A few weeks ago, I found myself back at Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma. It had been a few years since my last visit, so I was excited to see what had changed.
If you’ve never been, it’s worth a visit. And since it’s only about 90 minutes from the Dallas airport, it makes for an easy trip. With more than 7,400 slot machines, over 100 table games, nearly 1,700 hotel rooms in three towers, two pools, and around 20 dining options, it’s much more than your typical regional casino. In fact, it feels a lot closer to a Las Vegas-style resort than most people would expect to find in Oklahoma.
The property has undergone some updates since my last visit, including renovations to the Grand Casino. It’s bright and comfortable and still has that new-carpet smell. But even more impressive, it has been transformed into the largest non-smoking casino in the country! As a nonsmoker myself, I absolutely appreciate this and it made for such an enjoyable gaming experience.
I spent plenty of time on the casino floor. Whether I was revisiting some of my old favorites or checking out the new releases, something was always catching my attention, especially those red screen wins!
Since casino trips can easily become a nonstop cycle of gaming, I always try to find time to slow down and recharge. The second day, I spent some time relaxing in a poolside cabana, soaking up the sunshine after several days of rain. It was perfect. Cocktails and a bit of lunch delivered right to my lounge chair…what’s not to love about that?
And because this trip was all about fun and relaxation, a spa visit was a necessity. A massage followed by a shampoo/blowout after a full day at the pool felt like pure luxury. By the time I left, I felt completely refreshed and ready to dive back into everything the resort had to offer.
Even though gaming is obviously the main attraction — and I certainly did a lot of that — there are plenty of other ways to spend your time, from playing in the arcade and bowling to catching a movie. In fact, I spent one evening doing exactly that.
I grabbed some popcorn and settled in for a movie at the theater inside The District, an entertainment and recreation complex located inside the casino. It was a really nice theater too, with heated recliner seats. Fancy!
After the movie, I treated myself to an evening at the steakhouse and started with the shrimp and scallops. Everything was prepared perfectly and packed with flavor. For dessert, I ordered the key lime pie, a special of the day. I ate every single bite, thankful for the elastic waistband on my pants.
The best casino vacations aren’t about nonstop action. They’re about mixing things up and experiencing all that the property has to offer. That’s what makes Choctaw Durant such a fun destination. Between the gaming, the restaurants, the spa, and the entertainment, there’s always something happening.
