A temporary casino will open just 80 miles north of Houston, Texas, this summer. The venue is part of plans for the state’s first full-scale casino resort.
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe has federal approval to build the Indian gaming casino on off-reservation land in Leggett, Polk County. Construction on the venue will begin next month, with a temporary location slated to open later in the summer.
Casino to Feature Limited Slate of Games
The casino, however, will not offer a full slate of gaming options, as Texas law strictly limits gambling. In June 2023, the courts ruled that Texas tribes may operate Class II gaming on their reservations without state approval.
Class II gaming does not include roulette, blackjack, or other traditional against-the-house casino games. It is limited to games against other players, including bingo, poker, and other “non-banked” card games. Some slots are permitted, but only those where jackpots are paid from other players’ bets.
There are currently three tribal casinos active in the state: Kickapoo Lucky Eagle in Eagle Pass, Speaking Rock in El Paso, and Naskila Casino in Livingston. The latter is operated by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe.
New Venue Will Relocate Naskila Casino
The current Naskila Casino features 835 electronic bingo machines, two restaurants, and is open 24/7. The tribe says it contributes $212 million to the local economy, with 409 employees who have an average wage of $50,000.
The new development will see the Livingston casino discontinued once it is operational. The temporary venue will host 300 electronic gaming machines, but the full-scale resort is expected to feature far more.
Full details of the project have not yet been revealed, but it will feature a hotel, restaurants, and an entertainment venue, in addition to the gaming floor.
Las Vegas Sands Eyes First Commercial Casino
The opening of the state’s first resort casino could pave the way for Texas to open a commercial gaming venue. Las Vegas Sands has eyed North Texas as the site for its first casino in the state. The company currently has no active casinos in the US.
However, it has invested heavily in lobbying efforts to get approval for a Texas development. The company’s two major political action committees, the Texas Sands PAC and the Texas Defense PAC, have donated more than $15 million to candidates across the state.
Andy Abboud, Senior Vice President of Las Vegas Sands, said the lobbying will not stop until it gets approval. When asked how long the company was willing to wait, he replied, “Forever. We’re not going anywhere. We are committed to this. It’s a great opportunity. The people of Texas want it. We’re here for the long term.”
Despite lawmakers not yet approving plans, the company has begun hiring staff in Dallas. It currently has 10 available jobs in Texas. These include application architects, data engineers, and a senior product manager role that leads the development of casino management software “from the ground up.”
With the planned resort opening near Houston, Sands hopes residents will gradually become more open to the idea of a Dallas resort.
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