Members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. Photo from Facebook
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is planning to rejoin the Indian gaming industry next year but officials in Texas still haven't said anything about the matter. The state worked hard to shut down the tribe's prior casino in 2002. The facility supported hundreds of jobs and sent $1 million a month to the tribe's coffers for the nine short months it was open. "It was a big step forward," spokesperson Carlos Bullock told The Houston Press. "These are things a lot of people take for granted but they were a big deal to us, people buying their own vehicles and getting their own places to stay." With a new ruling from the National Indian Gaming Commission, the tribe plans to reopen the facility with about 300 Class II machines. An opening could come in the spring of 2016 -- as long as the state doesn't interfere "We've cut jobs, we've cut services, but those are some things we really want to bring back, we have to bring back," Bullock told KHOU. The tribe is based in eastern Texas, about 70 miles northeast of Houston. Get the Story:
The Alabama-Coushatta Casino is About to Re-open (The Houston Press 11/11)
East Texas Tribe to Re-Open Casino (KTRH 11/10)
Federal ruling OKs gaming on Texas reservation (KHOU 11/9)
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