They argued that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act granted them the ability to apply for a class 3 license. The Tigua Indian tribe attempted to expand to table games like poker and blackjack. At first, it was based on bingo- it was and still is legal to bet on bingo games, so that formed the basis for the casino’s games. The Tigua were the first to attempt running a casino. All three have opened casinos, but only Lucky Eagle, which the Kickapoo operate, survives. The state of Texas has three Indian tribes: the Kickapoo, the Tigua, and the Alabama-Coushatta.

The US government passed a law called the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in the 1980s, which allowed Indian tribes to operate any kind of gambling device or game that was legal in the state in which they wanted to do business.

I think you'll be glad you did.The history of Indian casinos in Texas illustrates the tight control state law has over the gaming industry. East Texas is gorgeous just about any time of the year, so if you're looking for somewhere to camp that's unique and secluded, try the Lake Tombigbee Campground. The campground is just a few miles from the new Naskila Casino, which is near the reservation entrance and is also a lot of fun.

Located about 17 miles east of the lovely little town of Livingston, the reservation itself is clean and well laid out. The lake is small and intimate - absolutely beautiful - and you can rent paddle boats, weather permitting. If you call a week in advance, you can also rent a teepee that will accommodate up to 6 people. (Now, with all the big rigs, fifth-wheels and tow vehicles cluttering up a campground, it's very hard to find anyplace that gives you that 'roughing it' feeling without actually being primitive, but the Lake Tombigbee Campground does it.) There are cabins (from $40 to $110 per day), primitive sites for tent camping ($15 per day), pull-thru's for the really big rigs with slide-outs ($30 per day), and even sites on an asphalt parking lot if you need a completely level area near a dump station. When we visited, the weather was lousy so there were very few campers, but the lush pines, dogwood and shrubbery surrounding each site reminded me of my childhood camping days. This is a beautiful place to stay on Texas' oldest Indian reservation.

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