THACKERVILLE, Okla. -- The Winstar Casino and Resort is expanding by 65,000 square feet, and the Chickasaw Nation broke ground on Wednesday.

More than 100 people attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the new convention center on the southeast side of the casino.

The facility will include a grand ballroom with seating up to 1,000 people, a junior ballroom seating 700, three board rooms, a kitchen, and additional office space.

Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby says the convention center will be a great attraction. "The intent is to increase business and in the process you create additional revenue and obviously it is going to have an economic impact on the community around us and primarily the Chickasaw nation," he said.

Construction should wrap in 15 months.

https://www.chickasaw.net/getdoc/71cbafc2-7fe8-4c01-a8bf-2268861fb2ea/WS_Convention-Center_Ground-Breaking_04292015.aspx

Winstar Casino breaks ground on expansion (http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/Winstar-Casino-breaks-ground-on-expansion-301760701.html)

Winstar Golf course expanding to 36 holes (2 full 18 hole courses). Was at 27 holes.

http://www.winstarworldcasino.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/WSG_PR_Course-Expansion-Announcement_06112015F-2.pdf

D-FW venues complain WinStar casino makes it hard to compete for big names

Link (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:uDawVlEwORUJ:www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/arts/columnists/michael-granberry/20151204-d-fw-entertainment-wars-winstar-is-making-it-hard-to-compete.ece+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)

I thought Texas (or is it just Dallas) didn't allow casino's or something of the sort?

I thought Texas (or is it just Dallas) didn't allow casino's or something of the sort?

Texas doesn't allow casino gambling but that's not what this is about. Winstar is causing compete issues for more traditional concert venues in north Texas.

Texas allows" gambling" like lottery, scratchoffs, and horse racing but as far as Casinos go the Indians gave up their rights for federal recognition. Although one tribe The Kickapoo was silient on gambing so they are governed by the federal indian gaming regulation.
So in all Texas has only one Casino.

Oklahoma’s WinStar World Casino and the Dallas Cowboys announced a historic partnership deal on Thursday which will be the first of its kind. The financial details are still not known but the Chickasaw Nation Tribe and the storied NFL franchise called the agreement between the two parties a “league-changing partnership”.

https://www.legalgamblingandthelaw.com/news/winstar-world-casino-enters-partnership-with-dallas-cowboys/

^the state of sports betting is changing around the country at lightening pace. I think this is Jerry’s way of getting out ahead of it and jives nicely with his stake in Draft Kings (along with Robert Kraft). I had friends in the casinos in Mississippi last weekend during the first CFB games. Said it was out of control how busy they were.

Any idea on the crane at the Winstar behind the hotels? Have not seen a press release or article on construction of anything.

I heard that it will be two more hotel towers and a new event center.

Source?

This says 3 new towers: https://www.dalsportsnation.com/2021/09/03/battle-between-choctaw-and-winstar-affecting-dfw-sports-teams/

I have some contacts that work for the Chickasaw Nation that are in the know. I know that hotel towers 4 and 5 have been greenlit along with the event center, but I have not heard about a sixth tower being approved for construction. There may be some plans for it, but it is likely in the conceptual phase at this point. The Chickasaw Nation is very forward thinking, so it wouldn't surprise me at all.

Between this project and the Ardmore Air Park project, we are talking tens of thousands of new jobs in Southern Oklahoma (Ardmore project estimates 18K jobs long term). The supporting businesses that will come along with it, needed to support increased population. Restaurants, schools, hospitals, shopping, services, homes, etc. In the Dallas thread there was talk of eventually DFW to OKC being very little land in between. DFW to to Gainesville isn't far from that as is. You turn Ardmore into an Oklahoma version of the Fort Worth Alliance Airport and Winstar Area continues to boom, you can see in the next 20 years Gainesville to Ardmore at least not much land in-between.

Between this project and the Ardmore Air Park project, we are talking tens of thousands of new jobs in Southern Oklahoma (Ardmore project estimates 18K jobs long term). The supporting businesses that will come along with it, needed to support increased population. Restaurants, schools, hospitals, shopping, services, homes, etc. In the Dallas thread there was talk of eventually DFW to OKC being very little land in between. DFW to to Gainesville isn't far from that as is. You turn Ardmore into an Oklahoma version of the Fort Worth Alliance Airport and Winstar Area continues to boom, you can see in the next 20 years Gainesville to Ardmore at least not much land in-between.

I don't think growth will be very fast in south central Oklahoma at least not coming from Texans. Why would most Texans regard it as smart to work in Texas but commute from Oklahoma and have to pay Oklahoma income tax? Politicians will cite that as another reason why Oklahoma needs to do as Texas and abolish the state income tax. On the other hand, a good number of Texans may not object moving to Oklahoma to take advantage of Oklahoma jobs.

I have some contacts that work for the Chickasaw Nation that are in the know. I know that hotel towers 4 and 5 have been greenlit along with the event center, but I have not heard about a sixth tower being approved for construction. There may be some plans for it, but it is likely in the conceptual phase at this point. The Chickasaw Nation is very forward thinking, so it wouldn't surprise me at all.

Forward thinking surely means confident that northern Texas will not be allowed to build casino-hotels for the foreseeable future.

I have some contacts that work for the Chickasaw Nation that are in the know. I know that hotel towers 4 and 5 have been greenlit along with the event center, but I have not heard about a sixth tower being approved for construction. There may be some plans for it, but it is likely in the conceptual phase at this point. The Chickasaw Nation is very forward thinking, so it wouldn't surprise me at all.

Any idea where there is no news about it? What's the strategy here?

I'm not sure why they aren't publicizing it more. With the pandemic still going on, it may not be something that is a priority right now. I did get an update that there is only one hotel tower that is going to be built along with the events center instead of two towers. There is a belief that Texas is going to legalize gambling in the next 5 to 8 years, so they are going to be pretty cautious when it comes to expansion.

I'm not sure why they aren't publicizing it more. With the pandemic still going on, it may not be something that is a priority right now. I did get an update that there is only one hotel tower that is going to be built along with the events center instead of two towers. There is a belief that Texas is going to legalize gambling in the next 5 to 8 years, so they are going to be pretty cautious when it comes to expansion.

Doesn't make sense imo to be cautious. Even if they legalize gambling in 5-8 years it will take years beyond to organize, build, etc. They will have a 25 year headstart on anything in DFW Metroplex.

Doesn't make sense imo to be cautious. Even if they legalize gambling in 5-8 years it will take years beyond to organize, build, etc. They will have a 25 year headstart on anything in DFW Metroplex.

WinStar started out in a tent, and half of Newcastle Casino is still temporary prefab trailers. There's no reason someone couldn't do that in Texas. Granted, it wouldn't initially have same ooh-and-aah destination factor that WinStar has now, but a casino's bread and butter isn't the occasional visitor who's there to gawk at the decor.

Additionally, full legalization in Texas means a Texas casino could be placed pretty much anywhere. Oklahoma casinos are limited to tribal trust land. Tribes can purchase land and get it put into trust but it's a legal process that takes a while. In Texas, you could repurpose any existing building as a casino. Time to set up would probably be on the order of one to two months in that case. Setting up a casino is no more technically challenging than setting up a typical room of office cubicles.

Keep in mind that the Chickasaw Nation (CN) owns a horse track in Texas (Lone Star Park). They bought the track back in 2011 as a defensive play in case Texas ever decided to legalize casino gambling. The belief is that all of the horse tracks in Texas will be awarded casino licenses once that happens. If that is indeed the case, the financial resources that would have been used to continue expanding Winstar would then be shifted to Lone Star Park.

The CN wants to meet current demand from customers, but they don't want to go overboard and get stuck in the middle of a $100M-$200M expansion when Texas approves gaming. They'll add steadily until they think that legalization is imminent.

Winstar does have a big head start on any casino that would be built in DFW, but convenience is usually going to win at the end of the day. Of course with the population explosion in the northern DFW suburbs, residents of cities like Denton are probably going to continue to go to Winstar because it is an easier drive.

Keep in mind that the Chickasaw Nation (CN) owns a horse track in Texas (Lone Star Park). They bought the track back in 2011 as a defensive play in case Texas ever decided to legalize casino gambling. The belief is that all of the horse tracks in Texas will be awarded casino licenses once that happens. If that is indeed the case, the financial resources that would have been used to continue expanding Winstar would then be shifted to Lone Star Park.

The CN wants to meet current demand from customers, but they don't want to go overboard and get stuck in the middle of a $100M-$200M expansion when Texas approves gaming. They'll add steadily until they think that legalization is imminent.

Winstar does have a big head start on any casino that would be built in DFW, but convenience is usually going to win at the end of the day. Of course with the population explosion in the northern DFW suburbs, residents of cities like Denton are probably going to continue to go to Winstar because it is an easier drive.

Lone Star Park (and its sister property Remington Park) are owned by an LLC called Global Gaming, which is in turn owned by the Chickasaws, so it's not quite as simple as redoing the budget. But the Chickasaws could find a way to get the money to go where it needs to.

Another thing to keep in mind is that hardcore casino gamblers don't exactly make the choice of where they spend their money rationally. If they normally gamble at WinStar, but a casino opens five minutes away from home and they lose the first couple of times they go there, they'll just start driving past it to go back to WinStar because they feel as if they do better there.

Makes sense to build in Oklahoma when most of the growth in the DFW metro is closer to the border. 8.5 million people live in DFW/ Sherman area as well as parts of southern Oklahoma which is in fact part of DFW CSA.

I live in a populated region just north of Austin where alot of my colleagues go to Winstar for a 2 day vacation. I'll probably take a trip up there myself this wk.

Lone Star Park is located at I-20 & Belt Line. Not ideal. Not much good happens after dark over there. Comparing that to Winstar is apples and oranges anyway. Winstar is now a destination. Even when Texas legalizes gambling, it is still something that people will want to go to even beyond heading down to the 'local' casino. We have to take consideration in terms of traffic and culture bubbles too within the DFW metroplex. This is biggest factor in all of this. DFW has become a melting pot of Biblical proportions.

Winstar has this going for it: 20 year head start. 100 mile radius non-compete clause with entertainers, location (yes, more positive than negative), Dallas Cowboys Partnership (if even temporary), DFW population growth.
Winstar is going to remain #1. The higher-ups probably know what they are doing, but as soon as Oklahoma legalizes Sports Betting, and the Sports Book is opened at Winstar, there will be an ocean of Sports Fans going through the doors.

https://www.twdb.texas.gov/waterplanning/data/projections/img/banner2022.jpg

https://www.us.jll.com/images/am-research/snapshots/am-snapshots-dallas-fort-worth-3-16-20-chart.jpg.rendition/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg

This is in Winstar's back pocket for growth from the north: https://www.okcommerce.gov/124-million-development-plan-will-transform-ardmore-industrial-airpark-into-international-multimodal-logistics-hub/

Up to 18K jobs projected over the next 10 years from the Ardmore Multimodal Logistics Facility project.

When the hell is Oklahoma going to legalize sports betting!? I feel it gets talked about and nothing

Stitt can't authorize it, has to be legislature. Last major update: https://kfor.com/news/local/is-sports-betting-on-the-horizon-in-oklahoma/

Good link ourulz2000, not that familiar with sports betting in Oklahoma.


https://c.tenor.com/nMHGrW7p-18AAAAM/head-scratcher-wait-what.gif

How is it that The Fat Jack Sports Service https://fatjacksports.com/ operates in Oklahoma where my understanding is you can purchase packages thru the service--is there a loop hole that allows them to get around the Oklahoma betting laws. Can someone explain . . .

When the hell is Oklahoma going to legalize sports betting!? I feel it gets talked about and nothing

There was a lot of momentum with the tribes wanting to work with the state to get get it done, but then Stitt blew up the state's relationship with the tribes. So Oklahoma is nowhere so long as Stitt is in office. There is no trust.

Can you imagine any other state being so antagonistic to an employer that has more than 50k employees in that state?

That makes sense. Stitt can’t get voted out fast enough.

That makes sense. Stitt can’t get voted out fast enough.

He won't be, unfortunately. Will likely demolish the competition.

All things change. Another year means new opportunities. $$$ moves opinions despite bad blood. Maybe 2022 is the year. 28 stands already offer it. Here is a good article: https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/19740480/the-united-states-sports-betting-where-all-50-states-stand-legalization

There was a lot of momentum with the tribes wanting to work with the state to get get it done, but then Stitt blew up the state's relationship with the tribes. So Oklahoma is nowhere so long as Stitt is in office. There is no trust.

Can you imagine any other state being so antagonistic to an employer that has more than 50k employees in that state?

this takes a new bill in the state house ..... this has very very little to do with Stitt ..

this takes a new bill in the state house ..... this has very very little to do with Stitt ..

"Doctor" Stitt has poisoned the spirit of negotiation. Until he comes with hat in hand the tribes have no reason to engage. Stitt has been antagonistic in every dealing with the tribal nations and their interests.

"Doctor" Stitt has poisoned the spirit of negotiation. Until he comes with hat in hand the tribes have no reason to engage. Stitt has been antagonistic in every dealing with the tribal nations and their interests.

this is not accurate

this is not accurate

Yes it is...

See how easy it is to counter with no facts to back up my claim?

Yes it is...

See how easy it is to counter with no facts to back up my claim?

In my experience, you'll get no response.

Drove to Dallas to visit family for Thanksgiving, and noticed 2 large cranes behind the current hotel towers. Anyone have details on the expansion, or a press release? I know those hotels are mostly, if not totally, full every night.

Drove to Dallas to visit family for Thanksgiving, and noticed 2 large cranes behind the current hotel towers. Anyone have details on the expansion, or a press release? I know those hotels are mostly, if not totally, full every night.

I know they are building another hotel tower but I don't think they are expanding their gaming floor.

Month old screengrabs from video found on YouTube:

New hotel - looks like its 12 floors so far with another 2 or 3 to go.
New event center - looks like a quite large concert venue.
New parking garage

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This old Google Earth photo can show how much bigger the footprint is going to be because of these 3 new large structures.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYF-N5AkcQc

Took a few pics today, didn’t realize they were also adding an event center!
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Thackerville skyline continues to grow :tongue:
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We are at Winstar today also. They comp us 2 nights in the hotel all the time but has to be Sunday night through Thursday night. That is probably why the hotels stay full all the time. Lots of discounted meal vouchers all the time too. The casino is packed as usual.

As soon as you round the corner from crossing the border you can now see 4 massive hotel towers. Quite impressive. Little Vegas on the prairie. You have to wonder when the new home construction is going to start in Thackerville and Marietta. As the Winstar area grows, employees have to live somewhere. The Thackerville city infrastructure is going to need to grow as well.

I am amazed at the lack of coverage of this expansion. It's 2022, and there are no articles about this online. I'm not even talking about here. There is more here than anywhere else.

It is quite the gem for the state to have. A new events center will help immensely. They already got top-notch shows. Imagine what they will get with a newer, bigger events center.

I wonder if this expansion will put any additional pressure on ODOT and Amtrak to establish a Thackerville stop for the Heartland Flyer... I know that idea has been floated for several years now, but I haven't seen any movement on it whatsoever.

I thought I remembered they had full plans but the landowner wanted too much money

When Oklahoma legalizes sports betting they’ll have to build a sports book. Place will be jammed during football season.

The Chickasaws bill Winstar as "The World's Biggest Casino".

From their website:


WinStar World Casino and Resort is a destination unlike any other – one that’s difficult to sum up. This is the World’s Biggest Casino, after all, where nearly 400,000 square feet of gaming floor plays host to nine impressive, city-themed gaming plazas and over 8,600 electronic games. And that’s just the start, because there are 100 table games, a 55-table poker room, Racers Off-Track betting parlor, Bingo, high-stakes rooms and more. And that’s just on the gaming side. You’ll also find a diverse culinary scene throughout the resort, with everything from upscale restaurants like Kirby’s Steakhouse and the 500-seat Gran Via Buffet to casual favorites like Dallas Cowboys Bar & Grill and Panda Express.

Other premier facilities at WinStar World Casino and Resort include a 3-tower hotel with nearly 1,400 luxurious rooms, the 65,000-square-foot Convention Center, a Golf Academy and Club with two championship 18-hole courses, unique shopping opportunities and more.

Strangley, I could not find anything about their current expansion, but they are building a new hotel tower and a huge event center as well as another parking garage. The old event center is currently being converted into yet more casino space.



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^^^^^^^
So crazy to look at the end where this casino originally started and see what’s behind the ornate facades; those buildings were (and remain) essentially huge event tents. WinStar has come a long way, baby.

I can't imagine the revenue this place generates.

Even on a Saturday morning around 8:30 AM, there were throngs of people in there spending tons of cash. It's just one huge, money-making machine.

Also, I believe all those cars behind the casino are those of employees. Hundreds and hundreds of people work there 24/7.

Thanks for the cash, DFW.

Bring this forward; it's simply a stunning development:


The Chickasaws bill Winstar as "The World's Biggest Casino".

From their website:



Strangley, I could not find anything about their current expansion, but they are building a new hotel tower and a huge event center as well as another parking garage. The old event center is currently being converted into yet more casino space.



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Can't wait to see the artists they can get with the new events center. Rumors are out there that the Choctaw Casino in Durant is wanting to either expand their current one, or build a new one. People come from all over for some of their shows, and will spend multiple nights there, making a trip out of it.

Likely the same with Winstar.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/winstar040922d.jpg

By the looks of the new hotel tower which matches the two towers that hold 600 rooms each, this site will have 1800 rooms plus the 200 room Winstar Inn--you're talking 2,000 rooms on site.

Great shots Pete, and to echo what Urbanized said, 'Thank you DFW.' This is good for Oklahoma, the Tribes (Thackerville, Durant)
with the Chickasaw & Choctaw tribes competing as Oklahoma becomes an 'oasis' right in the middle of the United States with a taste of Las Vegas that doesn't require a 18 hour drive or 2 hour and 45 minute flight.

This is 'new out of state money' being infused into Oklahoma, some of which will impact OKC some 125 miles away--especially with the Okana Resort (Chickasaw Tribe) being built in Oklahoma City.

When you walk through the parking lot probably 90% of the cars have Texas tags. I'm curious what they will name the new tower. The existing ones are Pool Tower North and Pool Tower South. Pool Tower East and Pool Tower West would have made more sense. It is a little confusing when making room reservations until you've been there and learn which is which. And for anyone else that has stayed at the hotel what do you think of the water there? Super soft water that feels like taking a shower in oil. Makes it really hard to tell if you've rinsed the soap off of you. I've often wondered if the water in the whole area is like that or if it is something they do for the hotels with a water softener.

... And for anyone else that has stayed at the hotel what do you think of the water there? Super soft water that feels like taking a shower in oil. Makes it really hard to tell if you've rinsed the soap off of you. I've often wondered if the water in the whole area is like that or if it is something they do for the hotels with a water softener.

Given there was a court case about Texas water authorities in that region wanting to tap into rivers on the Oklahoma side before they hit the Red River expressly due to drawing from it requires a lot more processing than if came from basically any Oklahoma river, and Thackerville practically is surrounded by it, seems decent odds they are having to do a lot of processing on not the best quality water.

Great pics Pete. Regarding Winstars lack of news on this, I’ve wondered if that is on purpose. Why, I can’t say.

Also, another dynamic is so so many Californians have moved to DFW. Many have which visited Las Vegas quite often. Winstar has become quite a place, providing a little slice of Vegas less than an hour away. Between Winstars continued expansion and the Ardmore Airpark Complex construction, south Oklahoma along 35 is going to be booming.

I wonder if this expansion will put any additional pressure on ODOT and Amtrak to establish a Thackerville stop for the Heartland Flyer... I know that idea has been floated for several years now, but I haven't seen any movement on it whatsoever.

They haven't done it yet cause it makes too much sense to do it

When Oklahoma legalizes sports betting they’ll have to build a sports book. Place will be jammed during football season.

I could be wrong but I think they already have it built and it's sponsored by the Cowboys. Pretty much all they have to do is legalize it and open the doors up

As soon as you round the corner from crossing the border you can now see 4 massive hotel towers. Quite impressive. Little Vegas on the prairie. You have to wonder when the new home construction is going to start in Thackerville and Marietta. As the Winstar area grows, employees have to live somewhere. The Thackerville city infrastructure is going to need to grow as well.

I imagine workers would rather live in Ardmore for much greater amenities or in a town just across the Texas border to get away from Oklahoma's state income tax. Gainesville, TX, while not as big as Ardmore is a closer drive.