game on

Tilman Fertitta and Draftkings' massive new sportsbook now permanently open in Lake Charles

Fertitta and Draftkings' expansive sportsbook is now permanently open.

Sports and gaming fans, heads up: Tilman Fertitta’s Louisiana DraftKings Sportsbook — the largest retail operation of its kind there — is now permanently open in his Golden Nugget Lake Charles.

Enthusiasts visiting the Golden Nugget Lake Charles casino can now expect an elevated sports betting experience spanning more than 12,000 square feet, and including more than 3,200 square feet of LED TV screens to enjoy live games; approximately 300 lounge seats including VIP areas for comfortable viewing; five ticket cages to allow customers to place bets; 16 video poker machines; three Blackjack tables; and 30 self-service kiosks, per a press release.

As those who travel to Lake Charles are aware, this permanent outpost replaces the temporary retail spot.

In keeping with its Billion Dollar Buyer owner’s brand, this DraftKings Sportsbook will also offer a full-service restaurant, appropriately dubbed the DraftKings Sportsbook Bar & Grill. The eatery features breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a “quick grab” menu. For that gameday experience, the grill will serve burgers, wings, and a wide selection of beer, cocktails and frozen drinks at the full-service bar.

Hours for the DraftKings Sportsbook are 10 am to 11 pm Monday through Friday, and 9 am to midnight Saturday and Sunday. Customers can place bets at any time, however, on kiosks located throughout the casino floor.

“Just in time for football season, we look forward to offering our guests the excitement of live games in an immersive audio-visual experience,” said Gerry Del Prete, CEO of Gaming at Fertitta Entertainment Inc. “We believe this DraftKings Sportsbook will raise the standards in sports betting and offer an unparalleled entertainment experience.”

Notably, the operation is an active member of the American Gaming Association and part of the association’s Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly public service campaign, which “educates customers on responsible gaming best practices such as setting a budget and sticking to it and only playing with legal, regulated operators,” per press materials.

As CultureMap previously reported, Fertitta sold his Golden Nugget Online Gaming interest to DraftKings for a massive $1.6 billion in May. At that time, Fertitta and DraftKings announced plans to rebrand some current and future retail sportsbook locations at Fertitta Entertainment-owned Golden Nugget properties into DraftKings sportsbooks.

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only the best in HOU

Houston's IAH soars as 4th best airport for holiday travel in 2024

George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston

George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Facebook

Houstonians are in safe hands at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Houston's punctual and award-winning George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has just been rated the fourth best airport in the country for the upcoming holiday travel season, so says a new report by travel experts Locals Insider.

The study examined the percentage of on-time departure flights at 50 of the biggest airports in America to discover the 10 best and worst airports for traveling during the holidays. Departure statistics and reasons for delays were analyzed from November 17, 2023 to January 3, 2024.

According to the report's findings, IAH had an on-time departure rate of 85.8 percent during the 2023 holiday period. That means out of the 13,921 total scheduled flights departing from the airport, only 1,976 flights were delayed. That's a pretty good track record.

IAH has been working hard to deliver the best travel experiences for its passengers, including opening its new Terminal D, investing in much-needed bathroom upgrades, showing off its award-winning art and entertainment program, and providing top notch dining experiences.

Though IAH appeared on Locals Insider's top 10 best list, Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) descended onto the travel guide's 10 worst U.S. airports for holiday travel this year.

Appearing at No. 8, HOU isn't the worst offender on the list, but its holiday season delay and cancellation rate in 2023 was 22 percent.

"Although Houston’s William P Hobby experiences fewer departing flights compared to other airports on our top 10 list, it’s still prone to disruptions," the report's author wrote. "Overall, more than one in five (22 percent) of departing flights are either delayed or canceled during the holidays."

The study's data found 1,178 holiday flights at HOU were cancelled in 2023, and only 19 were delayed.

Ranking as the No. 1 best airport for holiday travel is Washington Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., which had an 88.6 percent on-time departure rate.

For Houstonians that will be traveling this holiday season, Locals Insider recommended five best-practice tips for a smooth travel experience: Book an early morning flight as those are less prone to delays (additionally, book a direct flight), apply for TSA PreCheck to avoid long screening processes, and budget more time to arrive early to the airport.

The report also suggests packing light and shipping gifts to their intended destination ahead of time.

"Even the TSA recommends shipping your wrapped gifts rather than packing them in your luggage or carry-on," the report said.

The top 10 best U.S. airports for holiday travel in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Washington Dulles International
No. 2 – Minneapolis-St. Paul International
No. 3 – Salt Lake City International
No. 4 – George Bush Intercontinental
No. 5 – Ronald Reagan Washington National
No. 6 – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
No. 7 – Newark Liberty International
No. 8 – Detroit Metro Wayne County
No. 9 – Chicago O'Hare International
No. 10 – Charlotte Douglas International

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics defines the Thanksgiving travel period from November 17-28, and the winter holiday travel period from December 14 through January 3, 2024. The study included data from both holiday travel periods, sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Airline Service Quality Performance System (ASQP).