Small Texas casino supports hundreds of families and generates hundreds of millions

Naskila entertainment is a small, all-slots casino in Polk County, Texas with an outsized impact on the local economy. In fact, it is actually an electronic bingo machine, but visitors feel like they are playing slot machines and most people would never tell the difference – similar to playing a Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) all in one huge casino in New York City.

The casino is operated by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas on their reservation near Livingston, about 75 miles north of Houston, a city of over two million people.

The facility pumped approximately $212 million directly and indirectly into the county’s economy in 2022, according to a report commissioned by the Texas Forest Country Partnership.

Casino generates over 800 permanent jobs

Austin-based TXP Inc., the economic analysis firm that conducted the study, reports that the facility is responsible for more than 800 permanent jobs, half of them in the casino, and a combined payroll of $22.5 million per year.

“This economic impact and these jobs simply would not exist without Naskila. With 95 percent of Naskila’s customers located outside of Polk County and more than 80 percent from outside the region, Naskila is an economic engine that benefits all stakeholders in the region“, says the study.

According to a report in Blue Bonnet News, the TXP study was winter 2023 the third the Texas Forest Country Partnership had commissioned the casino’s economic impact. The venue opened as 15,000 sq ft slot salon in 2016 and until recently had to fight to defend its operations as legal under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

Last summer, the US Supreme Court finally calmed overzealous Texas prosecutors on the matter when the court upheld the gaming center’s standing.

Steady increase in economic value

The first study, conducted in 2018, showed an economic impact of $140 million, rising to $170 million in 2020 and continuing to grow to the current $212 million identified in the current report Here, courtesy of the Liberty County News Agency. Overall, direct and indirect jobs have increased from 550 to 700 and eventually 825 found today, with almost half of them being part of the casino operations themselves.

Commenting on the study and its findings, Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Tribal Council Chair Ricky Sylestine said:We are grateful that our guests, our employees and our neighbors in Deep East Texas have helped Naskila Casino continue to grow its impact,” he said. “This facility helps preserve our tribe and our region.”

The average salary and benefits for a Naskila employee is $50,000, according to the report. Impacts include a variety of quality of life improvements for those employed directly or not in the area, with funding for scholarships and additional housing on the reserve, as well as a retail center, health clinic and daycare center.

“Naskila’s growing success bodes well for Polk Countysaid Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy. “Naskila attracts visitors to our region and provides stable income and benefits to its employees. We know that Naskila will continue to play an important role in the future of our county.”

Source: Study shows Naskila Casino brings $212 million to local economyBluebonnet News, March 13, 2023