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The Osage Casino and Hotel in Pawhuska held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday to mark its official grand opening.

Several local dignitaries were on hand, including Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Assistant Chief RJ Walker, Pawhuska Mayor Mark Buchanan and State Representative Judd Strom.

Osage Casino CEO Kimberly Pearson spoke on how this has been a day that has been a long time in the making.

Standing Bear said the opening of this casino will be beneficial for the Osage Nation as a whole in more ways than one.

Buchanan, who moved to Pawhuska in 1995, said the Osage Nation is as strong as it has ever been and its people will continue to thrive for a long time to come.

The casino features more than 250 electronic games, 47 hotel rooms, a restaurant and pool. The Osage Casino and Hotel just to the west of Bartlesville is scheduled to open in November.