Casino Player September 2022

THE BEST OF GAMING 2022

Oklahoma

Best Hotel Lobby: Choctaw Casino Resort Durant

B y sheer numbers, Oklahoma has become one of the most important states in the country to game manufacturers looking to place their latest and greatest offerings. The state has vast expanses of Native American land, and 33 tribes operate more than 100 casinos here. There are important differences in the games and how we play them. All are permitted to offer Class III slot and video poker games— the tribal gaming designation for the random number generator-driven games played in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and nearly all commercial gaming jurisdictions in the United States. However, Oklahoma’s gaming roots are in Class II gaming, and many casinos continue to offer the electronic bingo games side by side with the RNG slots. You may see slot reels or poker cards on the screen, but if there’s a bingo display being filled with numbers, too, then you’re on a Class II game. The game you’re really playing is electronic bingo, and the machine translates bingo patterns from a central server into reel symbols or poker hands. Most, but not all, casinos have card games such as blackjack and Three Card Poker, with craps and roulette now allowed at some properties as well. Some casinos use player-banked versions of the card games and require you to pay a commission on every hand. With so many casinos, there are options galore, from small facilities with a few hundred slots plus a deli or snack bar to megaresorts with hotels, golf, headliner entertainment and multiple dining options. But when it comes to the Best Overall Gaming Resorts, three properties continue dominating the standings. That includes Choctaw Casino Resort Durant in first, River Spirit Casino Resort in second, and

Downstream Casino Resort in third. All three have found the top three since 2020. Choctaw Casino Resort Durant, just an hour north of Dallas, is a prime destination for Texans and Arkansans as well as Oklahomans and tops the standings as Best Overall Gaming Resort for the third straight year. The property is stunning with a huge gaming space, major entertainment acts, excellent poker scene and massive pools that will make gamblers feel like they’ve found a real oasis. The property also continues adding more amenities and venues. Choctaw again won gold in a wide range of categories including Best Hotel, Best Hotel Lobby, Best Suites, Best Spa, Favorite Casino Resort To Vacation At, Best Players Club, Best Slot Tournaments, Best Poker Room, Best High Limit Room and Best Carnival Games. Downstream Casino Resort, located in the city of Quapaw, is also a great property that scored well with voters again this year. The property features a luxurious hotel, great gambling options, a relaxing spa and big name entertainment. Downstream also offers some great dining choices including Red Oak Steakhouse for the best in chops, and Spring River Buffet, featuring something for every taste. This year, Downstream moved up to earn the silver medal and fared well as Best VIP Services, Best Reel Slots, and finished among the leaders in several other categories as well. River Spirit Casino Resort is a great place to relax just outside the cool town of Tulsa. The resort receives some nice accolades as Best Hotel Staff, Best Rooms, Best Pool, Favorite Casino Resort for a Staycation, Best Casino, Best Hosts, Best Promotions, Best Dealers, Best Poker Tournaments and Casino Where You Feel Luckiest.

1 1 4 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 • w w w . c a s i n o c e n t e r . c o m