For the sixth straight Legislative session, a measure has been introduced for the 2015 Legislature that would allow casino gambling in Texas, Newsradio 1200 WOAI reports.
The measure, sponsored by State Rep. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) would establish a Texas Gaming Commission. It would allow casinos to be established as the commission sees fit on resort barrier islands like Galveston and South Padre Island, at existing pari-mutuel horse tracks, and in cities with populations of 675,000 or more, which would allow casinos in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, and El Paso.
But Rob Kohler, who is a lobbyist with the Christian Life Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, says casino gambling is an issue whose time has come…and gone.
"At the end of the day when the Legislature meets and considers this issue, we are confident that this legislature…like the previous legislatures, will determine this is not good for the people of Texas," he said.
Alvarado’s measure seeks to protect Indian tribes, who have been the biggest opponents of expanded gambling in the past, because they’re afraid casinos inmajor cities would dissuade people from traveling to Eagle Pass for the state’s only current operating casino.
Kohler says the current makeup of the Legislature, with a far larger concentration of movement conservatives, who think casino gambling is a bad investment, and evangelical Christian conservatives, who think it’s immoral, will kill the measure in committee, as has happened each of the times its been introduced before.
"One of the arguments you hear on this issue is ‘let the people vote’," Kohler said. "Well, the people did vote, they voted last week, and the people they sent to the House, the Senate, and elected as Governor are not people who think casino gambling would be a good idea."
Supporters of casinos in Texas say they would provide a lifeline to the struggling pari-mutuel racing industry, which is fighting agaisnt all inclusive gambling resorts in Louisiana and New Mexico. They point out that large numbers of Texans travel to Las Vegas every year to gamble there, and to benefit that state’s roads, schools, and other government projects.
But Kohler says there’s a big difference between taking a vacation a couple times a year in Las Vegas, and having a casino on your way home from work every evening.
"To fly to Las Vegas requires planning, getting a plane ticket, but when it’s right around the corner there is much more of a temptation for abuse," he said. "That’s not something we have in Texas right now, and we think that’s a good thing."
Kohler says the tide is running agaisnt expansion of gambling in general. He says there is a lot more support in the Legislature to abolish the Texas Lottery than there is to bring in casinos.
Replies:
Posted by: Dr Crapology on November 13, 2014, 1:20 am
In favor of gambling in Texas—it is simply that so much potential money is going to Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma. There are casinos in each of these states that are within 30 minutes of the Texas border. Go drive around in the parking garage in any of these locations and you will see that 85% of the auto license plates are Texas. Billions of Texan’s tax dollars are going to these states. Have gambling in Texas and these tax dollars would stay in Texas.
Against gambling in Texas—First, we love traveling to destinations that have gambling so having casinos in our home town might lower out desire for travel, although we could still go somewhere if we wanted. Secondly, should the idiots that we call politicians pass a law allowing gambling they would probably screw it up so bad that the public would not be able to find advantage play in games such as craps, BJ, video poker, etc. There would be 8 deck shoes with bad rules, VP bad pay schedules, ditto for the slot machines, etc.
Just our $.02 cents worth.
Rose and Doc
Posted by: TommyC on November 13, 2014, 2:45 pm
Posted by: Dr Crapology on November 14, 2014, 2:31 pm
Let’s take an example—blackjack that pays 6 to 5 for a natural in blackjack. Even with this terrible, terrible game people flock to the game. They are crowded whether it is a single deck, double deck or six deck game. The average player simply doesn’t know the difference or doesn’t seen to care. He just wants to play. Once had the opportunity to play next to a young woman who had been playing for several days and was losing her fanny. Said she had lost over $5,000 and that things had to change. She had just taken out another $2000 loan on her credit card. I found her stupidity very distracting and left the table.
I have talked to players in the past and their usual answer is something like "the 5/6 rule doesn’t make any difference since you hardly ever get a blackjack anyway."
I am always amazed how stupid some people can be when they play 6/5 blackjack, video poker with a bad pay schedule, or make high casino edge bets at craps. They have never read a book but simply play hunches and they are betting large sums of money.
Don’t ever forget these people vote.
Crazy.
Doc
