MORE ATTEMPTS TO LIBERALISE GAMBLING IN TEXAS

16 March 2007

Rep. Menendez is not the only one who thinks it's time to embrace a more liberal gaming culture

InfoPowa recently reported on a proposed legalisation of poker Bill (HB3186) presented to the Texas state legislation by Rep. Jose Menendez, but still more liberalisation efforts are taking place in the Lone Star State, it appears.

Defying all (US political and enforcement) attempts to outlaw this great American game, its popularity continues to soar both domestically and around the world, but surprisingly few states have sensibly translated this popularity into legal poker and the concomitant taxation rewards. The coffers of states like Oklahoma, California and Connecticut have all benefited, for example.

Some estimates place the outflow of poker betting money from Texas as high as $2 billion, and last week other progressive politicians decided to do something about it. Supported by major gambling interests Senators John Carona, a Dallas Republican, and Rodney Ellis, a Houston Democrat introduced a change to the state constitution (SJR 45) and a bill, separate from the poker bill, to make Texas casino gambling resorts legal (SB 1359).

The senators say their plan would dedicate a billion dollars a year to a fund to pay for eligible Texans to attend a community college or public university. In addition to slowing the flow of gambling money leaving the state the sort of "destination resort casinos" the duo envisage will attract tourism money for related activities, like high-end entertainment.

The proposed constitutional amendment, if approved by Texas voters, would allow for 12 casino gambling sites: seven in urban areas, two along the Gulf coast and three on Indian reservations. It also would legalise video slot machines at horse and dog race tracks, with a gaming commission appointed by state leaders to decide in which cities casinos should be located and which developers receive permits to operate them.

Economists calculate that a billion-a-year trust fund could pay for college tuition for some 240 000 students once the program is fully running. It is estimated that it would also create up to 400 000 new jobs and generate $3 billion to $4.5 billion in state and local revenue.

Senator Ellis told reporters: "Texans are already voting with their feet and going out of state. It's time for Texas to reap the economic benefits and use that revenue to help Texas students go to college."

And in another initiative, Bill HB1405 seeks to introduce video slots at Texas race tracks and on Indian reservations. Presented by Democrat Rep. Ismael Flores, this proposal has been previously discussed with Senators Ellis and Carona.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa

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