Oneida Indian Nation leadership, labor, local government, business, tourism and community representatives come together to commemorate the opening of new hotel, The Forest Grill restaurant, and the completion of the $50 million expansion of Point Place Casino Hotel
Oneida Indian Nation Homelands (Nov, 17, 2025) – The Oneida Indian Nation celebrated the grand opening of the newly expanded Point Place Casino Hotel today marking the completion of a transformative $50 million investment that added a new 99-room hotel to the property, a farm-to-fork restaurant The Forest Grill, Birch Trading Co., and a group event space. Designed to be a gathering place for the Bridgeport community and to support regional tourism, Point Place Casino Hotel brings economic development and job creation to Madison County.
The milestone event brought together Oneida Indian Nation leadership, elected officials, labor partners, business leaders, and community representatives to commemorate the opening with the unveiling of an updated Point Place Casino Hotel logo over the original log used for a ceremonial log cutting to mark the property’s grand opening in 2018.
Point Place Casino Hotel is also welcoming guests to experience the new offerings from the expansion including a double in size casino floor with more than 900 slot machines, a reimaged Fireside Lounge, and updated Perfect Pour Café, The Evergreen – a 1,500 square foot event space and expanded parking. Reservations for the hotel are available here and reservations for The Forest Grill are available on OpenTable.
“This expansion is the largest reinvestment we have made in Point Place, adding new experiences and amenities to the property, while keeping in place everything that has made it so beloved by our guests and the community,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Turning Stone Enterprises Chief Executive Officer Ray Halbritter. We are incredibly proud of our team and the support this Point Place Casino Hotel has received from the community – it is a testament to what we can accomplish when we work together and invest in our future.”
“This hotel is not just stone, glass and timber,” said Madison County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Cunningham. “It is a vision made real, ready to lift this region into a new era of growth and opportunity. Jobs created here are not merely positions to be filled; they are lifelines for families.”
“What we’re seeing today—the potential, the extraordinary opportunity—that comes through partnerships,” said New York State Senator Joseph A. Griffo. “That investment will continue, that potential exists because the Oneidas and Turning Stone Enterprises have been an engine for economic opportunity not only in this region but across the state.”
“We’re experiencing a rebirth here in Central New York that we haven’t seen in over 100 years,” said New York State Assembly Member Brian Miller. “And the Oneida Indian Nation and their vision is the biggest part of what’s going to happen here.”
“This property has not stopped growing since it opened in 2018, and it and it’s been remarkable to see how much excitement this facility has brought to the area, said Hayner Hoyt Corporation President Jeremy Thurston. The Oneida Indian Nation has been so important to the prosperity of our region, and we are just one of the many businesses that have been impacted and fortunate enough to benefit from that partnership.”
“On behalf of Utica Coffee and our employees, I want to thank every one of you that are here at Point Place Casino Hotel, Turning Stone Enterprises and the Oneida Indian Nation for your leadership, your guidance and support of small businesses like ours. It means so much and has such an incredible impact on this community,” said Frank Elias, Founder of Utica Coffee.
About the Oneida Indian Nation
The Oneida Indian Nation is a federally recognized Indian nation in Central New York. A founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Six Nations or Iroquois Confederacy), the Oneida Indian Nation sided with the Americans in the Revolutionary War and was thanked by Congress and President George Washington for its loyalty and assistance. Today, the Nation’s enterprises, which employ more than 5,000 people, include Turning Stone Resort Casino, YBR Casino & Sports Book, Point Place Casino, The Lake House at Sylvan Beach, The Cove at Sylvan Beach, Maple Leaf Markets, SāvOn Convenience stores, Verona Collective, a seed-to-sale cannabis operation, RV Park, and marinas. Proceeds from these enterprises are used to rebuild the Nation’s economic base and provide essential services, including housing, health care, and education incentives and programs, to its Members.
About Point Place Casino
Owned by the Oneida Indian Nation and an entity of Turning Stone Enterprises, Point Place Casino is a smoke-free gaming and entertainment venue located in Upstate New York in the town of Bridgeport. Opened in March 2018, Point Place Casino features more than 500 slot machines, an assortment of table games, TS Sports, Perfect Pour Cafe, Burgers of Madison County and the Fireside Lounge. Visit www.pointplacecasino.com for more information.
Media Contact:
Joel Barkin, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Community Engagement
315.361.8173
jbarkin@oneida-nation.org
Kathleen Shaffer, Head of Public Relations
315.569-8193
Kathleen.shaffer@turningstone.com
