Legends Resort & Casino is owned and operated by Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE). CNE is a leading regional gaming operator with 10 properties in Northeast Oklahoma, including the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa and nine Cherokee Casinos. CNE also owns and operates the Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi.
Across its gaming properties, CNE operates more than 8,000 gaming machines, 100 table games, 1,800 hotel rooms, 187,000 square feet of convention and meeting space, 42 food and beverage offerings, three golf courses and 194 KOA RV spots – all housed in 3.6 million square feet of facility space.
Cherokee Nation Entertainment is the gaming and hospitality company of the Cherokee Nation, the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States. Cherokee Nation has owned and operated businesses since 1969 and entered the gaming and hospitality market more than 30 years ago.
- 11 casino properties
- 8K+ gaming positions
- 4K+ employees
Legends Hospitality, a third-party consultant, will provide its world-class expertise to help establish an unforgettable entertainment and hospitality experience at Legends Resort & Casino Arkansas.
Proven Experience
For more than 30 years, CNE has operated gaming and hospitality venues in Oklahoma. In 2005, CNE expanded into commercial gaming at Will Rogers Downs and is subject to regulations and oversight by the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission and the state of Oklahoma.
CNE recently expanded its commercial gaming footprint, through a wholly owned subsidiary, by purchasing the operations of Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Miss., which is regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
As a company, CNE has never performed layoffs, filed for bankruptcy or permanently closed any casino in its 30 years of operation. Even during COVID-19, all employees kept their jobs, were paid and continued to have access to health benefits.
In Arkansas, CNE’s commitment to responsible gaming will be no different.
Community Focus
CNE is more than just a gaming operator — it is a dedicated and trustworthy community partner with the experience needed to make Legends Resort & Casino a success.
Since opening an office in downtown Russellville in 2019 (located at 314 West B Street), CNE has not only provided ongoing information about the development, but also has connected in many ways with thousands of community members, including supporting many local organizations, events and fundraisers.
