The Chickasaw Nation engaged our team to design a permanent building for its Border Casino in Thackerville, just north of the Oklahoma-Texas border. Located on a shared site with the Thackerville Chickasaw Travel Stop, the casino was housed within more than 20 trailers which were added over the years to accommodate its nearly 1,200 gaming machines. The new building opened with 2,000 gaming machines, with the ability to grow to a maximum of 2,500 machines.

In contrast to the much larger WinStar World Casino and Resort, located just a few miles north, the unique Border Casino is deliberately designed to cater to patrons who prefer a smaller venue and is highly visible from the adjacent Interstate 35.

Prior to the design phase, FSB staff toured multiple smaller Chickasaw-owned casinos in Oklahoma, to gain an understanding of how the Nation designs and operates these facilities. Plans for the Border Casino included the creation of an 80,000 SF permanent facility, with 62,000 SF of this space dedicated to gaming floor. The additional area was divided between a restaurant, with seating for approximately 50 people, and a bar area which can accommodate up to 35 individuals. Details of the interior are focused on a contemporary, modern feel that gives it an identity very distinct from that of WinStar. Our team provided full A/E services for this project, with gaming experts JCJ providing interior and exterior design expertise.