The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas held its 47th annual powwow in June 2015. Photo from Facebook
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe plans to rejoin the gaming industry in 2016, 14 years after it was forced to close its successful casino. The facility will be located in the same building as the old one, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. Plans call for about 300 Class II gaming machines in what's being billed as an "entertainment center," the paper said. "We feel like we can be successful with this venture and people want it," spokesperson Carlos Bullock told the paper. The tribe has yet to submit a facility license for the site, a spokesperson for the National Indian Gaming Commission told the paper. But the tribe already cleared a major hurdle when the agency approved its Class II gaming ordinance in early October. The decision came after the Office of the Solicitor at the Interior Department concluded that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act applies to the tribe. The law "impliedly repealed" a provision in the Alabama-Coushatta Restoration Act that was previously used to prohibit gaming on the reservation, according to a September 10 letter sent to the Tigua Tribe, whose restoration law includes a similar provision. The state was successful in using the prohibition to shut down the casino in 2002 but officials are declining to comment on the latest development. Get the Story:
Texas casino to open in 2016? (The Fort Worth Star-Telegram 11/7) An Opinion:
Legal bingo offers major opportunity for tribe, region (The Beaumont Enterprise 11/8)
Related Stories
Texas
tribes optimistic as state stays mum on gaming ruling (11/4) Editorial: Tigua Tribe finally gets some good news about gaming (11/3)
Tribes in Texas win NIGC approval of Class II gaming ordinances (10/28)
Column: Casino industry pours millions into Texas campaigns (09/15)
Tribes contributed $1.4M to politicians amid gaming fight in Texas (09/08)
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe lobbies Congress for gaming rights (07/16)
Witness list for House subcommittee's hearing on tribal bills (7/14)
House subcommittee schedules hearing on three tribal measures (7/13)
Bill introduced to resolve Alabama-Coushatta Tribe's land claim (06/09)
Dennis Whittlesey: Texas tribes are pawns in much larger game (04/27)
Texas tribes aim for level playing field with casino amendment (04/06)
Gaming operations proliferate in Texas as state goes after tribes (04/01)
Bills introduced to recognize gaming rights of all tribes in Texas (03/16)
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe willing to ax land claim for casino (04/04)
Editorial: Gaming not a solution for Alabama-Coushatta Tribe (04/02)
Join the Conversation
