Tribes jump into debate over legalization of casinos in Texas

Wednesday, March 30, 2011  

Lawmakers in Texas are once again considering bills to expand gaming and legalize casinos.

One of the 17 proposals up for debate calls for three tribal casinos, two on the Gulf and three in urban areas. It would also legalize slot machines at race tracks.

The Kickapoo Tribe, however, opposes an expansion of gaming in the state. "We would not be able to take the competition and our gaming business would be put out of business," Chairman Juan Garza Jr. told a House committee, the Associated Press reported.

Garza said the tribe should be allowed to move its existing Class II facility to a more urban location if gaming is expanded.

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, on the other hand, supports an expansion. The tribe operated a casino on the reservation until the state went to court to shut it down.

"We were able to provide health care to tribal members, education benefits," Chairman Carlos Bullock said at the hearing, KXAN reported.

Under the terms of their federal restoration acts, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe and the Tigua Tribe aren't allowed to engage in gaming on their reservations unless allowed by the state. The Kickapoo Tribe is not subject to the same restriction.

Get the Story:
Mixed responses to proposals to expand gambling (AP 3/29)
Gaming bill may include venue in Travis (KXAN-TV 3/29)
Gambling bill backs Tiguas but chances slim (The El Paso Times 3/30)