Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, already known on both sides of the Red River for its casinos, heads into May with a pair of exciting developments to bolster its status further.
The third-largest Indian Nation in the United States, with more than 225,000 tribal members and 12,000-plus associates, announced it had signed a landmark multistate sportsbook agreement with Kambi, a global sports betting technology company based in Malta. Kambi will provide its sports betting technology and services to Choctaw Nation’s gaming entities.
While sports betting in Texas is still illegal, this move by the Choctaw could signal that North Texans are one step closer to having a legal betting option across the border in Oklahoma.
Kambi and Choctaw Could Benefit From North Texas Traffic
Heidi Grant, senior executive officer of commerce for Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, said in Kambi’s press release addressing their partnership, “We are thrilled to have entered into a long-term agreement with Kambi. Adding Kambi’s best-in-class technology and custom player offerings to Choctaw Nation’s brand and market positioning, Choctaw Nation is poised to remain well positioned as the premier, full-service, vertically integrated gaming operator throughout our region.”
Kristian Nylén, Kambi CEO and co-founder, said in the same release,
“This is a landmark partnership for Kambi with exciting long-term potential. Not only does Choctaw Nation have fantastic, well-positioned gaming and entertainment facilities in Oklahoma, but its proven track record in developing successful digital businesses gives me every confidence that together we will create thrilling sports betting experiences for its players.”
In its coverage on the arrangement, Legal Sports Report posited, “The deal could be a significant contributor to Kambi, given the tribe’s ties and proximity to a potential Texas sports betting market.”
That article also noted,
“The Choctaw partnership helps bolster Kambi’s US partnerships, which have seen significant contracts like DraftKings and Penn Entertainment fall off in favor of proprietary technology. Kambi most recently partnered with Bally Bet last year after Bally’s scrapped its own proprietary tech. It is also the longtime partner of Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers.”
Choctaw Is A familiar Presence In North Texas
Choctaw Nation is also familiar to North Texas sports fans as the exclusive casino partner of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers.
Since 2021, the tribe has been the naming sponsor for the Rangers’ former stadium, previously known as Globe Life Field and originally known as The Ballpark in Arlington. Choctaw Stadium currently serves as the home of the North Texas Soccer Club (the MLS Next Pro affiliate of FC Dallas), the Dallas Jackals of Major League Rugby and the Arlington Renegades of the UFL (the merged superleague created from the XFL and USFL for the spring 2024 football season).
Choctaw Nation has also initiated its soft opening of Choctaw Landing, the tribe’s newest 100-bed luxury resort and casino, located in Hochatown, Okla., about 45 minutes north of the Texas-Oklahoma border and about half an hour west of the Sooner State’s border with Arkansas.
The new destination resort, officially opening on May 23, includes 100 guest rooms with 15 suites, and of particular interest to gaming enthusiasts, a casino with 600 slot machines and eight table games, including roulette, blackjack, and poker.
