Key Moments:
- The National Indian Gaming Commission has approved the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe’s plans for the Naskila Casino Resort in Leggett.
- The new casino project is expected to generate approximately 1,000 jobs in southeast Texas.
- This marks the first time a tribal casino in Texas will be developed on land outside a reservation.
NIGC Approval Unlocks New Path for Tribal Gaming in Texas
Efforts to legalize commercial casinos in Texas have experienced setbacks this year, yet the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe has received a green light for a new tribal casino in southeast Texas. The planned Naskila Casino Resort will be located in Leggett, about 90 miles northeast of Houston, situated on tribal-owned property just south of the tribe’s current reservation near Livingston.
Cecilia Flores, who leads the tribe as chairwoman, disclosed to the Polk County Commissioners Court that the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) has granted its approval for the proposed casino.
“We had made a petition to them about gaming on tribal properties outside the reservation in eastern Polk County,” she said, according to Polk County Enterprise. “The Leggett land is eligible for gaming, so we plan to develop our Naskila Casino Resort there. We’re very excited about it. It means a whole lot of new jobs, a lot of new opportunities for taxes, income, roads, the whole thing … so we look forward to it.”
Previously, there was an assumption that any tribal gaming operations had to remain on reservation lands. Recent guidance from the NIGC and the Bureau of Indian Affairs has now established that the land in trust since 2001 is suitable for gaming activities.
Project Details and Economic Impact
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe already operates the Naskila Casino near Livingston, offering Class II slot-style gaming. The forthcoming Naskila Casino Resort in Leggett will align with a rising trend among tribal nations to develop off-reservation gaming properties. This will represent the first such non-reservation facility in Texas.
Project planners estimate the new resort will create roughly 1,000 jobs, signifying a substantial economic boost to the region. Architectural design work has already begun, with construction scheduled to commence later this year.
Tribal Casino Presence Across Texas
In addition to the Alabama-Coushatta’s facilities, Texas hosts two other tribal casinos. The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe runs the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel in Eagle Pass, including a poker offering with 12 tables and having status as the sole federally recognized tribe in the state permitted to operate a full casino.
The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, also known as the Tigua tribe, manages the Speaking Rock Casino near El Paso. Both the Tigua and the Alabama-Coushatta tribes have previously engaged in extended legal proceedings before a 2022 Supreme Court decision enabled them to proceed with casino operations. Their offerings remain limited to games permissible under state law, mostly involving bingo-based formats.
| Casino Name | Location | Operated By | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naskila Casino (existing) | Near Livingston, TX | Alabama-Coushatta Tribe | Class II slot-style gaming |
| Naskila Casino Resort (planned) | Leggett, TX | Alabama-Coushatta Tribe | First off-reservation tribal casino in Texas; ~1,000 jobs |
| Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel | Eagle Pass, TX | Kickapoo Traditional Tribe | 12-table poker room; full-scale casino |
| Speaking Rock Casino | Near El Paso, TX | Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (Tigua tribe) | Bingo-based gaming |
- Author
Daniel Williams
