Alabama-Coushatta Tribe Advances Naskila Resort & Casino Plans with Dual Architectural Partnerships
2026-07-15
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas is developing a major casino resort on its reservation, with phases opening in late 2028 featuring 3,400 electronic bingo machines and a 366-room hotel, and has worked with both FFK.R and JCJ Architecture at different stages.
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas is moving forward with a major casino-resort development on its reservation, a project that has drawn interest from two different architectural firms according to separate announcements.
Project Details
The tribe originally announced its intentions in April 2024, stating it had engaged FFK.R to design the new destination. However, more recent reports indicate the tribe has since partnered with JCJ Architecture, a firm with experience on large-scale projects such as Foxwoods Casino Resort and Caesars New Orleans. The resort is being built in phases, with an initial opening slated for late 2028 that will include a gaming floor with 3,400 electronic bingo machines, bars, restaurants, and conference space. Once fully complete, the property will feature a multi-story 366-room hotel, a resort-style pool complex, event space, and a grand ballroom, positioning it as Texas’s largest casino resort.
The tribe also plans an extensive remodel of its existing Ischoopa/One Stop Convenience Store and Truck Stop, which will add electronic bingo machines to that location.
Economic and Cultural Significance
Ricky Sylestine, Tribal Council Chairman, said the new resort "will not only provide significant economic benefits for those living and working in the region, but it will also become a vibrant destination for visitors." The tribe held a groundbreaking ceremony attended by state and local elected officials who praised the project’s economic impact. JCJ Architecture has indicated the resort’s interior design will reflect “themes of connection and resilience,” inspired by the tribe’s journey to independence.
Legal and Regulatory Landscape
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe faced years of legal battles before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state lawmakers could not impose regulations on reservation gaming. The tribe is now one of three federally recognized reservations in Texas that operate casinos and electronic bingo machines. Texas law still forbids tribes from offering blackjack, poker, slot machines, and other house games.
In a separate development, the Texas Attorney General issued an opinion in June distinguishing skill-based amusement games from machines that combine elements of chance and skill, a clarification that could affect the broader gaming environment in the state.
It remains unclear whether the tribe’s existing Naskila Casino in Livingston will continue to operate once the new resort debuts.