Tribal Gaming

PGA Championship Has an ‘Official Casino’ for the First Time in Tournament’s 111-Year History

Posted on: September 1, 2026, 02:43h.

Last updated on: September 1, 2026, 02:44h.

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Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

The 2027 PGA Championship will have its first-ever “Official Casino Resort,” with Choctaw Casinos & Resorts
The May 17-23 event at PGA Frisco in Texas is expected to draw 200,000 spectators, with championship-round tickets already sold out
Choctaw will operate a premium hospitality venue at PGA Frisco

For the first time in the 111-year history of the PGA Championship, the golf tournament’s 2027 playing will include an “Official Casino Resort.”

Choctaw sportsbook betting Oklahoma — The exterior Choctaw Casino & Resort Durant. Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is the “Official Casino Resort” of the 2027 PGA Championship. (Image: Choctaw Casinos & Resorts)

On Monday (Aug. 31), Choctaw Casinos & Resorts was named the “Official Casino Resort” and “Official Community Partner” of the 2027 PGA Championship. The second of the four men’s golf major championships, the PGA Championship is set for May 17-23, 2027, at PGA Frisco in Texas, roughly 25 miles north of downtown Dallas.

The 2027 PGA Championship represents a historic opportunity for the state of Texas, and we’re proud to partner with the PGA of America to help deliver an unforgettable experience for golf fans,” said Heidi Grant, senior executive officer for the Choctaw Nation.

The PGA of America, which first conducted the tournament in 1916, expects 200,000 spectators on property next May. Tickets for all four championship rounds, Thursday through Sunday, are sold out more than nine months in advance.

“The enthusiasm surrounding the 2027 PGA Championship continues to exceed every expectation,” said Jason Mengel, championship director. “Choctaw Casinos & Resorts shares our commitment to creating memorable experiences, making them an outstanding community partner as we prepare to welcome the first men’s major championship in Texas in more than five decades.”

PGA Gambling Embrace

Like the PGA Tour, which is a separate entity, the PGA of America has embraced sports betting and casino gambling. While the Choctaw partnership is the first time the PGA Championship will have an Official Casino Resort” partner, it’s not the tournament’s first betting relationship.

In 2024, the PGA of America announced ESPN Bet as the “Official Sports Betting Sponsor” through the 2026 tournament. However, the arrangement was terminated before its scheduled end when ESPN Bet ceased operations in December 2025.

The Choctaws will certainly be around next spring when the world’s best professional golfers arrive in Texas. The Choctaw Nation markets its tribal casinos in southeastern Oklahoma to Texans, who make the short drive to its four casino resorts and four slots venues.

Sports betting remains prohibited in both Oklahoma and Texas. The states are two of only 11 that do not have some form of legal sports gambling.

Choctaw PGA Tickets

In part of its PGA Championship sponsorship, Choctaw Casinos & Resorts will transform the Ice House at PGA Frisco, a sports bar and golf venue, into an all-inclusive, climate-controlled, premium daily hospitality venue.

The ranch-style venue will include exclusive food and beverage offerings, specialty cocktails, branded gifts, and interactive activations designed to celebrate the partnership. Choctaw Ice House ticket holders will also receive access to a dedicated viewing area located behind the ninth green, allowing spectators to enjoy up-close views of major championship golf,” the Choctaw release said.

The tribe explained that daily VIP tickets for the Choctaw Ice House experience are already “completely sold out.”