Construction of the Lakecrest Hotel and Casino by the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma tribe is currently in progress and more than half finished. According to plans, it is should be fully constructed by the spring of next year.

Layout of the hotel-casino:

Located on State Highway 70, 2 miles east of I-35 exit 29, Lakecrest Hotel and Casino comprises a 58,000-square-foot hotel equipped with 89 rooms and a business center, resort-style pool and conference space. Beside that, there is a 70,000-square-meters casino that will involve nearly 1,000 electronic games, a bar, restaurant and 8 table games.

Commenting on the project, Bill Anoatubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, commented according to the Ardmoreite: “The project is a testament to the ChickasawNation’s commitment to invest in and provide opportunities for communities across the 13-county treaty territory. Once complete this project is expected to generate a great deal of jobs in the community and revenue, which will be used to fund and expand programs and services for Chickasaw people and help meet our mission, to enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people.”

Significant impact on the economy:

Carter County’s new hotel-casino is expected to provide jobs to over 200 individuals and have a roughly calculated yearly payroll of $3.7 million. However, according to studies done in the name of the said tribe, the roughly calculated overall economic effect on the regional economy in the first year of the casino’s officially opening will be $102.4 million, involving construction. Also, the economic effect for the upcoming period of 5-years is expected to be nearly $307.6 million. On that note, Dan Boren, secretary of commerce, said: “We believe this project will become a destination location and economic engine for the region. This project continues to leverage our experience in providing entertainment, retail and hospitality while attracting visitors from Texas, Arkansas and surrounding states.”

As for the tribe, its yearly effect on the regional economy is $5.5 billion, backing up over 34,400 jobs and $1.8 billion in salaries and amenities. Additionally, a large number of these jobs is connected with tourist sights located in rural Oklahoma, which offers a boost to the local and state economy and allows Oklahoma residents to reach an advanced level of economy while still living with their family.

West Bey Casino and Resort – another source of income:

West Bay Casino and Resort was officially opened on May 2, with the aforementioned Governor Anoatubby officiating the ribbon cutting ceremonies. It is located along the picturesque shore of Lake Texoma.

Constructed on the state of the previous Lake Texoma State Lodge, the aforementioned casino and resort includes a deluxe three-story hotel equipped with 40 rooms that involves state-of-the-art amenities and meeting and recreation space, an outdoor pool, gift shop, restaurant and business and fitness center.

In addition to this, a casino and 10 well-equipped cabins are involved in the development of the resort-casino. Every cabin includes a fireplace, a full-service kitchen and a roomy common living room. Something that will be of interest to future visitors is that the venue offers amazing views of Lake Texoma and the legendary Roosevelt Bridge that links Bryan and Marshall counties.

Furthermore, the aforementioned study also roughly calculated that this new casino-resort would collect almost $58 million in its 1st year of operation.