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Casinos in Texas

In the following piece, you will learn everything you need to know about casinos in Texas, including their legal status, a list of all casinos in Texas, the history of Texas casinos, and more.

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More so than almost any other state in the Union, the Lone Star State of Texas has continued to take a conservative approach when it comes to all things gambling; including casinos. As of early 2024, the state currently restricts casinos in Texas, as legislation has failed to pass time and time again.

Even when more liberal legislation does pass, there are federal-level Indian gaming laws that would have to be taken into consideration as well. In total, three U.S.-recognized tribes in Texas fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulations. Today, three casinos in Texas operate under Class II gaming restrictions, all of which are on Indian reservations throughout the state. 

Under the Class II gaming provisions, the casinos are only allowed to offer bingo-style slots and what are referred to as non-banked card games, such as poker. Let’s get more into the weeds of casinos in Texas, including where to find them.

Yes, there are legal casinos in Texas, but they are not the full-scale casinos that you can find in other states. Known as Texas Indian Casinos, there are currently three operating in the Lone Star State, all owned and operated by federally recognized Indian tribes.

The Tigua Indians, Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, and Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas all operate casinos spread throughout the state. As mentioned above, they are only allowed to offer bingo games and non-banked card games including many forms of poker.

While the state lawmakers in Texas have long pushed back against the Indian casinos in Texas, the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that they had no authority to prevent them from operating. In the end, they leaned on the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988 saying that each of the Texas tribes have self-jurisdiction when it comes to how they operate their casinos.

List of all casinos in Texas


There are three casinos in Texas operating today, each offering bingo-style slot machines, and one (Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino) offering poker. Let’s take a quick look at each of them, including exactly where to find them.

  • Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel
  • Speaking Rock Casino
  • Naskila Casino

Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel

Located in Maverick County, TX, Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel is owned and operated by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas. Just two hours from San Antonio, Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel is open 24 hours a day and features more than 15,000 square feet of gaming machines, bingo, and a 12-table poker room (the only one in the state).

For patrons who are visiting for more than just gambling, the property also includes a 250-room hotel room, TV park, and four restaurants. While the casino has been open for decades, the hotel opened in 2013 and offers more than 100,000 square feet of space.

  • Address: 7777 Lucky Eagle Drive, Eagle Pass, Texas 78852
  • Contact information: (888) 255-8259

Speaking Rock Casino

Owned and operated by the Tigua Indians of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, it officially opened its doors in 1993 before being closed down in 2013. Then, in 2014, the U.S. Interior Department ruled that Texas had illegally closed its doors, violating the National Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988. In 2016, the property re-opened with the addition of the Speaking Rock Entertainment Center.

Today, the Speaking Rock Casino operates with gaming machines and bingo, as well as an entertainment venue, two restaurants, and multiple bars. Speaking Rock Casino is a smoke-free facility that operates 24 hours a day and features outdoor concerts throughout the year.

  • Address: 122 S Old Pueblo Rd, El Paso, TX 79907
  • Contact information: 936-563-2946

Naskila Casino

Owned and operated by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the casino opened its doors in 2001 and has been a staple of the Livingston community ever since. With more than 30,000 square feet of gaming space, the Naskila Casino features more than 800 gaming machines that provide winnings from a player pool, not the horse, per Texas gaming laws.

Open 24 hours a day and 365 days per year, the Naskila Casino offers its players a smoking and non-smoking gaming area. For visitors of the property who don’t wish to gamble, the Naskila Casino also offers two restaurants, the Cafe Itto Si and Timbers Grille Restaurant. Bus service is available to the casino from Houston, Cleveland, and Baytown, TX.

  • Address: 540 State Park Rd 56, Livingston, TX 77351
  • Contact information: (915) 860-7777

Are any more casinos opening in Texas soon?

No, there are not currently any concrete plans for more casinos in Texas to open anytime soon. There is reason for optimism, however, when it comes to casinos in Texas’ future, as the family that owns Las Vegas Sands Casino and Resorts recently purchased the Dallas Mavericks from long-time owner Mark Cuban. 

It has been widely reported that the new majority owners in the NBA franchise may use their sway to push for gambling laws in the Lone Star State. Cuban, who has long pushed for gambling legislation in Texas, will still operate the team, and many expect the Pittsburgh native to continue his campaign for full-scale legal casinos in Texas. 

With a well-established casino owner and operator now at his disposal, many are hopeful for the Cuban-backed future of casinos opening in Texas in the not-too-distant future.

If plans are made for opening any casinos in Austin, casinos in Houston, or casinos in Dallas, we will also update this page.

History of land-based casinos in Texas

Though there are still no full-scale legal land-based casinos in Texas, that doesn’t mean the state doesn’t have a storied past in its quest for legislation. Let’s take a quick look at the history of land-based casinos in Texas up to this point.

  • 1987: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federally recognized Indian Tribes were able to have their own casinos that would fall outside of individual state jurisdiction.
  • 1988: As a product of the 1987 ruling, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was put into place for Indian reservations across the country to form, own, and operate their own casinos.
  • 1993: The Tigua Tribe of El Paso sidestepped Texas lawmakers to open their Speaking Rock Casino, beginning a more than decade in court battles over the legality of their operations.
  • 1996: After years of fighting in the Texas courts, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas opened the Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, TX, about two hours from San Antonio.
  • 2001: The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas opened Naskila Casino in Livingston, TX, closing its doors nine months later when the state said it violated the Indian Restoration Act of 1987.
  • 2008: The then-Texas Attorney General sued the Kickapoo Tribe, kicking off over a decade of legal battles for the casino to remain operational.
  • 2015: Naskila Casino reopened, as the U.S. Interior Department said it should have never closed its doors, overruling the state legislature of Texas in the process.
  • 2022: The U.S. Supreme Court again intervened, ruling that the tribe had the right to run their casino based on the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

FAQ

What games can I play at casinos in Texas?

While you can’t play any traditional card games such as blackjack or baccarat in Texas, you can play bingo-style slot machines and non-banked card games such as poker. It is worth noting that as of early 2024, Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino is the only casino in Texas that permits poker.

Why are there only 3 casinos in Texas?

There are only three casinos in Texas because the state has made it very difficult, and legally expensive, for casinos to operate in the state. Each of the three casinos in Texas has fought legal battles since they opened over their right to operate under Federal U.S. Indian Gaming Regulation.

Are there any casinos in Austin?

No, there are currently no casinos in Austin, TX. The closest casino to Austin is the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel in Eagle Pass, TX, which is 229 miles away.

Can I play online casino in Texas?

No, as of early 2024, the state of Texas has passed no legislation to legally allow for online casinos in Texas.