After decades of legal battles, the state of Texas ended its efforts to shut down the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe’s Naskila Gaming electronic bingo facility in Livingston.
Ricky Sylestine, chairman of the Alabama-Coushatta tribal council, said, “The families that depend on Naskila Gaming for their paychecks are breathing a sigh of relief. For years, the state’s efforts have created uncertainty for our tribe, 700 Naskila Gaming employees and our East Texas neighbors. Now we can put those threats behind us and look to a brighter future.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office recently formally notified the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that it would not appeal a lower court’s 2021 ruling that the tribe is legally operating electronic bingo at Naskila Gaming. Last month, in a similar case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Alabama-Coushatta tribe and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in El Paso can operate electronic bingo on their reservation since state law doesn’t prohibit bingo.
The state’s efforts to prevent electronic bingo on the tribe’s lands go back to 1994, when the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court ruled the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo couldn’t offer any form of gaming. Years later, a decision by the National Indian Gaming Commission allowed the Alabama-Coushatta to open Naskila Gaming; it has been operating for more than six years while the state has continued trying to block it through the courts.
During the course of the legal battles, more than 80 business and community groups approved official statements and resolutions supporting Naskila Gaming. Elected officials from both parties also have voiced support, including state Rep. James White. He said, “The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe are our East Texas friends. The federal courts have provided a level of clarity in order for the state to decide not to further pursue litigation. This is a win for the local prosperity for the tribe and for Deep East Texas.”
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe still is hopeful the U.S. Congress will pass legislation to put the tribe under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives approved such an action legislation by unanimous consent, but the U.S. Senate hasn’t taken it up.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and U.S. Senator Jon Tester of Montana introduced S. 4196, which is identical to the House bill. If the law passes, the state of Texas could not take any legal action in the future to shut down Naskila Gaming. “The Senate can and should provide our employees, visitors and community partners even greater certainty by passing this legislation before the end of this year,” Sylestine said.
