The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is moving ahead with plans to turn its gaming business into a full-service destination with the development of a massive casino resort. The development in Leggett is a significant expansion to the tribe’s existing facility and is anticipated to be one of the most prominent hospitality projects in the region.
Naskila Resort Set to Bring Large-Scale Casino Experience to East Texas
The future Naskila Resort and Casino will cover some 685,000 square feet on 95 acres of tribal land. When completed, the complex will include a hotel with over 350 rooms, various food outlets, a resort-style swimming pool, and a large event center that will host conferences and large gatherings. The property’s size is expected to greatly surpass that of the existing Naskila Casino, which has been operating since 2016 on a relatively small gaming floor.
Tribal leaders say the new resort will deliver the kind of upscale experience that is available at larger gaming destinations, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. A firm that has worked on some of the best-known casino projects in the United States, such as the iconic Foxwoods Casino Resort, is doing design work for the project, a sign that the project is meant to be more than a regional property. Interior elements shall reflect themes related to the tribe’s heritage, with ideas of endurance and unity.
New Naskila Resort Project Set to Create Jobs and Boost East Texas Economy
The expansion comes after years of legal battles over gaming rights in Texas. In a landmark decision in 2022, the US Supreme Court affirmed that the state could not place certain restrictions on tribal gaming operations on reservation land. The decision gave the tribe the legal certainty they needed to proceed with long-term investment plans.
However, even with the size of the new project, gaming options will be limited by federal regulations. The facility will keep operating electronic bingo machines, which look like slot machines but are different in structure and classification. Because of state and federal restrictions, traditional table games and regular slot machines will not be available.
Construction is anticipated to be done in phases, with the initial phase scheduled for completion in late 2028. This first opening is expected to feature the hotel tower, expanded gaming floor, and event spaces. Meanwhile, the tribe is preparing to open a temporary gaming venue near the construction site. The interim facility will be open 24 hours a day with several hundred machines and some basic food and beverage offerings and is scheduled to open this summer.
The project will also have economic benefits for the surrounding area. Previous efforts related to the tribe’s gaming activities have created a significant number of jobs and contributed substantially to local wages. Officials say the new resort will boost employment opportunities and attract visitors from throughout Texas and beyond.