Texas State Officials Looking to Shut Down Alabama-Coushatta Tribe Casino Again
Texas is fine with porn, but not with gambling.
Being raised in North Dakota I'm very familiar with Tribal Casinos. Back in 2002, an Indian Tribe in East Texas, had its casino closed by the state, when Texas successfully
Texas plans to file a contempt motion
argued that state law trumps national Indian law, and the Texas law is that there is NO gambling in Texas.
Two months ago the Alabama-Coushatta tribe re-opened a casino-like facility after national Indian and federal officials ruled that the tribe could oversee gaming at its 10,000-acre reservation south of Livingston, Texas. But now, documents filed in Lufkin's federal court show that state officials have made the first move to, again, shut down the operation.
According to the Star Telegram, the alcohol-free, casino-like facility — called Naskila Entertainment — opened in mid-May, offering patrons a chance to spin the wheels on more than 350 machines 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The papers filed in Lufkin indicate that Texas plans to file a "contempt motion", asking officials to again shut down the gaming center.
Meanwhile, the tribe is looking to prove in court that last year's ruling, by top Indian officials, gives them legal footing to run Class II gaming, I.E. bingo and electronic versions of bingo, under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The Texas Attorney General's office said that they can't comment on pending litigation.
At this point no one has filed paper work to close the facility while the issue goes through the court system.