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
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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