Osage Casino Breaking Ground On $150M Expansion

The Osage Casino in Tulsa is expanding with a groundbreaking scheduled for Thursday.

The $150 million project means good things for the Osage Nation and Tulsa.

After more than a decade, it is time to grow; and 2015 was a good year for Osage Casinos - posting record numbers in distributions to the Osage Nation.

“The money that we create funds services for the tribe, so it’s very personal to me. I spend it as if it is my own money,” said Osage Casino CEO Byron Bighorse.

So spend they will - $150 million on phase one of the expansion, which will include a brand new hotel, entertainment space, more games and more.

“A brewery concept that we are going to put in the casino,” Bighorse said. “Very excited to team up with a company out of Texas to do that.”

In total, there are four phases to the project, and once completed, it is expected to top a $500 million price tag.

Bighorse said, “We are in a highly competitive market, so we need to offer a product that is comparable to our competition - that way we get visits. We all share the same people; it is a local’s market.”

By completion, they hope for a full retail and entertainment complex and a golf course to go with it.

But, the first step will all start with Thursday’s groundbreaking - something the Osage Nation has been working hard towards making a reality for Tulsa.