A resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives would allow the Alabama Coushatta tribe to legally operate its casino in Texas by clearing up legal issues that the state of Texas has used to force its closure. To become law it would require the assent of the U.S. Senate
Speaking in favor of House Resolution 759, Alabama Coushatta Tribal Chairman Cecilia Flores declared, “We are a federally recognized tribe with sovereign rights and we would like to assert those sovereign rights.”
The tribe first opened the Naskila casino in 2016, and almost immediately the state of Texas filed suit to shut it down. It claims that no gaming is allowed in Texas, however the Eagle Pass tribe has offered Class II gaming since 1996.
Flores says her tribe seeks the same rights to offer Class II gaming. HR 759 would clarify that.
The resolution would remove conflicting language in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA) that currently prevents the tribe from operating its casino, which employs about 370.
According to Flores, “Last year we had an economic study conducted and there was almost 140 million dollars in the region that was impacted.”
