Everyone walking into a casino has dreams of hitting those big jackpots. Gambling is not legalized in Texas but DFW-ites have a close option for their casino getaway. Two major casinos are about 1.5 hours north of Dallas/Fort Worth. WinStar World Casino and Resort and Choctaw Casino and Resort are two at war with each other. This war is now affecting DFW sports teams. These casinos are sending their marketing dollars down south. Now every major DFW sports team has partnerships with either of these two casinos.
These two casinos are outside of DFW within driving distance. If you live west of DFW Airport, you are closer to WinStar. If you live east of DFW Airport, you are closer to Choctaw. The drive is not bad either, coming in at between 1-2 hours depending on traffic. WinStar is exit #1 past the Oklahoma border while Choctaw is about 10 minutes past the Red River. WinStar is off I35 and Choctaw is off Highway 75. These two mammoths are vying for sponsorship of DFW sports teams.
The Casinos
WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma is the official casino of the Dallas Cowboys. They recently opened a Dallas Cowboys Bar and Grill in the Beijing gaming section. This new restaurant is massive with lots of things to do for Cowboys fans. There is even a Cowboys team store selling merchandise in the hotel right by Mickey Mantle’s Bar. They are also sponsors of FC Dallas. It’s also worth noting that WinStar is the #1 largest casino in the World. They are expanding on their 600,000 sq. ft. of casino space.
Choctaw Casino and Resort in Durant, Oklahoma has partnerships with the Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, and Dallas Mavericks. The felt on select table games even had both Stars and Rangers logos where you make bets. Now it’s only Rangers logos since the Stars’ season ended. You could even get specialized Stars or Rangers player’s club cards with your name on it. There are even banners on the inside and outside with both Stars and Rangers logos. Choctaw also recently bought the naming rights to the former Globe Life Park.
These casinos are in a constant battle with one another. Choctaw opened a gargantuan new hotel tower with an expanded casino in August. WinStar in response broke ground on three new hotel towers with an opening timeline in 2024. DFW sports teams are seeing extra revenue from this battle. These two casinos are shelling out serious bucks for each team’s sponsorship. WinStar is bigger but Choctaw knows how to respond. WinStar gets the Cowboys then Choctaw goes after the Stars, Rangers, and Mavericks. You will likely see an advertisement for either of these casinos while watching a game.
This war isn’t going away any time soon. Expect these casinos to keep going at it. More amenities for DFW sports fans will come at these locations. These two resorts are more than casinos. They each have lots to do if you’re a sports fan or taking the family. For DFW sports fans, it might be worth taking a trip up as a vacation to watch your team play.
Photo Credits: WinStars / WinStar World Casino Twitter http://twitter.com/WinStarWorld / Choctaw Durant Casino and Resort Twitter http://twitter.com/ChoctawDurant
