Marking a significant milestone in its expansion trail throughout Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Nation, famed as one of the largest gaming tribes in America, will debut its latest casino hotel, the Lakecrest Casino & Hotel, tomorrow, April 24. This imminent soft launch signifies the tribe’s unceasing efforts in reinforcing its solid foothold in the rainbow state’s vibrant casino scene, adding another feather to their cap as their 17th casino property.
Positioned strategically in the active town of Ardmore, to the east of the bustling Interstate 35 and along the expansive US Highway 70, Lakecrest Casino & Hotel stands as an appealing oasis for gaming aficionados. A spacious casino floor, sprawling across 70,000 square feet, will initially aim to attract the slot machine enthusiasts to this casino with the installation of over a thousand brand new gaming terminals.
While the prime focus will be the very latest in slot machines, there’ll be a splash of table games as well, precisely a neat set of eight, for those who fancy a hand in blackjack or the Ultimate Texas Hold’em, a thrilling twist on the renowned poker game where players pit their skills against the house.
The absence of sports betting facilities is notable, but not surprising, given that it remains taboo in Oklahoma. As such, there won’t be a sportsbook at Lakecrest for this reason.
The spokesperson for the Chickasaw Nation has emphasized that tomorrow’s event is merely a soft launch, intended to pave the way for a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony later, featuring distinguished guests and tribal officials.
Aside from its expansive casino space, Lakecrest also touts a hotel with 89 stylish guestrooms and suites. Further enhancing your stay, there will be a resort-style outdoor pool, a dedicated conference area, an inviting grill, a full-service bar, and a warm coffee corner.
RV owners can look forward to a well-equipped RV park, boasting 20 fully-lighted concrete slabs fitted with essential amenities such as electrical hookups, Wi-Fi, and round-the-clock security.
Debuting tomorrow, Lakecrest was part of a series of projects announced by the Chickasaw Nation in 2020, which also included the West Bay Casino Resort overlooking the stunning Lake Texoma – a notable addition that substituted the erstwhile Texoma State Lodge.
Given that the gaming tribes in Oklahoma rely heavily on inflow from Texas, specifically the Dallas-Fort-Worth market, this strategic expansion underlines their unwavering commitment to protect their financial interests, in the face of lobbying efforts to legalize commercial casino gambling in Texas.
At the core of the Chickasaw Nation’s operations is the phenomenal WinStar World Casino and Resort, conveniently located just miles north of the Texan border and acclaimed as the world’s largest casino. With nine distinct-themed casinos within its premises, it doesn’t shy from flaunting over 10,000 slots and 100 table games.
In a pre-emptive move, come the 2022 Texas state elections, the Chickasaw Nation made significant donations amounting to $744,000 to various political campaigns, implying their intent to sustain their economic power across both sides of the Oklahoma-Texas border. Governor Greg Abbott, an erstwhile staunch opponent of drop in the Texas casinos entry barrier, received the lion’s share, taking home a cool $300,000 of the total donations. Texas’ Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick followed, racking up $95,000 in campaign funds.