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Is Texas Looking To Legalize Gambling?

C2H

By C2H
in General Houston Discussions

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C2H

C2H

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I'm not sure if this topic has already been brought up, so i apologize in advance if there's already a topic discussing this. I just came across this article, i know it's a little old, from Feb 2006 but is still in process for a decision by next year. Anyone heard of it or have insight?

Imagine if Texas did legalize gambling. Think about how millions of dollars would be generated to Texas from the tourism industry? Not to mention how many jobs that would create.

See article:

Texas Gaming Association plans push for casinos

Group, backed by out-of-state money, to sell gambling as tax alternative in Texas.

By W. Gardner Selby

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Backed by out-of-state gambling interests, a new group hopes to coax legislators to ask voters to legalize casinos in Texas as soon as next year.

The Texas Gaming Association, led by a Dallas businessman with casino roots, sports the slogan "Tax Us," purposely contrasting with various industries' resistance to higher taxes.

MORE ON THIS STORY

Excerpts from proposal to legalize casino gambling in Texas

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The association, which filed as a nonprofit group late last year, intends to level an economic development argument that has not previously excited lawmakers: It's wiser to authorize giant tourist-drawing casinos

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TheNiche

TheNiche

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I'm not sure if this topic has already been brought up, so i apologize in advance if there's already a topic discussing this. I just came across this article, i know it's a little old, from Feb 2006 but is still in process for a decision by next year. Anyone heard of it or have insight?

A friend of mine was waiting in the lobby of a title company earlier this year and evesdropped on Tilman Fertitta and his corporate entorage (sp*) as they were also waiting for assistance. They seemed to be strategizing on a peice of property in Galveston and were talking as though it were not a matter of IF gambling would come to the island, but WHEN. The discussion was island-specific, though. No indication that gambling would be a statewide thing.

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C2H

C2H

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tierwestah, TheNiche is right. Regulations can be site specific. I know here in Colorado, they won't allow gambling in the city but they allow gambling in small gambling depot cities that are about 1 hour away from the major cities.

I think coast cities like Galveston, Port Arthur, South Padre Island, and Corpus Christi all should have gambling. What would be cool is if they opened up a small depot on the Port Bolivar Strip. The only downside would be the congestion and overexhaustion the ferry boats would get. But would definitely be a great way to take tourism in the Galveston area to another level!

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Jeebus

Jeebus

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The reason the casinos are on the water in Louisiana is because their state laws were written that gambling could only occur on riverboats (with the exception of race tracks, Indian casinos, and Harrah's New Orleans). Originally, this meant actual riverboats like Lake Charles had would physically cast off and sail periodically.

When the 15th licence was given to Pinnacle for La Berge Du Lac, the law was ammended to allow Pinnacle to not have to conform to the riverboat design. This is why La Berge is laid out like the casinos in Biloxi, Mississippi and not like the state's other 13 riverboats.

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houstonfella

houstonfella

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Why in heaven's sake does gambling have to be on a boat? What's up with that type of legislation? Seems dumb to me. A slot machine works in Vegas, hey, it can work in College Station as well. I think Babtists [sic] have something to do with Texas not being able to gamble in their own state.

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RedScare

RedScare

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Why in heaven's sake does gambling have to be on a boat? What's up with that type of legislation? Seems dumb to me. A slot machine works in Vegas, hey, it can work in College Station as well. I think Babtists [sic] have something to do with Texas not being able to gamble in their own state.

The Baptists oppose the gambling, but their opposition is funded by competing casinos, such as Indian casinos and Lake Charles and Bossier City. Politics can make for strange bedfellows.

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FilioScotia

FilioScotia

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The Baptists oppose the gambling, but their opposition is funded by competing casinos, such as Indian casinos and Lake Charles and Bossier City. Politics can make for strange bedfellows.

Why does everybody always assume that it's the Baptists who're against all those things people want to do to have fun? It's not just Baptists. I think anybody with a lick of common sense knows that gambling casinos cause more problems than they solve.

Back when Donald Trump and others were working to get New Jersey to legalize casino gambling in Atlantic City, I remember all the promises they made about all the jobs and prosperity it would bring in. Go back today and ask the Atlantic City Council how they're doing. Casinos and luxury hotels line the beach fronts, but behind those fronts Atlantic City IS A SLUM. A corrupt crime-ridden poverty stricken slum.

Casinos have done nothing for that city or New Jersey but line the pockets of a few rich fatcats. New Orleans, LaFayette, Lake Charles, Gulfport and Biloxi have all had similar experiences with legalized casino gambling, and there's no reason to think it would be any different if it happened in Texas.

I don't want casinos in this state, and I'm not even a Baptist.

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J.A.S.O.N.

J.A.S.O.N.

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Why does everybody always assume that it's the Baptists who're against all those things people want to do to have fun? It's not just Baptists. I think anybody with a lick of common sense knows that gambling casinos cause more problems than they solve.

Back when Donald Trump and others were working to get New Jersey to allow legal casino gambling in Atlantic City, I remember all the promises they made about what it would do for that city and the state. Go back today and ask how they're doing. The casinos and luxury hotels line the beach fronts, but behind those fronts Atlantic City IS A SLUM.

Casinos have done nothing for the state of New Jersey except line the pockets of a few rich fatcats. New Orleans has had a similar experience, and there's no reason to think it would be any different if it happened in Texas.

Is the same true of Lake Charles and Biloxi?

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RedScare

RedScare

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Pretty much. The casinos do provide jobs, but nowhere enough jobs to live up to the hype the casino owners were spreading around.

Perhaps you should listen to the story on NPR this morning about Biloxi. They takl as if the casinos are singlehandedly saving the town from ruin. And, they are building more. They expect 22 within several years. Granted, these are service industry jobs, but Biloxi is a town very similar to Galveston. Both rely heavily on tourism and the service industry.

Studies show 3.2 million Texans go to casinos an average of 4 times a year. Casinos are not the mob run enterprises they used to be. Polls show that more Texans approve of casinos than oppose them (and amazingly, oppose Video Poker). Claiming that they are not as much a panacea as touted is a far cry from saying that they do not pump money and taxes into the economy and treasury.

If Galvestonians want casinos, I don't see why blue hairs in Abilene should tell them 'No'. That is what local option elections are for.

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musicman

musicman

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If Galvestonians want casinos, I don't see why blue hairs in Abilene should tell them 'No'. That is what local option elections are for.

Gambling is a state issue not a local one at this point because the state doesn't allow it period.

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RedScare

RedScare

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Gambling is a state issue not a local one at this point because the state doesn't allow it period.

Thank you for the political science lesson. Currently, gambling is prohibited by the Texas Constitution. Most state gambling statutes do not open up the entire state to gambling. Once approved by the voters statewide, local option elections can be held in those communities that the statewide vote legalized, usually tourist areas, like Galveston, Corpus and South Padre.

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TJones

TJones

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I personally feel that a serious referendum on it hasn't come before the state because the lawmakers haven't figured out HOW exactly they are gonna get their piece of the pie without anyone finding out. Once they do that, then Galveston will be ready to rock and roll, and the Dallas reservoir will probably get some boats also. There is a Casino already in Livingston on tribal land, but again, they weren't kicking into the state so they got shutdown.

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musicman

musicman

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Thank you for the political science lesson. Currently, gambling is prohibited by the Texas Constitution. Most state gambling statutes do not open up the entire state to gambling. Once approved by the voters statewide, local option elections can be held in those communities that the statewide vote legalized, usually tourist areas, like Galveston, Corpus and South Padre.

agree 100%

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houstonfella

houstonfella

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Because Baptist are evil. Seriously Evil.

Yeah, remember the Baptist joke: Why don't Baptists screw standing up? Cuz people will think they are dancing. :lol::lol: Strange thing is, one day at a casino in Lake Charles, I saw one of the deacons of the local Baptist church in my area of town (which I don't frequent but know the fella cause I live next to him) ... see .... they do things, but only when they think they are being secretive. But, hey, Baptists have to be Baptists I guess. Yuck. Call me lots of things, but not a Baptist. ;)

P.S. Why can't we have casino gambling in Texas? We can ease down to the dog track and waste money gambling; ease up to the horse track and do the same; walk over to the convenience store and pick up lottery tickets .... isn't this gambling??? Something ain't right in Texas. I'll blame it on the Baptists. :lol:

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TJones

TJones

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Well, HF, you can always go to a "Lucky 7's" parlor, and play some slots.

btw, I am convinced that there is a "secret" gaming parlor on the corner of Kingsland and 99. One of those "blacked out windows" joints, that still show a for lease sign in the window. Way to many cars parked out front for everyone to be at the Dry Cleaners next door at 10pm.

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Jeebus

Jeebus

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Is the same true of Lake Charles and Biloxi?
Pretty much. The casinos do provide jobs, but nowhere enough jobs to live up to the hype the casino owners were spreading around.

I would do a little more research before throwing out such broad ecomomically based answers. The Lake Charles regoin's two biggest employers are the industrial plants & casinos. In the past 12 years that there has been gambling in Lake Charles (and surrounding communities with Coushatta & Delta Downs), there has been no decline in the area in any facet. All I've personally seen is growth & improvement - both commercially and residential.

I think gambling for the South Padre & and Galveston region would greatly improve tourism for Texas.

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TheNiche

TheNiche

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Yeah, remember the Baptist joke: Why don't Baptists screw standing up? Cuz people will think they are dancing. :lol::lol: Strange thing is, one day at a casino in Lake Charles, I saw one of the deacons of the local Baptist church in my area of town (which I don't frequent but know the fella cause I live next to him) ... see .... they do things, but only when they think they are being secretive. But, hey, Baptists have to be Baptists I guess. Yuck. Call me lots of things, but not a Baptist. ;)

Yeah, I've got an uncle within a vastly large extended family that is a lawyer, baptist, sunday school teacher, and a nudist. That combination, weird though it may be, doesn't much concern me...but he's also got the word "family" engraved, embossed, carved, or sewn into just about ever part of his home's decorum...sickens me.

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houstonfella

houstonfella

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The good news is that we have great casinos a couple of hours to the East in Lake Charles. The bad news is we don't get revenue. How about installing slot machines or video poker machines at the dog track and horse track? That would be too much like right. Oh yeah, too much like right. :closedeyes:

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