The Lone Star State famously loves sports, and a regional casino is utilizing this fact to bolster new customers just across state lines. According to a recent article, the Choctaw Casino and Resorts, the gaming and hospitality arm of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is further targeting Texans to keep its properties bustling. Per the report, the tribe’s latest marketing play further highlights Texas’ importance to the financial success of the Choctaw casinos. The Choctaws earlier this month announced a partnership with three Texas sports legends. Dubbed “Where the Players Play,” the advertising campaign stars NFL greats Troy Aikman and Darren Woodson, who both played for the Cowboys, and MLB Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, who spent time with the Texas Rangers.
In this report, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming out of Texas along with more notes and information about Lone Star wagering.
According to the article, the tribe opened its $600 million, 1,000-room hotel at its Choctaw Casino and Resort in Durant in 2021. Located just 80 miles north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, the Choctaw casino benefits from Texas’ ban on slot machines. The Choctaws also own and operate casino resorts in Pocola and Grant. Pocola sits just west of the Oklahoma-Arkansas border, while Grant is about 50 miles east of Durant, just north of the Texas state line. In a statement, the Choctaw gaming company said that the advertising campaign starring the three Texas sports legends is a multimillion-dollar deal that runs for four years. The trio will serve as brand ambassadors of the Oklahoma tribal casinos.
The “Where the Players Play” campaign will include television, social media, and radio adverts featuring the stars’ likenesses. Aikman, who grew up in Oklahoma and spent a year at the University of Oklahoma before transferring to UCLA, said he “couldn’t be more excited” to team up with Choctaw Casinos. Moreover, according to the article, the Choctaws have leveraged Texas sports stars and teams to market its Oklahoma casinos for many years. Choctaw Casinos and Resorts has partnerships in place with the Texas Rangers, the NHL’s Dallas Stars, the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, and the PGA Tour’s AT&T Byron Nelson tournament.
According to the same article, while the Choctaws in Oklahoma are tapping into the Texas sports legacy for monetary gain, the same cannot be said in the state itself. Texas lawmakers once again considered ending the state’s prohibition on commercial casinos and slot machines this year. But after a gaming bill passed the state House of Representatives in May, the statute was shelved in a Senate committee. Las Vegas Sands has spent many millions of dollars in recent years lobbying Texas legislators to allow the company to come in and build a casino destination. Gaming support has seemingly grown, with one powerful backer being billionaire Mark Cuban.
According to the same article and other reports, the Mavericks owner and “Shark Tank” star said in May that Texas needs casinos to grow tourism and diversify the state’s hospitality offerings. Cuban told the Dallas Morning News, “Ask your out-of-state friends how often they have saved up to bring their family to Texas. Ask anyone how often they look forward to coming here during the summer. You already know the answer.” Per the report, DFW isn’t the only major metro in Texas that props up casinos in neighboring states. Houston is the primary feeder market for casinos in Louisana’s Lake Charles.
After you are all dialed in regarding the latest news and notes coming from the Lone Star State, make sure to check out all that SBS has to offer you. Of course, for even more information on the topic at hand, check our sports betting in Texas guide where you can find out more about Texas wagering and what makes sense for you. Moreover, if you are looking to get more out of your wagers, then the best bonus betting sites breakdown is a great place to bookmark. Here you can learn more about the latest welcome bonus offers to maximize your bets. Finally, if you are someone who is always on the go, then the best betting apps rundown is a fantastic page to check out and learn more about the nuances of mobile betting.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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