Chickasaw Nation opens Lakecrest hotel and casino in Oklahoma
The Chickasaw Nation's newest casino hotel is set to open tomorrow, April 24.
Already one of the largest gaming tribes in the United States with 16 casinos and three travel stop gaming destinations, the Chickasaw Nation is continuing its expansion in Oklahoma with plans to open its 17th casino in the Sooner State on Wednesday.
Lakecrest Casino & Hotel is located in Ardmore, east of Interstate 35 on U.S. Highway 70.
The 70,000-square-foot casino floor will be primarily aimed at slot players, as Lakecrest will house more than 1,000 of the latest terminals. A handful of table games (eight to be exact) offer Blackjack and Ultimate Texas Hold'em, a variation of the popular casino poker game.
Since sports betting remains prohibited in Oklahoma, there will be no sports betting in Lakecrest.
Trial opening only
A spokesman for the tribe said tomorrow's start will be a soft opening. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by tribal officials and distinguished guests will be held at a later date.
In addition to the casino area, Lakecrest will feature an affiliated hotel with 89 guest rooms and suites, a resort-style outdoor pool and conference facilities. There are also plans for a barbecue joint, a full-service bar and a cafe.
Lakecrest will also feature an RV park with 20 lighted concrete pads with electric hookups, WiFi and 24-hour security.
The Chickasaw Nation announced the Lakecrest project in 2020 as well as the tribe's West Bay Casino Resort project overlooking Texoma Lake. West Bay opened last May, replacing the former Texoma State Inn.
West Bay is about 30 miles east of Lakecrest, which opens tomorrow. An exact opening date has not yet been announced. A tribal spokesman said such gentle openings are often "fluid."
Protect the home court
Oklahoma gaming tribes rely heavily on Texas, especially the Dallas-Fort Worth market. Las Vegas Sands billionaire Dr. Dr. continues lobbying efforts to legalize gambling at commercial casinos in the Lone Star State. Miriam Adelson and NBA Dallas Mavericks billionaire Mark Cuban got together last year.
The odds are likely high that Texas will welcome commercial casinos, at least for now. However, if Las Vegas-style casinos one day come to Texas, the Chickasaw family will continue to increase their presence on Oklahoma's southern border to protect their financial interests.
The tribe owns and operates what is said to be the largest casino in the world, WinStar World Casino and Resorts. The Sackville plant is located a few miles north of the Texas border.
WinStar offers nine differently themed casino locations, from Beijing to Rome, Paris to New York. The complex features more than 10,000 slot machines and 100 table games.
The Chickasaw Nation, along with several other prominent Oklahoma gaming tribes, are not standing idly by as Sands-paid lobbyists continue to try to win gaming support in Austin.
Chickasaws donated $744,000 to political campaigns during the 2022 Texas elections. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) received the lion's share of the money the tribe spent in Texas, $300,000. Texas Gov. Dan Patrick received $95,000.
Abbott has been stubbornly opposed to allowing casinos to come to Texas, although his stance has softened in recent years.
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Source: www.casino.org
