Cheesy Yet Iconic Statue of Winnie and Buck Greenback Resurfaces in Oklahoma

By Scott Roeben, on March 23 2026
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If you’re a true Vegas fan, you know and love the famous statue of Winnie and Buck Greenback, longtime fixtures at Harrah’s Las Vegas. Oh, and their dog Chip. Fun fact.

The statue was removed from Harrah’s Las Vegas in 2023, after 25 years on display. The belief was the statue had deteriorated to the point where it was beyond repair.

The twist: The Buck and Winnie statue has resurfaced, just not in Las Vegas. The duo has returned to Harrah’s Oklahoma, a new tribal casino that opens April 9, 2026.

Cancel the Amber Alert: They’re alive and well and somewhere in Oklahoma.

Fans of Buck, Winnie and Chip were distraught when they disappeared from the casino floor at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

We were the first to share Buck and Winnie were on the way out.

Unlike Cleopatra, the iconic good luck charms (yes, plural) at Caesars Palace, we got no indication from Caesars Entertainment officials Buck and Winnie would be back. (They’re still looking for a spot for the return of Cleopatra.)

Time has not been kind to Buck and Winnie. The statue was made in 1998, created by interior designer Henry Conversano and artist Mario Chiodo.

Here’s a look at the duo now.

You can tell this isn’t A.I. because Winnie is missing her finger.

Not to start a feud, but Oklahoma is sort of giving Las Vegas the finger by stealing our statue.

We don’t particularly care about anything happening in Oklahoma, but we are now forced to speculate about why the Greenbacks are on display there rather than Las Vegas.

So, Harrah’s Las Vegas has undergone a costly renovation over the past few years. The Mardi Gras theme has been removed, and the Strip resort has shifted its focus from middle America to conventioneers. Remember the jesters? Jettisoned.

The awkward reality is the Greenbacks just didn’t fit the brand of Harrah’s Las Vegas anymore. They’re cartoonish, portraying high rollers as clowns, rather than wealthy casino winners meant to inspire players to try their luck. They aren’t so much charming as garish. They were once playful, now they’re cringeworthy cliches.

That, and the horrible condition of the statue, meant their time was done at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

It’s really pretty gross.

Why would a casino in Oklahoma embrace Buck and Winnie when the powers that be felt they were no longer a fit for Harrah’s Las Vegas?

Well, it’s Oklahoma. All due respect. What the hell else do they have going on?

Las Vegas is less about gimmicks now, less about cartoonish archetypes and more about authentic experiences.

The bar is simply lower in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, if it can be battered and fried, they batter and fry it. Their only “culture” is high school football. It’s flat. It’s rural. It’s mullets and gun racks. Bottom line: It’s boring.

Also, they stole our damn statue!

Would we change our tune if Buck and Winnie came back to Las Vegas? Of course! Iconic!

Would we take back the references to fried food and mullets? Do you know this blog at all?

Does the statue fit the Harrah’s Las Vegas brand? Nope.

We’re sort of in the “anger” phase of the grieving process, moving slowly toward acceptance.

The fact is the Buck and Winnie statue is sort of gross. It’s highly unlikely any resources are going to be devoted to restoring it.

Harrah’s Oklahoma can consider the statue a gift from Las Vegas, like how the French gave America the Statue of Liberty, but Lady Liberty had much less schmutz.

We’re always here for you, Buck and Winnie and Chip.

And good luck to all the folks at Harrah’s Oklahoma. Our best advice is to create your own icons. Oh, and learn more about Tilman Fertitta. Long story.