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Kickapoos hope luck improves with casino opening

Friday, Oct. 29, 2004 | 10:58 a.m.

EAGLE PASS, Texas -- The Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino held its grand opening ceremonies this week for a new facility three times the size of the casino it replaced.

The choice of Thursday as the grand opening date was no accident: Two years ago on Oct. 28 the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas ousted tribal chairman Raul Garza, along with four other leaders and casino manager Isidro Garza, accusing them of fiscal mismanagement and neglecting tribal needs.

The opening was at least three years overdue, and the previous administration ran up a $20 million debt before leaving, said Juan Garza, the current tribal chairman.

The tribe is fighting to upgrade its federal license from a Class II to a Class III, which would allow roulette, craps, and higher-stakes card games.

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