Texas Casino Gambling Defeated by Unified Opposition
The Texas legislative session is coming to a close without any of a myriad of expanded gambling bills advancing. While the numbers in favor of adding forms of legal gaming to the state may have been the majority, infighting, disorganization, and disciplined opposition caused bills seeking legal slots, casinos, poker rooms, and Indian gaming to fail.Gaming proponents used the potential revenue gain of taxed gambling as incentive to draw support from those on the fence about gaming. But the federal stimulus package solved much of the state's budget crisis, easing pressure to find new sources of income.
"We came into the session billions of dollars short. The stimulus pulled us out of dire straits," said state Representative Jose Menendez. "If we were cutting school budgets and not giving teachers raises, we would see a lot more willingness (to consider gambling bills)."
Once gambling became the hot topic in the Texas legislature, each gaming concern tried to advance its own bill and exclude the others. Thousands of lobbyists came to Austin, each arguing to grant their cause access to the golden goose while preventing others from sharing.
Horse racing officials wanted track slot machines, developers asked for casino projects, tribes wanted Native American casino rights, and poker rooms wanted to open legally. But cooperation among the feuding gaming lords was non-existent, as each pursued exclusivity, while opponents shot down each proposal in turn.
Menendez's poker bill is the last remaining piece of gambling legislation. But Menendez said this week he will withdraw it to avoid contentious debate, as Governor Rick Perry promises to veto it.
