Choctaw Nation Taps Tutor Perini for $140M Pocola Casino Expansion

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has brought in Tutor Perini Corporation (TPC) to oversee the $140m expansion and renovation of its Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola property, with completion targeted for the third quarter of 2026.

TPC subsidiary Tutor Perini Building Corp. started preconstruction work in 2025. The contract value will be added to the company's backlog in phases as design milestones and subsequent construction stages are completed.

The project covers both interior and exterior upgrades to the existing hotel and casino, including all food and gaming areas, along with the addition of a new seven-story, 130-room hotel tower. The Choctaw Nation first revealed its renovation plans on June 24; the property originally opened in 1994 as a bingo hall.

“Choctaw has long been a proud part of this region, growing alongside the community and contributing to its vitality and success,” said Chief Gary Batton of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He added that the Pocola resort is the second largest in the Choctaw Casinos & Resort portfolio and the biggest employer in LeFlore County, positioning the investment to drive further economic growth and hospitality improvements.

An official groundbreaking ceremony is slated for fall 2026. As part of the redesign, the poker room, off-track betting area, and rewards club will be relocated to upgraded spaces. In a related development, Aristocrat Gaming in April launched its $1m Dragon Link slot at the Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant, marking the first Oklahoma deployment of that linked progressive title.