Reply With Quote
Cool. Hope it passes.
Bill Introduced to Legalize Poker in Texas
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story...2-c90bf935b2b0
You could soon be able to play poker for real money in Texas bars. State Rep. Jose Menendez from San Antonio has introduced a bill that would regulate poker here. If passed, up to four poker tables would be allowed in certain bars or establishments.
“This legislation could raise over a billion dollars over the next biennium for state coffers while bringing the game out of legal limbo and into the light,” said Mike Lavigne, treasurer of the Texas Poker PAC. “Texas would finally be able to benefit from rise of Texas Hold’em”
Charity poker tournaments would also be legal. Supporters say it would raise moneys for state programs.
“Charitable poker means more Texans win,” said Lavigne. “Texas charities are losing out on millions of dollars due to the antiquated laws governing the game.”
Despite recent federal attempts to eliminate online poker, the game continues to grow in popularity worldwide. As poker related television programming continues to spread in popularity, so do the many new tournaments that attract tourists and visitors. States like California and Connecticut have long been reaping the benefits of the poker boom.
“We applaud Representative Menendez for taking the time to compile such a thorough piece of legislation,” said Lavigne. “This bill gives poker back to Texans and the state oversight over the millions of dollars already moving across Texas tables.”
Highlights of the bill:
4 live and/or electronic, raked tables allowed in each establishment that meets requirements
Lottery Commission decides how many tables are allowed in each racetrack
Charitable poker enabled
Mandatory dealer training and licensing (inexpensive)
Licensing for distributors of commercial poker equipment
Money raised will be dedicated to necessary state services
Criminal penalties for dishonest operators
Raises over a billion dollars for state services
Click here to see the bill
Cool. Hope it passes.
More from AP
Big resorts with full casinos, shops and restaurants could be built in up to a dozen Texas cities under legislation proposed Thursday by two high-profile senators and backed by major gambling interests.
Voters ultimately would have the say on the proposed cons utional amendment legalizing casino gambling.
A main selling point of the plan, the legislators contend, is a provision that would dedicate $1 billion per year to a fund to pay for eligible Texans to attend a community college or public university.
Sen. John Carona, a Dallas Republican, and Sen. Rodney Ellis, a Houston Democrat, sponsors of the legislation, both said they aren't gamblers themselves. But they said casinos in Texas would slow the flow of gambling money leaving the state. They also said "destination resort casinos" will attract tourism money for related activities, like high-end entertainment.
"Texans are already voting with their feet and going out of state," Ellis said. "It's time for Texas to reap the economic benefits and use that revenue to help Texas students go to college."
It hasn't been determined which cities would get the casinos. A gaming commission appointed by state leaders would decide which developers receive permits to operate them.
The Ellis-Caronaproposal would provide $1 billion per year for a trust fund to pay for college tuition covering about 240,000 students once the program is fully running. Details on who would qualify would be worked out by state officials, but roughly it would cover scholarships for the students who had a combined SAT score of 1,000 or above, said economist Ray Perryman, who conducted studies for the proposal.
Perryman said casino gambling would create up to 400,000 new jobs and generate $3 billion to $4.5 billion in state and local revenue.
Proponents say Texans already spend about $10 billion per year gambling, some of it in other states and some of it illegally in Texas through eight-liners and on the Internet.
The proposed cons utional 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 legalize video slot machines at horse and dog race tracks.
Opponents predict the casino legislation will go the same place similar bills have gone before -- nowhere.
"They just warm this baby up and roll it out every session," said Suzii Paynter, director of the Baptist lobby's Christian Life Commission. "Why would we go for such a bad deal?"
Paynter said the state would get a far lower return on casino gambling than it does on the state lottery and that, despite talk of tourism, casinos depend heavily on addicted gamblers and a large percentage of gamblers who come from within a 50-mile radius.
There's a stronger public relations effort associated with this gambling proposal and a new promise of college scholarships, said Paynter, but she expects there will be the same firm opposition in the Legislature seen in recent sessions.
"Texas doesn't need this. We have great economic development in our state, and we bring businesses to our state that are built on a family friendly business model," she said.
Ellis and Carona, along with the powerful Texas Gaming Association that backs their plan, said this is an opportunity to enhance Texas tourism and boost the state and local economies.
If the cons utional amendment is approved by statewide voters, local voters would also have to approve any casino project.
The key to success of casino gambling in Texas is doing it in a comprehensive fashion, said Jack Pratt of Dallas, a former hotel and casino developer who chairs the Texas Gaming Association.
"There's only one way to develop this business, and that is with large destination resorts," Pratt said. Those casinos would pull business away from neighboring states' casinos, he said.
Other gambling bills are also pending at the Capitol.
Legislation by Rep. Ismael "Kino" Flores, a Palmview Democrat, would allow video slots at Texas race tracks and on Indian reservations.
Ellis and Carona said they would be working closely with Flores. They said they would oppose a gambling measure that allows only video slot machines at tracks without establishing full resort casinos.
On Thursday, Rep. Jose Menendez, a San Antonio Democrat, filed legislation seeking to regulate poker in Texas. It would allow up to four live or electronic poker tables at establishments meeting certain requirements and would allow charitable poker.
Ellis to the rescue.
Sweet, no more illegal garage games
as long as big government gets it cut.....
good, maybe my retirement can end.
would you rather it be illegal?as long as big government gets it cut.....
Hope this passes and face rick perry passes it.
Damnit, if they legalize casinos they better not limit it to slots and poker. Give me table games too, please...
are you speaking of like blackjack and what not?they legalize casinos they better not limit it to slots and poker. Give me table games too, please...
Im a newbie to damn gambling.
I play craps all the time. It pisses me off that Winstar up in Oklahoma doesn't have table games, just poker and slots. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of dumbasses at the poker table to take advantage of, but you can play dice all night long if you know what you're doing.
Blackjack would be bueno too.
I understand that the resort casinos proposed by Ellis (and that other guy) are full casinos.
Do they say where these resort casinos are gonna be built?
I pray like, Seguin, or northeast of town.
I haven't read anything more specific than this in the article:
That would be 12 in all of Texas. I'm sure something wouldn't be far from here, if it happens.12 casino gambling sites -- seven in urban areas, two along the Gulf coast and three on Indian reservations
Even if they just put poker in bars (which is what the initial article is about) then that's okay with me.
Something on the coast, Ill assume Padre gets one, and Galveston.
Man.
Padre during spring break.
Casino, poker, blackjack, hotties in swimsuits.
Sheeeiiiiit.
The dang indian reservations though are way the and gone in the middle of no where.
Friggen Eagle pass......
Werd...dice is my game.
My favorite bet is pitting the law of probability VS the law of averages and chasing boxcars and snakeyes. Remind me to tell you my system sometime(if you tell me one of yours)...it requires a lot of patience though...and the willingness to be abused by the pitboss and crew while you are chasing. But once you win...the free room and food is nice.
We here at ST need to do our part to get this bill passed.. I love Lousiana but I hate having to go out of state to gamble... and since Louisiana got nuked going there isn't as much fun as it used to be(is it?).
As to the location of the casinos...
The Wynn Corporation and Harrah's Entertainment, and I think one or two others, have quietly bought a crap load of land in Dallas. One of my friends who's in commercial real estate told me there's like 5-6 companies that want to build in Dallas and will announce plans the day that casinos are legalized in Texas.
whott - I'd be interested to hear it. I've heard lots of strategies. Some are just fun for when you're drunk, some actually work.
Personally I learned how to set and throw dice. You can't call your shot every time, but you can certainly lower the percentages of crapping out. I had about a 20 minute roll in Vegas back in December, and watched some other guy who was really good roll for nearly 40 minutes.
Good times (and profits!).
I would also expect to see them built in Austin (gotta accommodate the politicians), SA (riverwalk casino would be nice), and Houston ( o oil money).
I just made a mess in my pants.
Do you guys realize how much money there is to be made at live poker games? It trumps the internet soooooooooooooooooooooo damn much. I can only hope this is true.
Well I think the one for legalizing money games in San Antonio bars has a good shot.
I haven't researched the one about full casinos throughout Texas enough yet.
But the one for money games in bars in cool enough for me.
Yeah - I would like full blown casinos as well, but I will take what I can get. It would make it so much easier for me with online being much tighter.
With the added revenue from this, they could STFU about toll roads.
Well I think the full blown casinos will happen eventually (within a couple years). But money at bar poker would be cool for now.
I don't imagine that the profits or taxes from a casino would go towards building roads jackass.
There should be a some sort of mega, but since there isn't, then the following will have to do:
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
