Online Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Texas Gambling
An unscientific poll taken by a local newspaper resulted in a wave of online voters exclaiming their approval for gambling in Texas. The Weatherford Democrat asked Internet readers whether the state should license casinos and gambling, and more than seventy percent said yes.
Texas legislators are advancing a bill that would license twelve casinos throughout the state. Revenues created would fund education and help recovery in the historic town of Galveston from hurricane damage.
Texas politicians have reversed their stances on gambling this year. With public money hard to come by, lawmakers say they are sick of seeing revenue flow across state borders to legal casinos in Louisiana and Oklahoma.
Indian tribes in the state are also pushing for the legislation. Casinos run by tribes were shut down, and will not be able to reopen unless state law changes to permit gambling at a location within the state.
“I think Texans spend way too much money in Louisiana and Nevada and other states that allow gambling,” said state Representative Carol Alvarado. “Texans like to gamble. It think it ought to stay in Texas."
