Naskila Casino Leggett Opens as Permanent Texas Resort Moves Forward

LEGGETT, Texas – The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas has opened a temporary Naskila Casino facility as construction continues on its permanent East Texas resort.

Naskila Casino Leggett operates around the clock with 300 electronic bingo machines and a dining facility, creating about 100 jobs at the new location.

Customers lined up before the doors opened Tuesday morning at the facility, which sits on tribal land next to the construction site for the planned Naskila Casino Resort. The temporary property is intended to operate while the larger development is being built.

Temporary Casino Opens with 300 Machines

The 24-hour facility includes 300 new electronic bingo machines and a 60-seat grill that is also open around the clock. Naskila Interim General Manager Keith Sherer said the Leggett location provides another gaming option while allowing the tribe to focus on completing the permanent resort.

Tribal Council Chairman Ricky Sylestine said the opening represents the next stage of the tribe’s gaming development after years of legal disputes over electronic bingo in Texas. Revenue from Naskila supports tribal programs including housing, education and health services, according to the tribe.

The legal landscape changed significantly in 2022. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal Restoration Act prohibits on tribal lands only gaming activities that Texas bans outright. Texas subsequently declined to appeal a separate lower-court ruling that found the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe could legally operate electronic bingo at Naskila.

Permanent Resort Targeted for Late 2028

The opening comes about two months after the tribe broke ground on the larger Naskila Casino Resort, a 95-acre development that will substantially expand its gaming and hospitality operations in Polk County.

The permanent casino is currently expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2028. Plans call for approximately 3,400 electronic bingo machines, dedicated smoking and non-smoking gaming areas, high-limit space and roughly five restaurants and other food and beverage options.

The project also includes about 35,000 square feet of flexible conference and event space, including a ballroom designed for as many as 1,000 guests. A hotel and pool are expected to follow approximately one year after the main casino opens.

Project representative Matthew Dunnery said crews have cleared approximately 90 acres of the site. Foundation work is expected to begin in January as construction moves into its next stage.

Expansion Adds Jobs in Polk County

The temporary casino has created about 100 jobs, while Naskila officials expect the completed resort to add approximately 1,000 more positions.

The Leggett facility also provides a more accessible location along U.S. 59 while construction proceeds nearby. The tribe’s existing Naskila Casino operation will continue serving customers during the development process.

Additional phases and amenities for the permanent resort have not yet been finalized. For now, the temporary casino represents the first operational phase of a project that the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe expects to develop through 2029 and beyond.

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