Opportunity knocking can take many forms. For the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, opportunity’s knock comes in the shape of continued opposition to the legalization of commercial casinos and other forms of gambling in Texas.
The tribal gaming authority has answered by recently spending on new marketing to draw attention to its facility near Livingston, Texas. It hopes that Texans will find the property the closest thing to a legal resort-style casino they can find without leaving their state.
Naskila Gaming billboards start popping up
According to Averie Klonowski of KETK, the Alabama-Coushatta have understandably taken full advantage of the moment. Klonowski reports that the tribal authority has put up roadside billboards notifying travelers of the Naskila Casino near Livingston.
It’s an opportune moment for the facility for a couple of reasons. First, the profile of gambling in the public consciousness has arguably never been higher. That is in and of itself partially a result of the other factor behind this moment.
The Texas legislature considered several gambling expansion proposals during its most recent legislative term. Among those were potential constitutional amendments that could have legalized brick-and-mortar commercial casinos plus online sports betting in the state.
However, none of those proposals received enough support in Austin to reach voters. Thus, the status quo when it comes to gambling in Texas will stay in place for at least the next two years. The Texas legislature will reconvene in 2025 and could take up similar matters then.
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is part of that status quo. They want Texans to know it, too.
How Naskila Casino doesn’t run afoul of Texas gambling laws
While Texas outlaws most forms of casino gaming, this facility near Livingston is essentially immune to such prohibitions. The property sits on the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe’s sovereign territory. The type of gaming the casino offers is also pertinent here.
Naskila Casino only offers electronic bingo terminals, more than 800 of them to be exact. Under United States law, registered tribes can offer such gaming on their lands with zero involvement from the governments of states surrounding those lands. Thus, Texas doesn’t have a say in the matter.
For that reason, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe also doesn’t share revenue with Texas. It is subject to federal regulations pertaining to its gaming, however. Two other tribal gaming facilities exist within Texas’ borders but none of them offer any games that would run afoul of Texas law.
In addition to the electronic bingo games, the Naskila Casino also offers dining options to guests and a rewards system for players. That’s all part of what the Naskila Gaming billboards intend to draw attention to.
While the legality of other gaming forms in Texas may someday change, this is the moment for tribal operations like Naskila Gaming in the state. Competition is minimal and interest is at an all-time high. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe would have been foolish not to act.