Casinos and the Coushatta Reservation

Karla Y. Phelps, "The casino, Coushatta and Community: The road to riches or Road to Ruin?" Touchstone, vol. XIX (2000), 23-38.

This article by Karla Phelps examines the political-economic and social impact of the Grand casino Coushatta Coushatta reservation had on surrounding communities and Allen Parish. Phelps describes the state of stocks and Allen Parish before and after the opening game of the facility.

Historically,Allen Parish was a farming community, supported 357 operations in 1992. Some of the economic problems in the Parish of Allen has had a low per capita income and low sales tax revenue. Their infrastructure is in poor condition and had to repair any revenue for infrastructure. Allen Parish had the unemployment rate of 14.2% in 1994 and the Coushatta an unemployment rate of 50%, according to 1990 census high unemployment necessarily leads to dependence on welfare among the people and CoushattasAllen Parish.

This was the condition of the Coushatta tribe, and Allen Parish, when a developer Nebraska Coushattas negotiating with the casino to open the file. Under the Tribal-State Compact for the implementation of Class III gaming was approved by the Coushatta Tribal Council and the State of Louisiana, has acquired great country casino, gave Coushattas and began to put pressure on the U.S. government to give Add to this country in custody for the Coushatta tribe. After this was completed,started to build the Grand Casino Coushatta in 1993. Under the Tribal-State Compact, the Louisiana Coushatta to give a percentage of profits after the current six percent.

The casino has an economic boost for Allen Parish. For example, unemployment fell from 14.2% in 1994 to 5% in 1998. Although sales tax revenue by 70 percent after the opening of Grand Casino Coushatta increased. Property values around the casinohas increased significantly. The casino has also attracted more businesses in the area, such as hotels and restaurants. The casino has stimulated the growth of the population of Allen Parish, as many people to move there to take advantage of new job opportunities.

The Coushatta tribe receives 60 percent of revenue from casinos, in the first year of operation in 1995, a month was estimated at more than $ 20,000,000. Their growing wealth has to improve the Coushattastheir reserves in a variety of opportunities and invest in other business opportunities as a recreation center, a hotel and golf course.

The Coushatta reservation now has a multipurpose complex, which has a game room, weight room, gym, spa, and many other services. The Coushattas also built medical care, provide a medical center, housing units tribal members, and built new and repairing existing ones. Registered members of the Coushatta tribe received a per capitaThe casino profits pay for their own benefit; 'shares lower payments held in trust until the age of majority in.

The collaboration between Allen Parish Coushatta Tribe and the casino development is beneficial to all concerned. Allen Parish is now a popular tourist attraction that is growing in size and population. The casino has also brought economic prosperity and political power of the nation to Coushatta.