Seminole Nation Rivermist Casino
Rivermist Casino is one of three casinos owned and operated by the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. The other casinos are Seminole Nation Casino in Seminole, OK and Wewoka Trading Post in Wewoka, OK. Rivermist Casino is located in Konawa, Oklahoma at the intersection of. Seminole Nation Casino - I-40, Seminole, Oklahoma. 280 likes 1 talking about this 13 were here. Get wild at Seminole Nation Casino I-40! Safe, clean, and friendly!
Konawa Rivermist Casino
The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma closed its gaming center and three casinos Saturday.
Chief Kenneth Chambers said the shutdown could last months and up to 310 employees will be laid off.
The voluntary closure was the latest step to meet the demands of federal regulators, who have fined the American Indian tribe $11,276,000 for operating illegal slot machines.
Tribal leaders hope to negotiate a settlement of the fine.
'We decided to take this drastic action to show that we are dealing in good faith, Chambers said.
'It's going back to square one, but sometimes you have to take two steps backward to go three forward.
The tribe has four gaming sites the Rivermist Casino in Konawa, the Seminole Casino in Seminole along Interstate 40, the Seminole Bingo & Casino at Mekusukey Mission southwest of Seminole and the Wewoka Gaming Center in Wewoka.
Tribal leaders had begun replacing the questionable machines three weeks ago and had at first intended to stay open. Tribal leaders voted Saturday morning to close instead.
'We looked and saw that there were still some questions about the new gaming machines, Chambers said. 'We didn't want to chance it.
Tribal officials say they hope to reopen eventually with machines acceptable to the National Indian Gaming Commission. Officials also could reopen if the tribe comes to an agreement known as a compact with Gov. Brad Henry.
The chief predicted the Seminoles will come out of the crisis 'with their heads held high.
'We have made positive steps to bring back accountability, he said.
The tribe's new leaders say they are trying to comply with the requirements of federal regulators, rejecting the confrontational approach of the past.
Previous leaders had complained federal regulators were trying to 'single out the Seminole Nation.
The income from gambling was used to fund tribal social and health services, including a new dialysis center used by diabetic Indians with failing kidneys.
'This is an impact that will be felt throughout the nation, Chambers said.
The tribe had 587 machines in its gaming center and three casinos as of Jan. 17. In February, Ivy Ong, a former financier for the tribe, said the Seminoles took in $15 million a year from gaming.
Federal regulators June 3 had rejected an administrative appeal of the $11,276,000 fine, saying the tribe had not made any substantial effort to resolve the matter.
Seminole Nation Casino I 40
In 2000, federal regulators ordered the tribe to close its gaming operations because of the illegal machines. It asked a federal judge in Muskogee last year to enforce the order.
The request is pending but could be dropped because of the voluntary closure Saturday.
Also, a federal grand jury in Muskogee has investigated the Seminole Nation gaming operations.
Archive ID: 1354167