Naskila Gaming casino, owned by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, injected $212 million into Polk County’s economy in 2022, according to a new study commissioned by Texas Forest Country Alliance.
Polk County has been reaping economic benefits from Naskila Gaming since the establishment opened in 2001. With each passing year, the impact continues to grow.
Naskila Gaming is one of three tribal venues that make up the entirety of legal casinos in Texas.
Analyze shows year-over-year growth to obtain Naskila Game playing casino
The analysis, conducted by economic research firm TXP, indicated that Naskila Gaming provides up to 500 jobs, along with an additional 825 permanent community jobs, resulting in a collective salary of $22.5 million.
Approximately 95% of Naskila’s customers commute from outside of Polk County, with over 80% coming from other regions.
The Texas Forest Country Alliance has assessed Naskila’s impact on Polk County twice before. Findings from these studies demonstrate that the amount of economic activity generated by Naskila Gaming has increased from $140 million in 2018 and $170 million in 2020 to $212 million currently.
During the same period, Naskila’s employment numbers have risen from 550 to 700 to 825. Ricky Sylestine, Chair of the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas Tribal Council, expressed gratitude in an article by Bluebonnet News, stating, “We are grateful that our guests, employees, and neighbors in Deep East Texas have allowed the impact of Naskila Casino to continue to grow. This facility helps support our Tribe and the region.”
Texas tribe casino supplies economic rewards for all of Polk County
Naskila Gaming’s revenues generate far more benefits than just for its employees. Among the facility’s main priorities is to provide funding for:
- Scholarships for the Reservation
- Additional housing
- A health clinic and daycare center
- Retail outlets that serve the community and the wider public
According to the study, Naskila Gaming is the second-largest employer in Polk County after Georgia Pacific. The casino’s direct jobs pay an average salary of $38,255. With benefits such as 401(k) plans and health insurance, the average total employee compensation reaches nearly $50,000 per year.
“The growth of Naskila’s success is very beneficial for Polk County,” said Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy, as reported by Bluebonnet News. “Naskila draws visitors into our area and provides stable income and benefits for its employees. We know that Naskila will continue to play an important role in our county’s future.”
Cathy Bennett, Chair of The Texas Forest Country Alliance, an economic development organization serving the 12-county region of Deep East Texas, expressed the following: “We are honored to have the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas as a part of our community and we are pleased to confirm, through an updated impact study, what was already apparent – Naskila’s economic impact is crucial to our region, especially as we are predominantly rural.”
Alabama-Coushatta Group of The state of texas wants to always be placed under IGRA’ s patio umbrella
Throughout its 22 years of operation, Naskila Gaming, owned by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, has been engaged in a legal battle with the state of Texas to remain in business. Last year, the Supreme Court upheld the Tribe’s right to offer electronic bingo after a lengthy legal fight.
The Tribe wishes to be governed by the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), but currently falls under state control through the 1988 Restoration Act. This Act imposes restrictive gambling regulations on the Tribe, instead of allowing them to operate under the IGRA, which provides a regulatory framework for tribal gaming and allows tribes to enter into compacts with state governments to expand gaming on tribal lands.
The passage of IGRA in 1988 was a significant moment for Native American tribes residing on reservations, as it paved the way for tribal government-owned gaming facilities and established guidelines for the industry’s development and tribal governments’ use of gaming revenue.
The key to tribal autonomy under IGRA is the tribal-state compact, but the state of Texas has not entered into a single compact with its three federally recognized tribes.
For the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe and Naskila Gaming, incorporation into IGRA would provide an opportunity to negotiate a gaming compact that could expand the gambling options available at their tribal venue.
In regards to the tribe and even Naskila Game playing
Naskila Gaming is an Indian gaming casino that operates under Class II gaming regulations. It features 700 electronic bingo-style slot machines, with payouts coming from a player’s pool rather than the house. The facility spans 30,000 square feet and is open daily, offering both smoking and non-smoking areas. However, table games are not legally offered at the casino. Additionally, there are two restaurants available on-site.
Located in Big Thicket, approximately an hour and a half north of Houston, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is the oldest Indian reservation in Texas. Their land encompasses 10,200 acres in Livingston, Texas. The tribe has over 1,400 members and operates as a fully functioning sovereign government, providing various health and human services, including law enforcement and emergency services. The tribe is governed by an elected tribal council and receives guidance from the tribal chief and second chief, in adherence to their traditions.
Rashid Mohamed is an international journalist with a keen interest in sports writing. He contributes regularly to PlayTexas, focusing on the pathway to gaming legalization and the underground market in the state. He holds a degree in Political Science from Ohio University and an A.A.S. in Journalism. With experience working in various countries, he has extensive knowledge of the United Nations and other local, national, and international organizations. Rashid is currently based in Miami, Colorado, where he resides and writes.
