This page contains archived news updates for Texas Casinos from 2025. These items were originally posted on the casino's profile page and have been preserved here as part of the 500 Nations legacy news archive. Major stories from this year may also appear as standalone articles in the main News section.
Choctaw Nation positioning for Texas sportsbook possibility
January 4, 2025
The Choctaw Nation is expanding its brand recognition and sports partnerships in Texas to position itself for a sports betting license if legalized by the Texas legislature in 2025. The legislature is expected to consider sports betting legislation in 2025. If passed and signed by the governor, Texas could become the largest sports betting market in the US with up to $32 billion in annual betting.
Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is promoting its brand in Texas by partnering with several Texas sports teams and stadiums. They are the Official and Exclusive Casino and Resort of the Texas Rangers and are partnered with the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars. The Globe Life Park, where the Arlington Renegades play, is rebranded as Choctaw Stadium.
Next month Choctaw Casinos & Resorts will be the official casino and resort partner of the Dallas Open. The Choctaw brand will be displayed throughout Ford Center at The Star in Frisco from February 1-9, 2025.
"Partnering with the Dallas Open, the region's premier tennis event, allows us to further showcase the elevated Choctaw experience. We are proud to bring our premium hospitality offering to tennis fans and strengthen our presence in North Texas sports and entertainment."
- Heidi Grant, Sr. Exec. Officer Choctaw Nation
Last year Choctaw Nation signed sportsbook partnership with Kambi Group. The deal provides Choctaw Nation with a turnkey sportsbook platform for both online and retail sports betting. The terms are nationwide and long-term.
Choctaw Nation is the third-largest tribe in our country. The Choctaw own four casino resorts, fouor casinos, and one travel plaza casino. All are located in Oklahoma. The largest is Choctaw Casino & Resort - Durant, located 90 miles north of Dallas. Their other casinos are:
Next week the Texas legislature will convene and new sports betting bills will be introduced. If sports betting is legalized this year or in the near future, Choctaw Nation is well-positioned to compete for a sportsbook license.
While on the campaign trail in North Texas, Governor Greg Abbott was interviewed by CBS about his position on casino gambling. The governor was clear that he is not ready to endorse casino legalization to allow Texas voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution any change the current law.
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Abbott cautious on casino gambling push in Texas - Courtesy of CBS TEXAS, Dec 5, 2025. Available from YouTube
Gov. Abbott explained he is cautious about casino gambling due to the addiction risks, the impact on Texas communities, and potential issues with sports betting.
How many legally-approved casinos are operating in Texas today? There are three! Although Texas law strictly prohibits casino gambling, there are exceptions under federal law for gambling on Native American lands.
Tribes can operate "Class II" casinos under the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 if approved by the U.S. Department of Interior. Class II gaming includes electronic bingo-based slot machines, where jackpots are paid from a player pool rather that by the house.
Texas has three federally-approved casinos operating 24 hours everyday:
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle is the largest casino in Texas.
This casino is 200,000 square feet and open 24 hours daily. There are 3,300 slot machines, 60 table games, a poker room with 12 tables, bingo, hotel with 240 rooms, RV park and a conference center.
Naskila Casino 333 State Park Road 56 Livingston, Texas 77351 936.563.2WIN | 936.563.2946
Naskila Casino is a 30,000 sq-ft casino and open 24 hours daily. There are 900 slot machines, restaurants, and the nearby Ischoopa Travel Center & Casino
Future Naskila Casino Resort - Naskila Casino will be relocating to Leggett, Texas about 80+ miles north of Houston. This new property will be a destination resort with a larger casino, more slot machines and table games, multiple restaurants, hotel, entertainment venues, and family-friendly facilities.
Speaking Rock Casino is 70,000 square-feet and open 24 hours daily. It features 150 slot machines, bingo, an outdoor concert venue, Sidewalk Cafe, and the Spirit Garden Bar.
Recent TV ads are urging Texas lawmakers to "let Texans vote on destination resorts." The ads seek support for a constitutional amendment to allow the destination resorts with casinos, entertainment venues and luxury hotels in selected cities. The sponsor of these ads is the Texas Destination Resort Alliance (TDRA).
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What is the Texas Destination Resort Alliance? | The PAC behind the 'destination resorts' ads - Courtesy of KVUE, Jan 31, 2025. Available from YouTube
The Texas Destination Resort Alliance (TDRA) is primarily a Political Action Committee (PAC) backed by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. The PAC is working to create a broad coalition of voters and lawmakers to support a constitutional amendment to allow casino gambling if Texas voters approve.
Miriam Aldison is the widow of Sheldon Adelson and the controlling shareholder of Las Vegas Sands Corporation. She has donated millions of dollars to Texas political campaigns in recent years. Last year her family bought the Dallas Mavericks, which raised speculation that she would actively pursue a casino opportunity in Dallas, and perhaps other Texas cities.
In this year's legislative session, State Senator Carol Alvarado (Houston) has filed Senate Joint Resolution 16, which would create a constitutional amendment allowing Texas voters to decide whether to approve casinos. The bill supports the strategy of Miriam Aldison's casino objectives. There will be fierce opposition to the measure, and the outcome is uncertain before the regular legislative session ends in June.
Texas gambling laws will be significantly altered if either of two 2025 bills are passed by the Texas legislature this year.
House Joint Resolution 134 (HJR 134) seeks an amendment to the Texas Constitution that will allow regulated sports betting.
House Joint Resolution 137 (HJR 137) seeks to legalize both sports betting and casino gambling. HJR 137 would allow up to ten casino licenses and also upgrade tribal casinos to Vegas-style gaming.
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Special report: Both sides weigh in on bringing casino gambling to Texas - Courtesy of KFDM YouTube, Feb 10, 2025. Available from YouTube
EXISTING TEXAS CASINOS Today there are five Texas gambling facilities operating on Native American tribal lands. The two largest are the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, which is operated by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, and the Naskila Casino in Livingston, Texas, operated by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas.
These two casino are authorized by the federal government to operate Class II slot machines and table games because they are built on tribal reservations. These lands have sovereignty over local and state gambling laws.
STATS: TWO TRIBAL CASINOS IN TEXAS
JOBS: 21,316
ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT: $4.8 BILLION
ANNUAL TAX IMPACT: $483 MILLION
These statistics are impressive and represent only a small fraction of what is expected if Texas legalizes casinos and sports betting.
Texas lawmakers will soon consider several bills for state-legalization of sports betting and casino gambling. The Texas Senate and House of Representative will convene on January 14, 2025 and continue in session until June 2, 2025.
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Sports betting advocates push ahead for next Texas legislative session - Courtesy of CBS Austin, Dec 30, 2024. Available from YouTube
The major advocacy group for 2025 sportsbook legislation is the Texas Sports Betting Alliance. This group includes these partners:
Sports teams: Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Ouston Texans, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Austin FC, FC Dallas
Sports leagues: NFL, MLB, NBA, PGA Tour
Racetracks: Lone Star Park (Grand Prairie), Sam Houston Race Park (Houston), Retama Park (Selma, near San Antonio)
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