Winstar World Casino

[Pete]

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.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^^
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.

[Pete]

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.

[Urbanized]

Thanks for the cash, DFW.

[chssooner]

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.

[Laramie]

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.

[gjl]

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.

[Snowman]

... 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.

[ourulz2000]

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.

[shawnw]

Personally I'd be down with that. Does the city want that?

[Pete]

This is a photo I took last April; the new hotel tower is already open:

[Pete]

Press release:

************



Introducing the Next Era of Entertainment
WinStar World Casino & Resort has a reputation for introducing the world’s most renowned acts to Oklahoma’s most incredible audiences. After showcasing A-list entertainment like Pitbull, Jay Leno, KISS, Bob Dylan, Brandi Carlile and so many others, it’s easy to understand why our stage is a magnet for unforgettable moments.

Now, we’re turning up the volume and taking our entertainment to the next level with Lucas Oil Live. With 6,500 seats and a multitude of VIP packages and suites, this one-of-a-kind event venue will play host to some of the world’s hottest acts. Whether it’s a rock concert, country superstar or comedy showcase, Lucas Oil Live is your ticket to the area’s top entertainment experiences.

[gjl]

We were there the last week of January and I don't think it was open then. We are going again in early March so I can find out for sure.The web site where you make reservations only showed rooms in the 3 existing towers. They have casino tower, pool tower north and pool tower south. I don't know what the new hotel tower will be called. I know the new pools were no where close to being complete. They are building at least 5 new pools that will be adult only and have canopy areas for adult parties. I don't think the new event center was open yet either.

[Pete]

Lucas Oil Live is an entertainment venue that will occupy over 250,000 square feet. It will have dedicated VIP, Club and Suite areas. It will be situated nearby to Winstar’s newly opened Spa Tower Hotel, which has 304 rooms.

[Jake]

It blows my mind how large this whole thing is. I don’t gamble but I’d like to visit just to see this in person one day.

[gjl]

We go about every 2 months. They continuously comp us 2 free night hotel stays Sunday thru Thursday. We only have to pay a small resort fee. It comes to $21.40 to stay two nights. We usually get 3-4 offers a week in the mail from them with hotel comps, food vouchers, free play for the slots. It's a nice get away every couple of months. They have a wide selection of restaurants to chose from from fine dining, to casual, to Taco Casa and IHOP. We are not big gamblers but will play the slots. If you do go, get their players club card and use it. That's what will get the comps started. If you walk through the parking lot it is easily about 95% Texas tags.

[Pete]

^

Yep, it's all the DFW people driving up.

And as that metroplex continues its rapid expansion to the north, it will only continue to fuel Winstar and the even more elaborate Choctaw Casino in Durant.

[gjl]

We stopped by the Choctaw Casino in Durant in October last year on the way home from Winstar and it was nowhere near the crowd Winstar draws and were not to impressed with it compared to Winstar. Either were the restaurants either. We ate lunch at Guy Fieri's themed restaurant and the food and service were awful. But even after that one occasion going there and getting their Players Club card we started getting comps in the mail from them too. But just one free night at a time hotel stay. We also go to River Spirit in Tulsa and get comps from them too. But only 1 night at a time so when we go there we get one night free and pay for the 2nd night. If we make a trip to stay in a hotel we always stay 2 nights. We enjoy River Spirit too.

[ourulz2000]

2023-02-24_175525.jpg

"the population of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area in Texas is projected to grow from 7,874,000 in 2022 to 12,859,600 in 2060."

[soonergolfer]

Does anyone know how much lobby money goes to anti-casino in Texas? I don’t pretend to know the history of gaming law in Texas, but the OK/TX casinos would go dark fast if casinos are allowed in Texas.

[scottk]

Does anyone know how much lobby money goes to anti-casino in Texas? I don’t pretend to know the history of gaming law in Texas, but the OK/TX casinos would go dark fast if casinos are allowed in Texas.

Knowing the forward thinking, you can almost gamble (HA) that if casino's were allowed in Texas, land has already been purchased and primed for such an endeavor.

[Dob Hooligan]

Does anyone know how much lobby money goes to anti-casino in Texas? I don’t pretend to know the history of gaming law in Texas, but the OK/TX casinos would go dark fast if casinos are allowed in Texas.

I think the big money is being spent on the pro-gaming side. Las Vegas Sands, who used to own and operate The Venetian/Palazzo, has spent the most on lobbyists for any issue in Texas over the last 2 years. There's been a lot of money spent over the last 10 years trying to get casino gambling passed in Texas, and I don't think they are any closer to yes than they ever have been.

I think the Chickasaws bought the Dallas horse track about 10 years ago and are holding it in case Racinos are allowed.

I think biggest parts of Texas are pretty well served currently. The metroplex has the Oklahoma resorts 70-80 miles to the north, and Houston has many Louisiana choices just over 100 miles east. That's enough to keep the legislature from legalizing casino gambling in Texas. So far.

[soonergolfer]

I think the big money is being spent on the pro-gaming side. Las Vegas Sands, who used to own and operate The Venetian/Palazzo, has spent the most on lobbyists for any issue in Texas over the last 2 years. There's been a lot of money spent over the last 10 years trying to get casino gambling passed in Texas, and I don't think they are any closer to yes than they ever have been.

I think the Chickasaws bought the Dallas horse track about 10 years ago and are holding it in case Racinos are allowed.

I think biggest parts of Texas are pretty well served currently. The metroplex has the Oklahoma resorts 70-80 miles to the north, and Houston has many Louisiana choices just over 100 miles east. That's enough to keep the legislature from legalizing casino gambling in Texas. So far.

You may be correct about the Chickasaw part, but I just don’t see how legalizing it in Texas benefits them. Sure, they could build a casino in Dallas, but so could Caesars, MGM, and definitely Stations Casino with Texan Tilman Fertitta being a major player. If any build mega resorts, then Winstar and Choctaw will be ghost towns. It just seems like a pretty big risk to be adding with that uncertainty lingering.

Though, even if Texas does pass it by the end of the decade, Chickasaw will probably have paid for the expansion 3x over.

[Dob Hooligan]

You may be correct about the Chickasaw part, but I just don’t see how legalizing it in Texas benefits them. Sure, they could build a casino in Dallas, but so could Caesars, MGM, and definitely Stations Casino with Texan Tilman Fertitta being a major player. If any build mega resorts, then Winstar and Choctaw will be ghost towns. It just seems like a pretty big risk to be adding with that uncertainty lingering.

Though, even if Texas does pass it by the end of the decade, Chickasaw will probably have paid for the expansion 3x over.

Take my ramblings with a grain of salt. Except...Tilman Fertitta is NOT Station Casinos. Frank III and Lorenzo Fertitta are Station (AKA Red Rock Casinos). I recall they are second cousins of Tilman, and are not reported to be close. Tilman bought Golden Nugget from Tom Breitling and Tim Poster in 2004-ish. Galveston raised and a University of Houston alum. I know he is a great Texas businessman, but I don't read much about him agitating for casino gambling in Texas.

I think the Texas situation might be waiting until the New York City market clears up. There are more big players trying to get in than available licenses. And the state and city both want huge complexes with equally huge tax payments.

[bsmall]

I was at Winstar earlier this week. The new pool area is well underway
20230220pools.jpg