Casino report, Eagle Pass, TX

[LeanAndMean]

On Friday my husband and I decided to go see the casino at Eagle Pass, the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle. We live in Georgetown, Tx, and the google gizmo Jerry checked said it was 3 1/2 hours away. Close enough for a day trip. Hah. It took us 5 hours, that is ten hours in the car for a couple of old geezers.

The casino was larger than we expected. The main area was visually unappealing to me, very dark, and it smelled bad, ventilation was not good. But it was the poker room we were interested in.

Wow! Very nice! It was closed off from the main casino by double doors, thus keeping out the odor. Ventilation was fine in the poker room, and no smoking is a real plus to us. The bathrooms were right outside of the door, so quick access to pottys. (old geezer plus there) There was a free drink station in the room, with soft drinks and coffee. Alcoholic drinks were delivered by servers and are NOT complimentary. Comps were accrued at the rate of 50 cents an hour, one would starve waiting for a free meal. Chairs were very comfortable. Games available when we arrived were one no limit table and two 3/6 limit games. We are limit players.

The best thing about this poker room was the quality of play. I doubt that any player had ever read a poker book. They raised with any A. Then bet it all the way to the river whether it hit or not!! Same with any pair. They would call with stuff like 3 4 off suit, and think they were genius to win with a pair of 4s. We only played for four hours, because we were facing that 5 hour drive back home. But we both were winners, $245 between us. I'd love to go back and stay for several days, but at 50 cents an hour, the rooms will never be comped. So all our profit would go to room and food.

With Kinder La just 6 hours away, with free rooms and food, We will probably never again enjoy the easy money opportunities at Eagle Pass.

 

[A2345Razz]

I didn't know there were any legal gambling establishments in Tx....

When did this happen?

Anyway, nice 41 BB upswing for the old roll....3/6 seems kinda unbeatable at times unless the players are as bad as decribed...that rake will eat you alive.

 

[LeanAndMean]

I didn't know there were any legal gambling establishments in Tx....

When did this happen?

Anyway, nice 41 BB upswing for the old roll....3/6 seems kinda unbeatable at times unless the players are as bad as decribed...that rake will eat you alive.

Not sure when it happened. We'd been hearing for years that an Indian Tribe had built this casino, but we were skeptical, since the Indians in East Texas had tried and been shot down by the government. We expected a smokey crummy room, were amazed that it was a big nice casino. It is in the middle of nowhere. No signs directing you to the place. We had to stop and ask where it was. I wish it were closer to us. They have a bad beat, A/K FH beat. it is over $100,000. But no comped rooms would eat up our profit unless we hit the BB.

 

[Ahrimangate]

Kicka-Pooch

Has been in operation for well over 10 yrs.

FYI If you are in the greater Austin area, consider joining our League or playing in our stand up events.

you can text me at 512.919.9PPA

or Visit us here:
:deal:
http://www.homepokertour.com/clubhome.php?clubid=5811

Flyer attached

 

[LeanAndMean]

You sound knowledgeable, do you know why the tribes in East Texas have not been able to do the same thing?

 

[LeanAndMean]

Checked out your site, are you only tournament play? I do lousy in tournaments. Prefer fixed limit ring games, but thanks for the reply

 

[Ahrimangate]

Tournament Play only... And Kickapoo info

Yes we are NLHE tournament play only. We sometimes have a cash game once players are knocked out. I understand your preference, however you may want to give us a try... You might like it.

I am the Former North Texas Director of the PPA (www.theppa.org ) so I am -or was- pretty up to speed on Texas Poker.

On the Kickapoo issue:
The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas operates the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass. Texas's two other federally recognized tribes, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (the Tigua tribe) and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, each previously operated a casino, but both were closed in 2002 by court order.[24] The fight was later brought into the national spotlight by the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal.

In the 1980s, court decisions and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) established the rights of Indian tribes to operate any kind of gambling permitted elsewhere in the state. Taking advantage of the legality of bingo in Texas, the Tiguas opened their Speaking Rock high-stakes bingo hall in 1993.[25] Over the following year, its offerings expanded to include poker[26] and "Tigua 21", a non-banking variant of blackjack.[27] The Tiguas sought a compact with the state under the IGRA to allow casino-style, or "class 3" gaming, citing the state's acceptance of a lottery and parimutuel betting, but the state refused to negotiate.[28] Courts sided with Texas, ruling that the Restoration Act that gave federal recognition to the Tiguas and Alabama-Coushatta in 1987 specifically forbade gambling, and took precedence over the IGRA.[29]

Despite the ruling, neither federal nor state authorities tried to close the casino,[30] and the tribe expanded operations further by adding slot machines in 1996.[31] Republican Governor George W. Bush asked Attorney General Dan Morales in 1998 to take legal action, but Morales, a Democrat, said that responsibility laid with local and federal officials.[30][32] Morales was succeeded in 1999, however, by Republican John Cornyn, who proceeded with a federal lawsuit against the tribe.[33] The suit was successful, and the Speaking Rock Casino closed its doors in February 2002.[34]

The Kickapoo casino opened in 1996, offering bingo, poker, its own blackjack variant, and electronic pull-tab dispensers designed to look and operate like slot machines.[35] Bush questioned the legality of these "Lucky Tab II" machines at the same time as he was pushing for action against the Tigua casino, so the tribe filed a preemptive lawsuit,[36] and won a ruling that they qualified as class 2 devices.[37] The original facility, constructed of modular buildings, was replaced in October 2004 with a new 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) casino and an arena.[38]

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe had voted against gambling operations in 1994 on moral grounds,[39] but it reversed that decision in 1999 after seeing the success of the Grand Casino Coushatta, run by a related tribe in Louisiana.[40] The tribe opened its "Entertainment Center" in November 2001,[41] with slots, blackjack, and poker,[42] even as the Tiguas were appealing their loss in court.[43] Cornyn filed suit against the Alabama-Coushatta two months later, citing the Restoration Act.[44] Courts sided with Cornyn, and the casino was closed in July 2002.[45]

 

[LeanAndMean]

Thank you for this concise, informative, article. You explain why the Eastern tribes did not prevail in the casino attempts. But not why Texas has not gone after the Lucky Eagle. Could I read between the lines and speculate that the reason Texas has not come down hard on the Kickapoo Casino is that it is too far from Louisiana and new mexico gambling interests for lobbying money to put pressure on legislators?

And I hope that all poker players are Democrats.

 

[Ahrimangate]

L&M

I can only offer conjecture. You may be correct on the assumption of location, however the root of the judicial, legislative and executive branches revolve around $ ...

Some thoughts are:
1) The federal treaty with KP tribe.
2) Funding of certain political organizations.
3) Location to neighboring country
4) Governor and AG at the time. (DA/AG select what they can win)
5) Is the entity a "CLUB" or true business in operation. (you and I could open a Poker CLUB in Georgetown and WILCO could do nothing. We charge a membership sell food and drinks and host poker).

In short, these or a combination of them are what is preventing KP from being "under the Gun". Texas is not willing to go "all in" with KP.

 

[Ahrimangate]

Here you go: Dallas News From 2013

In short, when those other 2 tribes were federally recognized, the treaty stated they would not pursue gaming or casinos. I find it odd that Texas had to sue. Cornyn (a real horses hind end and a cow patty of a Senator, and yes I am a Republican) took them to court and won.

The Kicka-Poo Treaty on the other hand, had no such stipulations on gaming.

Any other Q's feel free to post.

TIM
Director APA :deal:

 

[Ahrimangate]

Thank you for this concise, informative, article. You explain why the Eastern tribes did not prevail in the casino attempts. But not why Texas has not gone after the Lucky Eagle. Could I read between the lines and speculate that the reason Texas has not come down hard on the Kickapoo Casino is that it is too far from Louisiana and new Mexico gambling interests for lobbying money to put pressure on legislators?

And I hope that all poker players are Democrats.

Here you go: Dallas News From 2013

In short, when those other 2 tribes were federally recognized, the treaty stated they would not pursue gaming or casinos. I find it odd that Texas had to sue. Cornyn (a real horses hind end and a cow patty of a Senator, and yes I am a Republican) took them to court and won.

The Kicka-Poo Treaty on the other hand, had no such stipulations on gaming.

Any other Q's feel free to post. and read my other reply below.

TIM
Director APA :deal: