The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, which manages one of three casinos in the Lone Star State, announced plans this week to build a new casino on its tribal land in Polk County.
The tribe currently maintains the Naskila Casino in Livingston, which operates as a Class II casino under Texas law. The tribe has battled Texas officials for years to keep the casino open. It gained support from the US Department of Interior and the National Indian Gaming Commission en route to a 2022 Supreme Court decision in its favor.
The tribe has not released specific details about the new casino, but it has reportedly retained architectural firm FFKR, with offices in Salt Lake City and Tempe, AZ, for the project.
Tribe looks to create ‘vibrant destination’
There are no commercial casinos in the state, and Texas online casinos remain illegal. Currently, Naskila joins The Lucky Eagle in Eagle Pass and Speaking Rock Entertainment Center in El Paso as the only casino options in a state of more than 30 million people and spanning nearly 270,000 square miles.
Efforts to legalize destination resort casinos are underway backed by Las Vegas Sands Corp. The task is to convince enough Texas lawmakers to sign off on it when the Legislature next meets in 2025.
Naskila, located about 90 miles from Houston, has a 30,000-square-foot gaming floor with over 800 electronic bingo machines. Denominations for its progressive jackpots range from penny games to $25 options for high-limit players. The casino does not offer table games.
Tribe will also upgrade Livingston convenience store/truck stop
Tribal Council Chairman Ricky Sylestine expects the new casino to attract players from across East Texas.
“We are incredibly excited to embark on this new chapter. This new casino resort will not only provide significant economic benefits for those living and working in the region, but it will also become a vibrant destination for visitors.”
According to Bluebonnet News, the new casino should offer several amenities to visitors.
“While specific details are still being finalized, the new resort may offer a variety of amenities including a state-of-the-art casino floor, hotel accommodations, and diverse dining and entertainment options.”
The tribe is also planning an extensive remodel, including installation of electronic bingo machines, to the Ischoopa/One Stop Convenience Store and Truck Stop located at 14071 US Hwy 190 in Livingston.