- The WinStar World Resort is the largest casino in the United States. Being in a remote area and sort of off the radar, the WinStar has snuck up on the folks who cover the United States gambling market, and who direct their focus on Vegas, Atlantic City, and the growing Pennsylvania casino market.
- WinStar World Casino is not only the largest casino in the US but also the biggest casino in the world – in the unlikely destination Oklahoma!
| WinStar World Casino and Resort | |
|---|---|
| Address | 777 Casino Avenue, Thackerville, OK 73459 |
| Opening date | 2003 |
| Theme | Native American |
| No. of rooms | 1395 on main casino complex (395 in Resort Tower, 500 in Pool Tower North, 500 in Pool Tower South) 100 rooms in The Inn at Winstar (offsite property) Total: 1495 |
| Total gaming space | 370,000 sq ft (34,000 m2) |
| Notable restaurants | Panda Express, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill, 'Vinos' Italian Eatery', Palladium Sports Lounge,Gran Via Buffet, Kirby's Steakhouse & Mickey Mantle's, Red River Grill, El Fenix, NYC Burgers & Dogs, IHOP Express, Matador's Pizzeria,Khan's Fire Mongolian Grill, Chips 'N Ales, Terrace View Cafe, Capisce Ristorante Italiano, Le Paris Bakery and Cafe, 'Dairy Queen', 'Orange Julius'.[1] |
| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | The Chickasaw Nation |
| Previous names | WinStar World Casino and Resort |
| Renovated in | 2009–current |
| Coordinates | 33°45′28.74″N97°7′55.22″W / 33.7579833°N 97.1320056°WCoordinates: 33°45′28.74″N97°7′55.22″W / 33.7579833°N 97.1320056°W |
| Website | www.winstar.com |
Winstar World Casino and Resort is located 75 minutes North of Dallas/Ft. Winstar World Casino and Resort is the largest casino in the world with 400,000 square feet of gaming space, 8,500 slot machines, 100 table games, 55 poker tables and an 800-seat bingo hall. Is Winstar really the world's largest casino? If this is your first visit to the Blackjack Forum, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You will have to r e g i s t e r (free) before you can post: click the r e g i s t e r link to proceed.
WinStar World Casino and Resort is an American tribal casino and hotel located in Thackerville, Oklahoma, near the Oklahoma–Texas state line. It is owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation. The casino opened as the WinStar Casinos in 2004, and was expanded (with a 395-room hotel tower) and renamed WinStar World Casino in 2009; its 370,000 square feet (34,000 m2) of casino floor made it the world's largest casino.[2] In August 2013, WinStar Resorts completed a major expansion project, which added a new 1000-room second hotel tower that was divided into two phases; this also added a new casino that is attached to the tower. As a result of the completion of this expansion, the casino overtook Foxwoods Resort Casino to become the largest casino in the United States and one of the largest in the world based on gaming floor space. WinStar has 8,500 electronic games, a 55-table poker room, 100 total table games, Racer's off-track betting,[3] high limit room, keno, and bingo.[4]
Location and history[edit]
WinStar World Casino and Resort is located about 120 miles south from the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and one hour north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and attracts many people from the North Texas region as well as Oklahoma residents. The casino's 3,500 seat Global Event Center has been home to some popular entertainment attractions including Jay Leno, Vince Gill, Adam Lambert, Weezer, Lil Wayne, ZZ Top, Maroon 5, Kid Rock, Tony Bennett, and Davy Jones, who gave his final concert at WinStar on February 19, 2012.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
The casino closed temporarily between March 16 to March 31, 2020 due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic as announced by Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby.[22] The casino was closed throughout the remainder of April 2020.[23] The casino reopened on in May 2020, with restrictive guidelines.[24]
Design[edit]
WinStar was conceived by noted designer Larry E. Seitz whose work includes Sands Casinos, Trump Taj Mahal, Grand Casinos in Mississippi, Barona Casino, Buffalo Run, Chisholm Trail, Grand Princess, SS Norway, Casino Panama, Costa Rica Casino, Stellaris Casino Aruba, and the Paradise Island Casino among others. Additionally Hotels created for the brands Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton, Marriott, Crown Plaza, Melina, Loews, Holiday, Ramada, InterContinental, and independents worldwide. Restaurants and Clubs have been produced internationally.Special effects, commissioned art, and sculptures were constructed and implemented by Dallas-based ValueWorks and produced by their suppliers in the U.S. and around the world.The exterior of the building was detailed by Lyndon Stromberg, who also worked on The Venetian and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as well as the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas and Planet Hollywood in New York City. The long façade exterior of WinStar World Casino features replicas of London's Parliament Building, Rome's Coliseum and the Arc de Triomphe from Paris.[25]
Hotel information[edit]
WinStar World Casino and Resort is home to the 12-story, 395-room WinStar World Casino Hotel that is adjacent to the gaming floor. On August 6, 2009, the 395-room hotel tower held a grand opening celebration that featured performances by American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson and American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Meeting rooms that have varied capacities of 10-200 people, a resort-style pool with a custom-built waterfall grotto, the Spa Habitat, and the Cloverleaf Boutique gift shop also opened on this date. WinStar World Casino and Resort also offers a variety of restaurants, many of which are open until late night hours, including Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill.[26] The second hotel tower, the Pool Tower North, opened in August 2013, while the third hotel tower, the Pool Tower South, opened in early 2014. Both towers have a capacity of 500 rooms each and are adjacent to each other. The Inn at WinStar has 101 rooms, and is accessed from the casino and the RV park by a 24-hour shuttle service. There are around 100 table games at the WinStar World Casino. Table games include blackjack, Mississippi stud, midi baccarat, poker, ultimate Texas hold'em etc. The 19000 sq ft poker room has 55 poker tables. There is a restaurant Red River Grill inside the poker room.[27]
Offsite areas[edit]
WinStar Golf Club[edit]
The WinStar Golf Club features two 18-hole golf courses designed by former PGA Tour Pro, D.A. Weibring which holds golf tournaments each year. In addition, the WinStar Golf Academy, a 4,850-square-foot (451 m2) facility, offers private golf lessons.[28]
WinStar RV Park[edit]
WinStar RV park is a 200-space RV Park that is available to people visiting the casino. A shuttle service to the casino is available to guests in the RV Park.
Bull riding[edit]
In 2011, the Professional Bull Riders brought their Built Ford Tough Seriesbull riding tour to the WinStar World Casino with an event at an outdoor arena constructed near the casino itself. The event was sponsored by WinStar World Casino and was held annually from 2011 to 2017 under the name 'WinStar World Casino Invitational'. The 2011 event was the first outdoor event on the BFTS since 2005.
References[edit]
- ^[1]Archived August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^Lassek, P.J., 'What were the odds?', Oklahoma Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff, p 30
- ^'Casino City: WinStar World Casino'. Oklahoma.casinocity.com.
- ^'Eyes on Texas and Oklahoma: WinStar World Casino'. Durangotexas.com.
- ^'Davy Jones gives final interview to a Texoma radio personality'. Kxii.com. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'WinStar World Casino Global Event Center in Thackerville, OK Convention / Conference Center 73459 - Dallas Morning News'. Listings.dallasnews.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'The Official Site of the Chickasaw Nation WinStar World Casino and Resort opens new hotel tower, other expansion projects'. Chickasaw.net. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'WinStar Global Event Center Oklahoma'. ChickasawCountry.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'Rainmaker Implements GuestREV Revenue Management System at Chickasaw Nation Properties in Oklahoma'. Letitrain.com. 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'WinStar World Casino and Resort Opens new Hotel Tower, Other Expansion Projects - WFLA News Channel 8'. Wfla.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^GENE TRIPLETT (2011-10-07). 'Weezer will play casino date in Thackerville'. News OK. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'Bellator MMA & WinStar World Casino Announce 2013 Event Partnership - Bellator MMA'. Bellator.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^@MMAjunkie (2012-12-18). 'Bellator plans three events for Oklahoma's WinStar World Casino in 2013'. MMAjunkie. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'Area Attractions Fort Worth Chamber Chamber of Commerce'. Fort Worth Chamber. 2000-04-22. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'Oklahoma: Casino resorts prove good gamble'. Smallmarketmeetings.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'Casino resorts are on an expansion roll throughout the South'. Meetingsfocus.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'Academy of Country Music :: Nominees'. Acmcountry.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'World's Fifth Largest Casino, WinStar World, Opens New Hotel'. Prweb.com. 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'WinStar World Casino and Resort : Entertainment'. Winstarworldcasino.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'WinStar Casino opens new hotel'. 500nations.com. 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'Winstar World Opens New Hotel, and Remodels Gaming Plaza'. Prweb.com. 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^'WinStar, Choctaw Close Casinos to Prevent Spread of Coronavirus'. KXAS-TV. March 16, 2020.
- ^Butcher, K. (April 10, 2020). 'Chickasaw Nation casinos, offices to remain closed due to COVID-19 pandemic'. KFOR-TV.
- ^https://www.winstar.com/reopening/
- ^'Stromberg Architectural Project Profile: WinStar World Casino'. Strombergarchitectural.com.
- ^'TripAdvisor:WinStar World Casino Hotel, Thackerville'. Tripadvisor.com.
- ^'Some of the Biggest Casinos in America - Refund Management Services'. Refundmanagement.com. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^'Facilities - Winstar Golf Club'. Winstar.rexacademies.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
External links[edit]
Winstar World's Biggest Casino Wins
In the US, bigger is better; at least, that’s the general mindset. We are a country of massive skylines, skyscrapers and of course, fully decked-out casino resorts. But while many associate the word “casino” with Las Vegas, surprisingly, the largest casinos are actually located outside of Nevada. What’s more, all of the top five are tribal-owned casinos, continually proving their power against other casino conglomerates like MGM Resorts.
Here’s a look at the most colossal casino properties in the US.
#5 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Located in Florida, Seminole Hard Rock is the largest casino in the Sunshine State. Owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe, this music-themed property checks in at 245,000 square feet of fun in Tampa.
Built in 2004, the casino comes equipped with 5,000 slot machines and 225 table games, 46 of which are poker.
If high-limit slots and puffing on a pack of Turkish Silvers is your vice, look no further. At Seminole Hard Rock, smoking is allowed. For nonsmokers, there is a 26,000-square-foot, smoke-free mezzanine level. Additionally, guests can find slot machines for $1,000 per pull located in the casino’s 13,000-square-foot gaming space.
Unfortunately, one amenity not available yet is sports betting.
#4 Thunder Valley Casino Resort
Winstar World's Biggest Casino No Deposit
Thunder Valley Casino, located 30 miles northeast of Sacramento, is the largest casino in California. Built in 2003 and owned by the United Auburn Indian Community, the property features 3,400 slot machines and 125 table games, including poker.
If you are wondering what 250,000 square feet gets you, well, it can provide a lot. The property has a 400-room luxury hotel, 14 restaurants and bars, and an outdoor amphitheater. If you want to try to shave a few strokes off your golf game, the casino is home to an 18-hole golf course, the Whitney Oaks Golf Club.
Also, yet again, sports betting is absent from this casino.
#3 Foxwoods Resort Casino
If poker is your game of choice, then look no further than Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The casino is home to the third-largest poker room in the world, with 114 tables. It trails only Commerce Casino and Bicycle Casino, both in Los Angeles.
Constructed in 1992, the property sits on 200 acres of land and comes in at 344,000 square feet. It houses 5,500 slot machines and 280 table games. Additionally, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation-owned Foxwoods is home to a 2,266-room hotel that ranks fourth in the country.
As with the previously mentioned casinos, you won’t find sports betting at Foxwoods.
#2 Mohegan Sun
There are towns in Texas with fewer businesses than Mohegan Sun has under its roof. Built in 1996, the casino is home to 45 restaurants, bars and lounges, and a 130,000-square-foot shopping area.
Owned by the Mohegan Tribe, the casino itself is huge, checking in at 364,000 square feet. It has 6,500 slot machines and 377 table games. The space houses two large casinos under the same roof spread across 240 acres of land in Uncasville, Connecticut.
If driving isn’t your method of choice and you truly are a high roller, there is helicopter transportation available between the casino and Manhattan. It’s also home to two professional sports teams, the New England Black Wolves (National Lacrosse League) and Connecticut Sun (WNBA).
Like its neighbor Foxwoods, it has no sports betting.
#1 WinStar World Casino & Resort
As for who takes the top place, “bigger is better,” indeed. WinStar World Casino & Resort happens to be the largest casino in the US and is located one hour north of Dallas. (It’s no surprise that the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones would form a partnership with WinStar. The owner of the single-most lucrative NFL franchise has a reputation for larger-than-life extravagance.)
A beacon in Thackerville, Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Nation-owned casino was built in 2003 and is a massive 400,000 square feet. There are 8,500 slot machines and 155 table games, 55 for poker. The four “gaming plazas” each have their own theme: New York, Paris, Beijing and Rio.
It may not have a helicopter pad, but it does have a 3,500-seat Global Event Center, which has played host to the likes of Blake Shelton, Jerry Seinfeld and even KISS.
Lastly, the resort is home to not one but two 18-hole golf courses designed by PGA pro D.A. Weibring.
But the one amenity you won’t find here is — you guessed it — sports betting.
While Nevada is home to several premier casinos, packing something this large on the Las Vegas Strip would take some work. But if venturing to Florida, Connecticut and Oklahoma are on your bucket list, be sure to check out some of the largest casinos along the way.