The
Jena Band of Choctaw
Indians is celebrating the fifth birthday of its gaming facility in Louisiana.
The
Jena Choctaw Pines
Casino debuted in February 2013. The tribe turned to Class II gaming , like bingo and electronic versions of bingo, after prior efforts were met with opposition at the state and federal level.
But the future is looking a lot brighter, Chief B. Cheryl Smith said at a gathering at the casino on Saturday, KALB reported. An
80-room hotel is due to open by the end of the year.
"You know they always said open the doors and they will come, well that is what has happened here," Smith said, the station reported. "We've opened the doors and they have come."
The celebration is continuing this week with a prize giveaway, according to a
post on Facebook. But plans for a fireworks display on Sunday had to be canceled due to weather, another
post read.
The state has refused to negotiate a Class III compact even though slot machines, table games and similar offering are legal in Louisiana.
Read More on the Story:
Jena Choctaw Pines Casino turns 5
(KALB February 10, 2018)
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