Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant has wrapped a major renovation that turned its Grand Casino into a completely smoke‑free gaming floor, and the resort says that move now gives it the largest non‑smoking casino floor in the United States. The multi‑phase refresh kicked off in January and wrapped up this spring, with sections reopening in stages as they were finished. The conversion shifted thousands of slot machines and dozens of table games into smoke‑free territory while still preserving a separate zone for guests who want to light up.
How the refresh was done
The Grand Casino overhaul rolled out in six phases starting in January 2026 and brought in new lighting, fresh carpeting and redesigned walkways to update the look and improve traffic flow. Jeff Penz, senior director of gaming & hospitality, said the upgrades “not only elevate the look and feel of the area, but also enhance the environment for our guests,” in a statement from the resort. Per Choctaw Casinos & Resorts, each remodeled phase reopened as a non‑smoking area the moment work wrapped, until the full conversion was complete.
How big is the smoke‑free floor
Once you combine the revamped Grand Casino with the property’s Sky Tower gaming area, the resort now has a non‑smoking footprint that includes about 5,400 slot machines and roughly 82 table games, according to Indian Gaming. The outlet also notes the project finished this spring. Those figures are what the resort is using to stake its claim to the national title for largest non‑smoking casino floor.
Where smoking will still be allowed
For guests who prefer to smoke, the resort is keeping that option alive in the Link Casino, the pocket of floor between the Grand Casino and Sky Casino near Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen + Bar, and on the outdoor veranda by the Choctaw Grand Theater. Choctaw’s newsroom lists the Link as housing about 1,700 slot machines, 22 table games and a high‑limit area catering to smoking guests. Visitors are being asked to watch for signage marking smoking and non‑smoking zones while the property finishes its post‑refresh fine‑tuning. Choctaw Casinos & Resorts
Why it matters for visitors and the region
Choctaw Durant is a major magnet for visitors from North Texas and across Oklahoma, and the smoke‑free shift is being pitched as a way to broaden its appeal to non‑smokers, convention crowds and concertgoers. Axios Dallas has previously reported that the resort recently finished a roughly $600 million expansion that added the Sky Tower, helping explain why Choctaw is now focused on amenities that pull in an even wider mix of visitors. The move also tracks with a broader casino trend toward more non‑smoking areas as properties chase convention and entertainment business.
For now, the entire Grand Casino floor is smoke‑free, while the Link and the outdoor veranda remain the go‑to spots for guests who smoke. Anyone planning a trip is encouraged to check the resort’s website or ask staff on site for the latest floor maps and clearly marked smoking‑area signage.
