The Texas town of Leggett – around 85 miles north of the Greater Houston Area Polk County near Livingston – is set to welcome a major new entertainment destination. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, a federally recognized, sovereign nation, has broken ground on a permanent, 685,000-square-foot casino.
Since 2016, the tribe has operated the Naskila Casino. Located just outside Livingston, the existing casino features a 30,000-square-foot gaming hall with around 800 to 1,000 electronic bingo machines. However, the space does not permit alcohol, nor does it offer a hotel or resort amenities.
Before the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas, the tribe’s gaming operations faced significant legal uncertainty. The Court’s ruling clarified which forms of gaming are prohibited under Texas law and which are governed by federal law and tribal regulation.
Naskila Casino Resort in Legget
This past June, the tribe officially broke ground on the Naskila Casino Resort in Leggett. Situated across 95 acres the casino will feature a 366-room hotel, fine dining options, an event center, and a resort-style swimming pool. All told, the new casino resort will amount to one of the largest hospitality projects in the region.
Temporary casino
If you’re eager to start playing, you won’t actually have to wait two years. To tide visitors over while the main resort undergoes vertical construction, the tribe is opening a temporary 24/7 casino facility on the reservation this summer. This venue will keep the fun going with 300 electronic bingo machines, a round-the-clock deli, fountain drink stations, and a players club.
East Texas Casino Resort Timeline
The tribe plans to open their temporary casino this summer. At this moment, officials aim to launch new concepts of the Naskila Casino Resort grand opening in late 2028. The initial roll-out will see the opening of restaurants, bars, and lounge concepts, around 3,400 electronic bingo machines as well as dedicated smoking, non-smoking, and high-limit VIP casino areas.
The casino also plans to debut 35,000 square feet of flexible event and conference space including a grand ballroom.
