Alabama-Coushatta Tribe Advances Major Casino Resort Project in East Texas
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas held an official groundbreaking ceremony on June 18, 2026, for its new full-scale resort casino known as Naskila Casino Resort, and the event marked a significant step forward for tribal gaming operations in the state.
Project Scope and Location Details
Construction began on 95 acres in Leggett, Polk County, where the tribe plans to develop a 685,000-square-foot facility that will include 3,400 Class II electronic gaming machines along with a 366-room hotel, multiple restaurants, and dedicated event space, and the project builds directly on the operations of the existing Naskila Casino while expanding into a larger integrated resort model.
Phased openings remain targeted for late 2028, which allows the tribe to sequence development across gaming floors, hospitality amenities, and support infrastructure in a measured sequence that matches regulatory and construction timelines.
Legal Foundation and Recent Rulings
This initiative follows the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affirmed tribal gaming rights in Texas, and the decision cleared a path for expanded Class II gaming activities on tribal lands after years of legal uncertainty, and observers note that the tribe has aligned its planning with federal Indian gaming standards administered through the National Indian Gaming Commission.
According to the tribe's public statements, the resort will operate under the same regulatory framework that governs the current Naskila Casino while incorporating additional amenities that require coordinated permitting across local, state, and federal agencies.
Construction Timeline and Development Phases
Site preparation started immediately after the June 18 ceremony, and crews will focus first on foundational work and utility connections before moving to vertical construction of the hotel tower and gaming pavilion, and this sequence supports the late-2028 opening window while allowing for inspections at each milestone.
Industry reports indicate that phased delivery will begin with core gaming and hotel functions before additional restaurants and event venues come online in subsequent stages, which helps manage cash flow and operational ramp-up.
Economic and Community Context
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe has operated the existing Naskila Casino for several years, and the new resort represents an expansion that will increase both physical footprint and service offerings in Polk County, and local officials have participated in planning discussions that address infrastructure needs such as road access and emergency services.
Data from similar tribal projects in other regions shows employment gains during construction and operations phases, though specific hiring projections for this site have not yet been released publicly.
Integration With Existing Operations
Current Naskila Casino guests will continue to access gaming while construction proceeds on the adjacent resort property, and the tribe has indicated that transition plans will minimize disruption to ongoing business, and this approach mirrors strategies used by other tribal nations that have upgraded facilities without full closures.
Conclusion
The June 18, 2026 groundbreaking establishes a clear construction path for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe's largest gaming and hospitality project to date, and the 685,000-square-foot resort with its 3,400 machines and 366-room hotel is scheduled for phased openings beginning in late 2028, and the development rests on the legal foundation provided by the 2023 Supreme Court decision while extending the tribe's existing presence in Leggett, Texas.