Chickasaw Nation Rolls Out Mobile Gaming App at Winstar Casino

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 12/18/2023

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We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

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Mobile Gaming App at Winstar Casino

The Chickasaw Nation recently launched a new real-money mobile gaming app at its flagship Winstar World Casino and Resort, only available to those on the premises. The new app marks the Oklahoma tribe’s first foray into the mobile gambling market, and, if successful, it could well pave the way for additional apps – and expansion – in the future.

Winstar App Offering Trio of Popular Electronic Games

Developed in partnership with gaming tech company Aristocrat Leisure Limited, the new app currently features three Class II bingo-based electronic games familiar to casino patrons.

Referring to Winstar guests, Scott Emerson, undersecretary for operations at the Chickasaw Nation’s Department of Commerce, said:

This is about creating optionality for them.

The southern Oklahoma tribe is taking an incremental approach, starting small with the goal of garnering repeat plays to measure success. The app relies on geofencing technology to ensure users are physically present on Winstar property before games can be accessed.

Tribal Leaders Monitoring Shifting Legal Landscape

While mobile gaming has taken off rapidly across the U.S., options remain limited in Oklahoma. Federal law allows tribes to offer Class II bingo games without state approval, providing the legal basis for the Chickasaw Nation’s app. However, only patrons who are currently on the Winstar site are allowed to download and use the app.

However, this could change if sports betting legislation advances at the state legislature. Governor Kevin Stitt is pushing for state licensing of sportsbook operators, raising objections from tribal leaders who were not consulted ahead of his proposal announcement. Negotiations over the state’s gaming compact with tribes, which grants exclusive gaming rights in exchange for certain revenue payments, have been under close scrutiny.

The outcome of these talks could impact tribes’ ability to offer sports betting and other gaming services through mobile devices in the future. For now, Chickasaw leaders are focused on successfully rolling out the modest Winstar app, however – although it’s likely that once this is done, they’ll turn their attention back to the talks.

According to some insiders, the Chickasaw Nation is already planning to expand to other casinos – or even beyond reservation boundaries – if their flagship app proves to be a success. After all, with almost 4,800 electronic gaming machines spread across its properties, the Oklahoma tribe certainly has the customer-base to launch such an app – and it’s likely many of their customers will have a strong interest in mobile gaming.

Some See Attempt to Gain Foothold Before Market Opens

Despite some significant limitations as of now, gaming experts note that launching first in the market could have given the tech-savvy Chickasaw Nation tribe major advantages over their competitors.

Brad Smith, a renowned gaming industry analyst, says it presents a major opportunity for the Chickasaw Nation to capture a significant portion of the market share before competition begins operating. He also notes that it puts the tribe in a fantastic position to expand later down the line, as they’ll have the technology and infrastructure already in place.