Cherokee Nation Entertainment

What Cherokee Nation Entertainment does

Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC is a tribal-owned hospitality and gaming operator headquartered in Oklahoma that runs 10+ casino, hotel, dining, and entertainment properties under multiple brands across Oklahoma and Mississippi. Its flagship integrated resort, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, operates under a licensed Hard Rock brand, while Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi anchors its out-of-state presence; the company additionally operates nine Cherokee Casino and Hotel locations across Oklahoma, offering casino gaming, hotel accommodations, dining, golf, spa, and live entertainment. The core unifying technology is the Status+ Rewards loyalty program — a tiered platform (Reserve, Elite, Luxe) with a mobile app providing real-time tier tracking, instant reward updates, and mobile offers — integrated across the multi-property portfolio along with experiential benefits such as complimentary cruises, Baha Mar stays, Vegas getaways, pool cabanas, and spa treatments.

The business model is consumer-facing (B2C) gaming and hospitality: the company monetizes through on-property casino wagering, hotel room bookings, dining and entertainment ticketing (with entertainment tickets shown starting at $39.50 for general shows and $89.50 for headline performers), and recurrent player activity within the loyalty program. Distribution is primarily through physical casino properties, with direct-to-consumer sales via property websites for hotel reservations and entertainment box offices. Marketing relies on the Status+ Rewards program, property websites, recurring promotional drawings (e.g., $250,000 Cash & Chrome, $85,000+ Boat + Cash, Summer Cash Drawings), and live entertainment programming across its venues. As an enterprise wholly owned by the Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized tribe, the company operates under tribal sovereignty with profits reinvested into tribal programs.

Name

Cherokee Nation Entertainment

Legal name

Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC

Website

https://onestarrewards.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC operates 10+ casino, hotel, dining, and entertainment properties in Oklahoma and Mississippi under tribal ownership, including Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa and Gold Strike Casino Resort, unified by the Status+ Rewards loyalty program and mobile app serving mass-market gaming and hospitality consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casino & Resort Gaming

NAICS

Casino Hotels (721120), Gambling Industries (7132), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal/First Nations Casino Operations (MPAEAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tribal/Indigenous Casino Hotels (THAGAJAE), Integrated Casino Resorts (Casino + Hotel/Entertainment) (MPAEAAAA), Casino Food, Beverage & Nightlife Operations (MPAEAAAI)

Keywords

• Casino gaming operations
• Hospitality services
• Loyalty rewards program
• Live entertainment venues
• Tribal gaming enterprise

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cherokee Nation Entertainment operates a portfolio of more than 10 casino and hospitality properties across Oklahoma and Mississippi, including Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Gold Strike Casino Resort Tunica, and multiple Cherokee Casino locations. Offerings span casino gaming, hotel accommodations, multiple dining concepts, live entertainment at Hard Rock Live and Gold Strike Theatre, golf at Cherokee Hills Golf Club, and spa services, all linked through the Status+ Rewards tiered loyalty program with a companion mobile app.

Product overview

Cherokee Nation Entertainment operates a portfolio of casino and hospitality properties under multiple brands, unified by the Status+ Rewards loyalty program. The core offering consists of physical casino resorts (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Gold Strike Casino Resort, and multiple Cherokee Casino locations), complemented by the Status+ Rewards mobile app that provides real-time tier tracking, mobile offers, and exclusive member experiences including cruises, golf, spa treatments, and vacation packages. The company functions as a hospitality/entertainment operator rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa Full-service casino resort offering casino gaming, music-themed hotel accommodations, multiple dining venues, live entertainment, Cherokee Hills Golf Club, and pool amenities. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• Gold Strike Casino Resort Casino resort in Tunica, Mississippi offering gaming, hotel accommodations, standout dining, signature Southern hospitality, and The Spa at Gold Strike.
• Cherokee Casino & Hotel West Siloam Springs Casino and hotel property offering world-class gaming, vibrant nightlife, and a modern hotel experience in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma.
• Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland Casino and hotel property in Roland, Oklahoma combining entertainment, dining, and hospitality for the River Valley region.
• Cherokee Casino Fort Gibson Casino property in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma with 29,000 square feet of gaming space and more than 400 electronic games.
• Cherokee Casino Grove Casino property in Grove, Oklahoma featuring nightlife and the region's largest jackpots, positioned as Grand Lake o' the Cherokees' premier gaming spot.
• Cherokee Casino Ramona Casino property north of Tulsa along Highway 75 offering 32,000 square feet of gaming and nightlife.
• Cherokee Casino Sallisaw Casino property in Sallisaw, Oklahoma delivering gaming action along Interstate 40.
• Cherokee Casino South Coffeyville Casino property near Coffeyville, Oklahoma offering gaming and nightlife.
• Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Casino property in Tahlequah, Oklahoma with premier gaming, live entertainment, and elevated dining options.
• Status+ Rewards Loyalty Program Tiered casino loyalty program with Reserve, Elite, and Luxe membership levels offering real-time tier tracking through a mobile app, complimentary experiences including annual cruises, Baha Mar stays, Las Vegas trips, pool cabanas, golf rounds, and spa treatments across all Cherokee Nation Entertainment properties.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Churchill Downs Incorporated: Owns and operates regional casino properties primarily in the U.S. South and Midwest. Comparable regional gaming and hospitality footprint with overlapping Mississippi market presence and similar drive-to customer base.

Direct peers

• Seminole Tribe / Hard Rock International: Owner of the Hard Rock brand licensed to CNE's flagship Tulsa property and a major tribal casino operator. Directly comparable as a tribal gaming enterprise with integrated casino-hotels, live entertainment venues, and brand-licensed premium positioning.
• Muscogee (Creek) Nation Gaming: Operates River Spirit Casino Resort and other gaming properties in Oklahoma. Comparable regional tribal gaming and hospitality operator competing in overlapping Oklahoma drive-to markets.
• Boyd Gaming: Regional casino operator with 28+ properties across the U.S. including destination and drive-to markets. Comparable in multi-property regional gaming, lodging, dining, and entertainment offerings with a loyalty program (B Connected).
• Penn Entertainment: Operates a large regional casino portfolio across the U.S. with a unified loyalty program (PENN Play). Directly comparable as a multi-property regional gaming operator with cross-property rewards and integrated entertainment offerings.
• Choctaw Nation Gaming Services: Operates the largest tribal casino portfolio in Oklahoma under the Choctaw Nation. Directly comparable as a multi-property tribal gaming and hospitality operator competing in the same Oklahoma drive-to markets as Cherokee Nation Entertainment.
• Chickasaw Nation Gaming: Operates multiple casino, hotel, and entertainment properties across southern Oklahoma. Comparable multi-property tribal gaming portfolio with similar dining, lodging, and entertainment offerings targeting overlapping regional customers.

Emerging players

• Cordish Companies (Live! Casino): Operates Live! Casino integrated gaming, hotel, dining, and entertainment properties across several U.S. states. Comparable integrated resort model with strong live entertainment and F&B components similar to CNE's Hard Rock Tulsa strategy.

Broad incumbents

• MGM Resorts International: Large publicly traded gaming and hospitality operator with integrated casino-resort properties and major loyalty program (MGM Rewards). Comparable business model in casino hotels, live entertainment, dining, and multi-property loyalty, though primarily destination-focused rather than regional tribal.
• Caesars Entertainment: Major publicly traded casino operator with extensive regional and destination properties and the Caesars Rewards loyalty program. Comparable in multi-property gaming, lodging, dining, and loyalty platform mechanics, though much larger and publicly traded.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cherokee-nation-entertainment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cherokee Nation Entertainment