- If you’re looking for some of the best paying casinos in Oklahoma, you’ve come to the right place.
- WinStar World Casino boasts over 5,500 machines and an array of progressive jackpots.
- Freedome Capitalist Casino has some of the highest payout slots at 98%, with hot drops jackpots.
Some might be surprised by this, but a handful of Oklahoma casinos rank among the best nationally. That includes their payouts.
Oklahoma casinos must distribute 75% of their gross receipts from slot machines and electronic games back to players. Table games have no such requirement.
It’s always nice when a casino regularly pays out more than the minimum, though nothing can offset a bad game or wrong bet. Always remember that gaming is for entertainment. Set a budget and stick to it.
If you’re ready to play at the best paying casinos in Oklahoma, read on.
New UK Casino Sites 2023 - Best New British Casinos1. WinStar World Casino
WinStar World Casino near Texarkana consistently ranks among the nation’s highest-volume Indian casinos. It also leads Oklahoma casinos when it comes to available gaming positions (AGS). The casino features more than 5,500 machines and a high score of 96.4%.
WinStar offers a mix of reel spinning, video, and flat-top machines, as well as progressive jackpots. Its Hot Drop Jackpots offer a guaranteed daily super jackpot and a monthly mega jackpot.
In addition to its many gaming options and generous payouts, WinStar offers top-tier dining choices. This makes it one of the best casinos in Oklahoma, regardless of payouts.
The casino features 10 restaurants, including two steakhouses. One, Claim Jumper, is so popular the casino operates four of them in other states.
Also, like most of the best paying casinos in Oklahoma, WinStar offers live entertainment, although it was dark during my visit due to the pandemic. It has a large hotel with several tower options. Rates are very reasonable, even on weekends.
Bet Casino Bonus Review 2023 - Are Promotions Worth It?I found WinStar World Casino to be very spacious and uncluttered. Navigation is easy, and lines between different gaming areas are well defined. While crowded on a holiday weekend, I never felt squeezed or had to stand while playing.
2. Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs
Located on the northeast side of Oklahoma City, the Cherokee Will Rogers Downs is more than just a casino. It features live quarter horse racing and a sports bar overlooking the track.
Cherokee Will Rogers Downs has nearly 2,000 AGS, penny machines, and a high return-to-player rate, averaging 93.5%.
While not the largest casino in Oklahoma, it does feature a few nice touches missing from larger facilities. For example, every gaming area has a food bar with snacks and soft drinks. Alcohol is available, but you don’t have to wonder off to find a place to munch.
I liked the layout here, too. Gaming areas encircle a center parking garage. Each section has its own entrance and exit. We arrived on a holiday weekend and found convenient, close parking.
We also appreciated the nicer-than-average bathrooms. They were clean, well lit, and did not feel cramped.
The casino also features five restaurants, including a steak house, deli, and grill. Live entertainment is scheduled frequently in the lounge.
3. Newcastle Casino & Resort
Formerly the Grady Nation Hotel & Casino, this facility recently changed ownership and names. Like the former operators, the new management team likes what can only be described as a rustic theme.
That includes a large indoor water fountain/fireplace combo reminiscent of a Swiss chalet. It looks strange but works surprisingly well.
The Newcastle Casino & Resort has more than 400 gaming tables with penny machines and an average RTP of 91%. There’s something about the floor plan that feels less crowded than nearby casinos despite having about the same number of machines.
The hotel has an interesting layout with all guest rooms located on the second floor surrounding an interior atrium. A couple of restaurants and the show lounge are located on the first floor.
The atrium includes an enclosed walkway to a connected Holiday Inn Express & Suites. This makes Newcastle an interesting option for larger groups or families traveling together but wanting a separate room experience.
4. Golden Arrow Casino & Hotel
Golden Arrow Casino & Hotel can be found on historic Route 66 in Sulphur. The casino advertises more than 800 high-speed bingo-style electronic games. Most games require wagers of a quarter or more, so don’t drop your coins here. The average RTP is approximately 90%.
2023's Guide on How Casino Games Work and How to Play ThemDespite the relatively small number of machines, the casino never feels small. That’s because it occupies the bottom two floors of a towering facility that includes a hotel and event space. An exterior staircase and glass skywalk connect the property.
Interestingly, the hotel rooms are accessed from both the second and third floors. Elevators serve both floors, and I didn’t feel any sense of unease walking to my room.
A restaurant and lounge are located on the lower level next to the casino. Sadly, the facility did not appear to be operating at full capacity due to COVID restrictions, but the food was excellent.
Overall, Golden Arrow Casino provides a lot of gaming and amenities in a central Oklahoma location.
5. Freedome Capitalist Casino
Like the Golden Arrow, the Freedome Capitalist focuses on high-denomination bingo-style electronic games. The casino claims an RTP range of 93% to 98%, which would make it the best paying casino in Oklahoma.
The catch? These games use “holds” rather than spin. When you insert your money and hit play, the screen shows a wheel that rotates up to a specific stop or holds a series of virtual cards.
I found the process somewhat addictive. Unfortunately, my stops weren’t in my favor during this visit. Still, I can see how some people prefer this method.
The casino does offer a few traditional-style slot machines along with hot drops jackpots. Their daily guaranteed super and mega jackpots should hit multiple times per day.
Freedome Capitalist is located across the turnpike from Will Rogers Downs in Northwest Oklahoma City. It occupies the lower level of the Freedom Center, a unique shopping and dining complex.
Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate easy access to Turnpike Park, a beautiful greenway stretching north and south along I-44. As of now, there isn’t much north of the park, but several developments are underway, including hotels and more dining options.
6. Buffalo Casino
Another smaller casino, Buffalo Casino packs a punch when it comes to payouts and amenities. With fewer than 500 machines, the Buffalo never feels crowded, and parking is always plentiful.
Unlike some casinos, almost all of the machines are in one large gaming area. Two lounges provide spaces to smoke or vape and enjoy your favorite beverage. Both areas open onto the gaming floor, and servers take your food order.
online casino sign-up bonusesI found the buffalo theme tasteful and appealing. Artwork, sculptures, and other decorative items feature buffalo in various settings. A bank of oversize windows offers a prairie view complete with grazing longhorn cattle.
Buffalo Casino features six restaurants, including a steakhouse, deli, and grill. The Buffalo Brew Crew microbrewery offers handcrafted beers.
The adjoining Buffalo Lodge offers all the expected amenities, plus an outdoor pool and patio. The lodge’s Tumbleweed Restaurant and Lounge are open to the public.
7. Carey Baptist Village Choctaw Casino
Technically, the Choctaw Casino at Carey Baptist Village is a convention center with casino. Gaming machines are located throughout the facility, including the lobby, concourse, and breakout rooms.
The caregiver cottage includes a small lounge with a few machines, providing residents with easy access.
The Carey Baptist retirement community features cottages, apartments, assisted living, memory care, and nursing home facilities. All are open to the public, but priority is given to Baptist ministers and their spouses.
As a result, the casino never feels busy, and machines tend to pay out more frequently. Of course, your chances are still entirely random.
While I wasn’t fortunate during my visit, I enjoyed the sparse crowds and did manage to win a little. More importantly, I met several very nice folks who enjoy the quiet atmosphere and made some new friends.
Types of Gambling in Oklahoma
Oklahoma offers all the major forms of legal gambling, tribal and state-regulated. Class II tribal casinos operate throughout the state. A few offer Class III Vegas-style gaming through agreements with nearby casinos.
Tribal Class II Casinos
By treaty, Oklahoma tribes may offer only Class II gaming, defined as “bingo, done predominantly for charitable purposes . . .” The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) regulates Class II gaming.
Essentially, Class II machines operate like bingo. A random number generator draws numbers or plays a virtual card game. Your results depend on where the arrow points when it stops on your machine. Some machines offer video poker or other games, but payouts are based on the numbers or card combinations drawn.
Most machines resemble slot machines and spin just like a Vegas machine. However, they operate more like a lottery ticket. You can’t control the numbers or cards the machine will produce. Some tribes use the term “electronic bingo,” which is technically accurate.
Class II machines generally offer higher payouts than Class III machines. To encourage play, Class II casinos often offer free play, cashback, and other incentives. In addition, some provide meal and beverage credits, discounted hotel rooms, and other non-cash rewards.
Be sure to read reward club mailings and understand how to earn and use rewards. Sometimes, those discounted hotel rooms come out the same (or more) as paying retail. Free play might require significant play to earn and have a tight expiration date.
Tribal Class III Casinos
Tribes with Class III compacts operate Las Vegas-style casinos. Think blackjack, roulette, craps, and carnival midway games with real prizes. State and federal regulations govern these facilities, which typically offer higher payouts on slot machines.
Best Celebrity Impersonators of All Time - CAMany Class III casinos are huge economic engines for their host communities. They offer a wide variety of dining options, from quick bites to gourmet meals costing far more than you should spend on food.
Of course, most Class III casinos offer lavish live entertainment and national headliners. Some have expanded into retail, hotels, arenas, and convention centers.
One important thing to note: Not all Native American tribes in Oklahoma have gambling compacts. Some run bingo halls or thrift stores. Additionally, some Oklahoma casinos are not operated by Native American tribes.
Poker Rooms
State law permits poker rooms offering “live table” games like blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker. Players wager against each other instead of the house.
Classy III casinos usually include poker rooms, but some stand alone. Be aware that table games and poker carry a much higher minimum buy-in than electronic games. Business attire and skill may be required.
Historical Racing Facilities (HRS)
Oklahoma historical racing facilities (HRSF) offer “historical” parimutuel wagering on horse racing. These are essentially giant video lottery terminals (VLTs) offering races run at tracks around the country.
You watch races on a TV screen while seated at a machine that looks a lot like a slot machine. Rather than betting on your horse, you’re betting on the outcome of the entire race, just like a track bettor. HRS machines cannot offer wagers on races run at their home track.
The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals ruled that HRS machines constitute electronic versions of charity bingo and are legal under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to review the case, allowing the racinos to keep operating.
Reasons Why New York Online Poker Is Worth the WaitCharitable Gaming
Nonprofit organizations holding a valid license may conduct bingo games and raffles. Certain qualifying organizations may also operate pull tabs and bingo-based video lottery terminals (VLTs).
Proceeds from charitable gaming must benefit the sponsoring organization or another qualified nonprofit.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) combine the excitement of traditional sports betting with season-long fantasy leagues. Participants select teams or players within budget constraints for a single game or tournament.
Entrants pay an entry fee, which goes into the prize pool. At the end of the contest, the top finishers share the prize pool based on their final standing. DFS entrants do not have a vested interest in player performance or outcomes of particular games. As a result, DFS constitutes illegal sports betting.
In May 2020, Governor Kevin Stitt signed HB 4325 authorizing state-regulated DFS contests. The law establishes licensing requirements and fees and regulates contests involving college athletics.
Sports Betting
Professional sports leagues sued New Jersey over its sports betting law. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with New Jersey and struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), paving the way for individual states to legalize sports betting.
Oklahoma voted down a 2020 constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting at casinos and QRS racinos. Proponents refiled the proposal in 2022 as SQ 402. Voters approved the measure in the November election.
Sports betting launched in October 2022. Operators must pay a $100,00 application fee and $10,000 annual renewal fee. Retail sportsbooks may open at existing casinos and racinos. Mobile betting is permitted, but internet-only operations are prohibited.
Oklahomans age 21 or older may register in person or online using their driver’s license. Users must collect their ID in person to verify their account. College athletes, coaches, referees, and their families are ineligible to bet on college sports.
Bingo
Bingo remains one of Oklahoma’s most prevalent forms of legal gambling. The game enjoys broad popular support, especially among churches, fraternal organizations, and senior citizens.
888poker vs bet365 Poker - Which Site Is Better in 2023?Under Oklahoma law, qualified charitable organizations may conduct bingo games. They may also offer pull-tab games and approved VLTs.
Proceeds from charitable bingo operations must benefit the sponsoring organization or another qualified nonprofit.
Oklahoma bingo laws are among the most liberal in the nation. The state imposes relatively low taxes on bingo revenues, and private organizations—not the state—operate most bingo games.
Horse Racing
Remington Park Racetrack in Oklahoma City was the state’s first historical racing facility (HRSF). It opened in 1988 and began offering HRS machines in 2012.
Two additional tracks—Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel West Siloam and WinStar World Casino—added HRSF following Remington Park into the courts.
After losing in trial court, Remington Park vowed to fight the competition in appeals court. That battle ended in late 2020 when the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals ruled that HRS machines constitute electronic versions of charity bingo and are legal under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to review the case, allowing the racinos to keep operating their historical racing machines.
Oklahoma Law Pack 1, State Question 801, authorized the Oklahoma Racing Commission to issue licenses for “wagering on live competitive events.” The law defined “live competitive events” to mean “any sporting event … in which athletes or sports persons compete, including without limitation basketball, baseball, football, and esports.”
The law takes effect November 1, 2024.
How Do Oklahoma Casinos Compare?
Oklahoma’s tribal governments and casinos are deeply involved in state politics. In recent years, Oklahoma tribes have given millions to political campaigns and initiatives, largely in support of Stitt and fellow Republicans.
Must-See Land-Based Casinos Around The WorldTribal contributions supported the Republican push for criminal justice reform, Medicaid expansion, teacher pay raises, infrastructure improvements, and other legislative actions benefiting tribes and casinos.
In exchange, Oklahoma’s tribal casinos enjoy some of the most liberal gaming laws and best payouts in the nation.
Forum discussion: What’s the Best Paying Casino in Oklahoma?
J.W. Paine is one of the most experienced writers at GamblingSites.com. He's been our expert on all things regarding Florida and Tennessee for years. Recently, he've brought his understanding of gambling to produce great content for a number of states, including Texas.
Paine is a soon-to-be graduate of University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he's studying to be a teacher. Cards, dice, flipping an coin: he loves winning at anything.
