The state is fighting to shut down gaming facilities on these reservations.īoth tribes argued a ruling by the Supreme Court in 1987 involving the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and the state of California supports their claims. However, Texas argues it only allows charitable, not-for-profit bingo and the high-stakes, for-profit bingo offered on the reservations goes far beyond what the state allows. Essentially, the tribes argue since Texas does not outright ban bingo, they can operate gaming facilities that offer bingo on their reservations. The issue before the US Supreme Court was initiated by Ysleta and supported by Alabama-Coushatta. The Kickapoo reservation near Eagle Pass does not fall under the same law, which is why that tribal nation has been allowed to operate the Lucky Eagle casino. However, the Restoration Act contained a provision that barred these two tribal nations from conducting gambling activities that are prohibited by the state of Texas. These reservations are unique in that both were restored to federal trust status in 1987 under the “Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act”. The issue boils down to who has the authority to regulate gaming on these specific reservations.

Supreme Court has taken up a long-running legal dispute between the state of Texas and two Native American tribes: the Alabama-Coushatta tribe in Polk County and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribe near El Paso.

Naskila gaming casino