NEWS
10.19.2009 Grand Prairie horse
track back on the auction block
09.29.2009 Chickasaws bid $27
million for bankrupt Grand Prairie horse track
08.10.2009 Tiguas dispute court's
ruling to shut down slots and sweepstakes
05.18.2009 Casino gambling bill is
dead
More news
INDIAN CASINOS
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino
7777 Lucky Eagle Drive
Eagle Pass, Texas 78852
1-888-255-8259
More information
Speaking Rock Casino (Closed 2002)
122 South Old Pueblo Road
El Paso, TX 79907
Located in front of the Ysleta old Mission
Alabama-Coushatta Casino (Closed 2002)
Livingston, TX 77351
NON-NATIVE AMERICAN
Texas Treasure Casino Cruises
229 Highway 361 South
Port Aransas, Texas 78353
1-866-GOT-LUCK
1-866-468-5825
More information
HISTORY OF TEXAS INDIAN CASINOS
In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that since federally recognized Indian
tribes are considered sovereign entities they could have casinos outside of
state jurisdiction.
Texas has three federally-recognized tribes:
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
Route 3 Box 640
Livingston, TX 77351
Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas
Kickapoo Traditional Council
Post Office Box 972
Eagle Pass, TX 78853
Tigua Reservation
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo
Post Office Box 17579
El Paso, TX 79917
This 1987 Supreme Court ruling led to the 1987 Registration Act
followed by the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Only the Kickapoo
Traditional Tribe of Texas is authorized under the IGRA to operate a casino. The
Tigua and Alabama-Coushatta tribes were granted federal recognition under the
1987 Indian Restoration Act, but were specifically prohibited by that act from
casino operations.
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino
In 1996 the Kickapoo established the Lucky Eagle Casino in the small town of
Eagle Pass about 100 miles south of San Antonio.
In 2008 the Texas Attorney General’s office sued over the legality of the casino
even though the Kickapoo are an IGRA tribe. The case is now before the U.S.
Supreme Court after the tribe lost in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Tigua’s Speaking Rock Casino
In 1992 the Tigua tribe of El Paso petitioned Governor Ann Richards to negotiate
a gaming compact for an Indian casino on their reservation, however, the
governor rejected their request. The Tigua felt their rights under federal law
were ignored, so in 1993, they opened the Speaking Rock Casino without state
approval. That began a ten year battle in the courts over the legality of their
casino.
Governor George W. Bush contended the Tigua violated Texas anti-gambling laws,
however, the Tigua countered that their slot machines were similar to the Texas
lottery. They claimed both used computers to randomly generate numbers for
players. The final judicial decision came in January 2002 when the U.S. 5th
Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the tribe. The state showed the Tigua
were violating the 1987 Indian Restoration Act, so the Speaking Rock Casino was
forced to close in February 2002.
The Tigua reopened the Speaking Rock Casino in 2007 without a court order, so in
March 2008 the Office of the Attorney General filed a Contempt of Court Motion
against the Tigua.
Alabama-Coushatta Casino
In 2001 the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas opened a tribal casino in
Livingston, Texas. After nine months of operations it was forced to close after
the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the tribe was violating the
1987 Indian Restoration Act which prohibited their operating a casino. The
casino generated $1 million/month for its tribal members during is operation.
NEWS ARCHIVE
04.14.2009 Casino backers have
grand plans for Texas
03.30.2009 Tigua asking lawmakers
to reopen Speaking Rock Casino
02.25.2009 Major casino bill
introduced in Texas legislature
02.24.2009 Galveston eyes casinos
to stay afloat
02.20.2009 Bill would legalize
Texas Indian casinos
12.31.2008 Tigua Tribe hopes to
reopen Speaking Rock Casino
12.13.2008 Alabama-Coushatta and
Tigua hope to reopen casinos
12.04.2007 Eagle
Pass Casino Considers Las Vegas-style Gaming
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Texas