Golden Mesa Casino Guymon Oklahoma
For years, the Shawnee Tribe in Oklahoma has been working to open a new gambling venue. This week, the tribe officially opened the doors to the Golden Mesa Casino, located in Guymon. It’s exciting news for casino gaming fans located in the Oklahoma panhandle area.
Golden Mesa Casino Guymon Oklahoma Jobs
The Golden Mesa Casino officially opened September 12, 2019. It is located two miles southwest of Guymon in the Oklahoma panhandle. In 2017 the Shawnee Tribe has announced plans to build this casino, the first casino in the Panhandle. The casino site was 107 acres of off-reservation land near Guymon, Oklahoma.
There are many great tribal casinos now operating in Oklahoma. Today, we’re going to look at this state’s casino revenue. We’ll also take a quick look at what other gambling options may come here. Let’s get into it!
Motels near Golden Mesa Casino, Guymon on Tripadvisor: Find 490 traveller reviews, 579 candid photos, and prices for motels near Golden Mesa Casino in Guymon, OK. Golden Mesa Casino, Guymon: See reviews, articles, and photos of Golden Mesa Casino, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 4 attractions in Guymon. See posts, photos and more on Facebook. Golden Mesa Casino is a Native American Casino in Guymon, Oklahoma and is open daily 24 hours. The casino's 42,309 square foot gaming space features 600 gaming machines and eight table games. The property has two restaurants.
Golden Mesa Officially Opens to the Public
Yesterday, the Shawnee Tribe, along with its partners, Global Gaming Solutions, celebrated the grand opening of the Golden Media Casino. It was a long time coming. The tribe had worked for years to open a casino in this state and spent millions on the construction of the Golden Mesa.
This casino, located just two miles southwest of Guymon in the state’s panhandle, is bringing 175 new jobs to the area with an expected $3.7 million in annual payroll. Shawnee Tribe Chief recently spoke to the media about the opening of his new gambling establishment.
“Today marks an historic day for Guymon, the entire Oklahoma Panhandle and the Shawnee Tribe,” he said. “The opening of Golden Mesa Casino positions this region as an emerging entertainment and tourism destination as we expect this casino entertainment center to bring visitors from Texas, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.”
The casino features 40,000 square feet of gambling space. There are 600 electric games, a range of popular table games such as blackjack and roulette, and a fully-functioning bar.
It’s expected to be a financial success for the Shawnee Tribe. According to a study from Oklahoma City University, this casino will generate $34 million annually. That’s great news for the state, as well, who will earn millions in taxes each year.
Oklahoma’s Casino Industry is Booming
Oklahoma is home to several major Native American Tribes. Since 1988, these tribes have been giving federal permission to open casino venues. Incredibly, there are now 102 casinos in the state of Oklahoma, with an estimated 70,000 slot machines and 4,600 bingo seats. As you might expect, this industry is bringing in serious revenue for the state.
In 2018, the state earned $139 million from casino taxes. At the moment, lawmakers tax the state’s casinos between 4-10% of their overall revenue. Unfortunately, Governor Kevin Stitt has begun calling for a reevaluation of this tax structure, causing a serious rift with Oklahoma Tribes.
The tribes argue that they provide more than just money to the state. They also invest their own earnings into healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Stitt isn’t backing down, however, continuing to ask the state’s Gaming Board to review the current set of tax rates.
It’s still unknown whether or not the rate at which these gambling venues are taxed will change. Other states tax their casinos from 20-25%. It’s possible that lawmakers will recognize this and request that Oklahoma implement similar rates. The tribes aren’t likely to accept that without a long, drawn-out legal battle.
Oklahoma May Soon Legalize Sports Betting
Earlier this year, several politicians in Oklahoma presented a bill that would allow tribal casinos to offer sports betting options. Unfortunately, the bill failed to be approved during the state’s legislative session. Many gambling analysts still feel that Oklahoma’s sports betting market will become regulated within the next few years.
Ultimately, the decision lies in Governor Stitt’s hands. He clearly recognizes the huge revenue potential from sports betting. Allowing sports gambling options inside tribal casinos would bring millions of additional dollars to the state every year.
Several major tribes in Oklahoma have also expressed a desire to see sports betting regulated.
Matt Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, commented on the future of sports betting in this state to the media recently.
“Tribes are ready to have that discussion,” he said. “The ball is in Gov. Stitt’s court.”
Many states around the country, recently including Iowa, now have fully-regulated sports betting industries. Even states with harsh gambling laws such as North Carolina and Georgia are interested in legalizing and regulating this popular form of wagering.
For now, gambling fans in Oklahoma are limited to casino gambling. Those in the panhandle area can check out the brand new Golden Mesa Casino, now officially open to the public.
Make sure to stay tuned for more Oklahoma gambling news over the next few months!
The Shawnee Tribe finally broke ground on an off-reservation casino in Oklahoma, a project more than a decade in the making. The Golden Mesa Casino is expected to open in the summer of 2019. The 42,000 square-foot facility is being developed in partnership with Global Gaming Solutions, a subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation. 'Thank you to Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby, Shawnee Tribe Chief Ron Sparkman, and all the special guests who joined us for the groundbreaking ceremony today,' a May 31 post on Facebook read. A short video also was posted. The casino is being built in Guymon, about 400 miles from Shawnee headquarters. The tribe chose the site due to restrictions placed on land acquisitions in the northeastern part of Oklahoma and opposition to prior proposals elsewhere in the state.The tribe pursued the project under two-part determination provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The process requires approval from both the federal government as well as the state in which the casino will be located. The Bureau of Indian Affairs approved the environmental assessment for the casino toward the end of the Obama administration. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) gave her blessing shortly afterward. The Trump administration, however, held up the final portion -- the land-into-trust application for the 107-acre site -- for a year for unexplained reasons. Secretary Ryan Zinke of the Department of the Interior finally announced approval at a ceremony in Oklahoma City on January 18 that included the Shawnee Tribe, the Chickasaw Nation and Gov. Fallin. Guymon is located in in the panhandle region of Oklahoma. The area could attract gamblers from neighboring Texas and Kansas. The Shawnee Tribe was restored to federal recognition by an act of Congress in 2000. Previously, the Shawnees had been considered a part of the much larger and culturally distinct Cherokee Nation. Read More on the Story:
Shawnee Tribe, GGS breaks ground on Golden Mesa Casino (The Miami News-Record June 1, 2018)
Guymon hopes to hit the jackpot with Golden Mesa Casino (KFDA May 31, 2018)
Shawnee Tribe, Global Gaming Solutions break ground on Golden Mesa Casino in Guymon (KAMR May 31, 2018)
DOI on Flickr: Shawnee Tribe Fee-To-Trust Signing
Shawnee Tribe secures historic approval for off-reservation homelands (January 19, 2018)
Shawnee Tribe plans to start work soon on off-reservation casino (March 13, 2017)
Shawnee Tribe secures final approval for off-reservation casino (March 7, 2017)
Shawnee Tribe touts approval of off-reservation casino in Oklahoma (February 3, 2017)
Shawnee Tribe waits for answer on off-reservation casino project (January 31, 2017)
Golden Mesa Casino Guymon Oklahoma
