Litigation | Openings & Closings

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe back in court to defend gaming rights

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe has put hundreds of people to work at the Naskila Entertainment gaming facility in Livingston, Texas. Photo from Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas / Facebook

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe and the state of Texas are once again engaged in a gaming battle.

But while the stakes remain high, the new fight might be a little less contentious than the one that forced the tribe to close its gaming facility back in 2002. Both parties have agreed to a schedule that stretches well into 2017 so the Naskila Entertainment appears to be safe for now.

Still, the tribe could lose big if the state convinces a judge that the Class II facility is illegal. A contempt motion filed on Monday seeks a fine of $10,000 for every day that Naskila remains in operation.

"There’s no surprise. The tribe has been in discussion with the state since before they opened the gaming hall, and we knew they were going to take this action," Chuck McDonald, a representative of the tribe, told The San Antonio Express-News in response to the state's filing.

The tribe's response to the motion is due by Friday, according to the scheduling order. The first hearing in the case would take place in March 2017 and a trial, if necessary, could start in June 2017.

Read More on the Story:
State sues Alabama-Coushatta tribe again over gambling (The San Antonio Express-News 8/17)