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 over 8,600 electronic games, a 55-table poker room, 100 total table games including craps and roulette, Racer's off-track betting,[3] and multiple high limit rooms.[4]
| WinStar World Casino and Resort | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | 777 Casino Avenue, Thackerville, Oklahoma 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′29″N 97°7′55″W / 33.75806°N 97.13194°W |
| Website | www |
Location and history
editWinStar 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][excessive citations]
WinStar World Casino and Resort is the biggest casino in the United States, in terms of the total number of table games and gaming machines, according to many gambling blogs and casino directories.[11][12][13]
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.[14] The casino was closed throughout the remainder of April 2020.[15] The casino reopened in May 2020, with restrictive guidelines.[16]
Design
editWinStar 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.[citation needed] Additionally Hotels created for the brands Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton, Marriott, Crowne Plaza, Melina, Loews Hotels, Holiday, Ramada, InterContinental, and independents worldwide.[citation needed] Restaurants and Clubs have been produced internationally. [citation needed] 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. [citation needed] 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. [citation needed] 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.[17]
Hotel information
editWinStar World Casino Hotel includes three hotel towers and 1,399 rooms. On August 6, 2009, the original 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 at WinStar, ONYX Boutique and the Isle at WinStar gift shop. WinStar World Casino and Resort offers a variety of restaurants, many of which are open until late night hours, including Dallas Cowboys Bar & Grill. 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.
The playing of casino games and slots is restricted to those 18 years old and above.[18]
Offsite areas
editWinStar Golf Club
editThe WinStar Golf Club features two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by former PGA Tour Pro, D.A. Weibring. In addition, the WinStar Golf Academy, a 4,850-square-foot (451 m2) facility, offers private golf lessons.[19]
WinStar RV Park
editThe FunTown RV park at WinStar 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.
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.
- ^ "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 World Casino and Resort Opens new Hotel Tower, Other Expansion Projects - WFLA News Channel 8". Wfla.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ^ "World's Fifth Largest Casino, WinStar World, Opens New Hotel". Prweb.com. 2009-08-06. Archived from the original on August 9, 2009. 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.
- ^ "USA Casino Bonuses". bonusgiant.com. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
- ^ "USA Casino Guide". simonsblogpark.com. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ "Worldcasinodirectory - USA Casinos". worldcasinodirectory.com. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Entertainment Updates".
- ^ "Stromberg Architectural Project Profile: WinStar World Casino". Strombergarchitectural.com.
- ^ "Winstar House Rules". Winstar.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ "Facilities - Winstar Golf Club". Winstar.rexacademies.com. Retrieved 2013-11-23.