Leaders of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe in Texas continue to hope that Congress will eventually declare that federally-recognized tribes may operate casinos in the Lone Star State.
A bingo casino, Naskila Gaming on the Alabama-Coushatta reservation recently reopened, but only a change in federal law will keep the venue open.
Tribal Chairman Nite Battise told ABC 9 that Congress has considered three or four bills that would allow the tribe to operate its casino without running afoul of Texas law. The most recent, HR 2208, passed in the House and has been assigned a Senate committee.
So far, such bills have done well in the House but floundered in the Senate, killed by Texas senators, but Battise blames Governor Greg Abbott. The chairman added, “We need to start the process of re-educating what it means to be a sovereign nation, number one.” He is also urging patrons of Naskila Gaming to sign a letter addressed to the governor.
The letter points out that the casino employs 700 jobs in East Texas and generates $170 million in revenue. Battise points out that many county governments in the region have passed resolutions supporting the casino.
Battise doesn’t plan to give up. He told ABC 9, “We will keep fighting to make this happen. To make this happen.”
