Supporters Make Effort To Bring Casinos To Texas

          Most gamblers and bettors from Texas go to Louisiana, Oklahoma or New Mexico to satisfy their gambling and betting urges. In future they may not have to do this. Proponents of gambling are now trying to get casinos to Texas. Their argument – casinos will help to pay for important services and education in the state.

          Texas is gearing up for a fight between supporter and anti gambling bloc. However, Gov Rick Perry thinks it would be difficult to get casinos to Texas because as the anti-gambling supporters would shoot down any proposal.

          However, Texas Gaming Association feels that casinos should be allowed in Texas as there is already a form of gambling with the state lottery and racetracks. They also have a proposal which will give a certain percentage of the casino proceeds for college scholarships which is modeled after similar plans in other states in the US which have casinos.

          Casino supporters feel that allowing casinos in Texas would create thousands of jobs and bring about an economic boom in the state. However, Rep. Linda Harper-Brown does not feel casinos would stand to their words. She pointed out the statistics from Louisiana’s state budget that shows casino gambling gave less money than promised and this was true even before Hurricane Katrina.

          In the past Baptists and many members from the Texas senate have shot down any proposal for expansion of gambling in Texas. Therefore, now with battle lines clearly drawn, it would be interesting to see who wins the fight.