’s offerings to new heights. The venue is one of three currently offering retail sports betting in the state.

Guests Can Enjoy Exciting New Experiences

The expanded casino floor now boasts 300 new slot machines and eight additional table games, providing guests with an extensive selection of gaming experiences. Further enhancing the guest experience, the expansion features a new 22-seat casino bar equipped with nine state-of-the-art bar-top video games and eight beer taps. It offers a dynamic and inviting atmosphere for guests.

Among the new attractions is the much-anticipated World Series of Poker – Poker Room, a lavishly designed space that caters to poker pros and casual players. The poker room offers a variety of cash games, including popular options such as Three Card Poker and Texas Hold’em, and is open extra long on Fridays and Saturdays.

The venue announced its expansion plans in December 2023, noting it expected to invest $275 million. The project hired local artists to infuse the new spaces with culture and help reinvest in local communities. This expansion should allow Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River to meet rising player numbers and stay competitive with North Carolina’s other tribal casinos.

The Casino Remains a Leading Gaming Destination

This expansion also aims to retain the casino’s appeal amidst North Carolina’s newly unveiled online sports wagering market. Guests can immerse themselves in the venue’s comprehensive hospitality offerings and exciting gaming options, enjoying a one-of-a-kind experience impossible to replicate online. Since commercial casino legalization is not yet on the horizon, the tribal venue should have sufficient time to cement its leadership position.

Lumpy Lambert, general manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, expressed excitement regarding this exciting milestone, lauding the hard work and dedication of internal team members and Robins & Morton, the general contractor working on the project. He was optimistic that guests would appreciate the new offerings and create new memories in the casino.

Every detail of the casino floor expansion was selected to ensure memorable experiences, and we are confident that our new amenities and offerings will exceed our guests’ expectations.

Lumpy Lambert, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel general manager

This expansion is a testament to Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River’s commitment to enhancing the guest experience and providing a sophisticated and thrilling environment catering to the preferences of all visitors. The new amenities and gaming options should draw even more guests to the casino, solidifying its position as a premier entertainment destination in the region.

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Located just an easy drive from Atlanta and Chattanooga, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel is not only an exciting destination for games in the Western North Carolina region but also a superb accommodation option for overnight visitors. 

However, 2024 is going to see the venue expand even more thanks to an upcoming $275 million construction project that will bring an expanded 25,000 square foot gaming floor for players, a hotel tower with 296 rooms, and a massive parking deck with 1,500 spaces. 

The exciting expansion project was initiated on September 29, closely following the casino’s seventh anniversary.

According to Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River’s general manager, Lumpy Lambert, the highly-anticipated expansion project he had envisioned years ago is expected to generate revenue for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). 

At the same time, the project is expected to assist “tribal distribution for enrolled members and job opportunities”. 

Representatives of general contractor Robins & Morton along with GM Lambert took a tour of the new sites that will host 400 brand new slot machines next year, together with one dozen table games, a casino bar that will count 22 seats, and a World Series of Poker poker room with 10 seats. 

Lambert expressed his content regarding the progress of the project whose necessity was identified eight years ago when the venue opened its gates to the world. 

While “looking forward to the opportunity to grow and expand”, Lambert also projected 100 fresh incremental positions and further emphasized their main goals to support tribal programming and distribution for the EBCI.

Local Artists to Help Maintain Cultural Integration 

The upgrade will include a series of specific design elements showcasing the Cherokee culture to maintain the cultural integration of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos.

With this idea in mind, the project will hire local artists whose role will be to “infuse the culture” as best as possible. 

The new gaming floor is expected to become available for casino patrons and guests alike by the middle of 2024. 

The parking deck will shortly follow, with an estimated opening time scheduled for the summer of 2024. Finally, the new hotel tower will become available to the public toward the end of next year. 

For the time being, the River Tower provides 300 spacious guest rooms endowed with state-of-the-art amenities conveniently located right next to the gaming space. The venue is also home to UltraStar, a bowling alley and arcade that packs numerous family-friendly gaming options.

The post Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel Ready for 2024 Expansion appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino launched a new chapter of its popular “Put On Your Hat” promotional campaign featuring The Office star David Koechner. The videos aim to leverage the actor and comedian’s talent and fanbase to help the venue differentiate itself from North Carolina’s two other tribal casinos. With online sports betting launching in 2024, Harrah’s will use this opportunity to encourage a loyal client base.

Koechner Leans into His Comedic Expertise

The “Put On Your Hat” campaign has become a fan favorite, featuring Koechner as the VP of the Party. In these memorable ads, Koechner embodies the essence of light-hearted fun while indulging in a delicious burger. Notably, his sleek suit sports the traditional purple color that symbolizes the Harrah’s brand.

David Koechner is a well-known actor and comedian with a career spanning TV and film. His most memorable role is Todd Packer in the iconic TV series The Office. Koechner also achieved acclaim for his portrayal of sports reporter Champ Kind in Anchorman and Anchorman 2. His character famously coined the catchphrase, “Whammy!”

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino’s newest ad sees Koechner inspire guests to party their pants off as he explores the resort’s amenities. He visits iconic places like Myst Bar, Caesars Sportsbook, Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen & Bar, and the expansive casino floor featuring slots and table games. The ad doubles down on his energetic delivery and sense of humor, playing to the actor’s strengths.

Regional VP of marketing for Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, Brian Saunooke, was excited about the campaign’s continuation and Koechner’s Continued involvement in the project. He noted that the newest ad playfully highlighted the venue’s world-class amenities, hoping it would encourage more people to experience Harrah’s Cherokee Casino’s unique offerings.

It’s exciting to see the evolution of our Party Hat campaign with the addition of Koechner, who continues to deliver inspiration to viewers to have the fun they deserve.

Brian Saunooke, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Regional VP of marketing

This marketing campaign launches at a strategic junction as North Carolina prepares to launch online sports betting in 2024. With industry giants like FanDuel and DraftKings entering the market, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino must foster a robust client base. Greg Carson, president at 62Above, the agency behind the “Put On Your Hat” campaign, hoped their efforts would help popularize the venue’s thrilling offerings.

By using David Koechner to personify the party experience… we were able to put a face and personality to the guests’ excitement at Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos.

Greg Carson, 62Above president

The extension of Koechner’s partnership with Harrah’s Cherokee Casino brings his signature humor and entertainment to casino-goers, inviting them to enjoy the fun-filled experiences the venue has in store. His enthusiastic presence will enhance guest enjoyment and help foster a loyal fanbase, ensuring the casino remains relevant despite emerging challenges.

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