Texas Casino Bill Introduced, Would Permit 12 Destination Resort Venues
Posted on: March 6, 2019, 01:00h.
Last updated on: March 6, 2019, 06:50h.
A Texas casino bill that would allow as many as 12 destination resort gaming venues to be built throughout the state has been introduced in Austin.
State Rep. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) – who authored House Bill 3043 – is calling on his political colleagues in the state capital to change their steadfast opposition to commercial casino gaming.
Things are going to change going forward. This state has to change,” Gutierrez told FOX 7 Austin. “We have to open up the discussion on gaming. We’re not asking for … casinos on every corner.”
The Democrat says Texas is losing billions of dollars annually to neighboring states where full-scale gambling with slot machines and table games is permitted. Louisiana is home to tribal and commercial casinos, while Oklahoma and New Mexico have Native American venues. And four commercial casinos were recently approved in Arkansas.
Texas is home to one Native American casino that offers slot machines: the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle.
Casino Proposal
HB 3043 doesn’t specify the precise cost each license would cost. Instead, Gutierrez’s legislation tasks the Texas Lottery Commission – which would oversee the liberalized gaming industry – with establishing “reasonable and necessary” fees to “cover the state’s costs incurred in the administration” of casinos.
Revenue from the issuance of licenses, renewals, and subsequent taxes would be earmarked for the state’s general revenue fund. It could therefore be used in the most appropriate manner needed, Gutierrez stated.
“We need to come up with taxing revenue that doesn’t come from raising folks’ property taxes,” he opined.
Even if the Republican-controlled legislature would pass the bill and it be signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott (R), each community where the casinos might be built would need to approve of the venues through voter referendums.
The odds of that happening are long at best. Abbott has opposed casinos since becoming governor in 2015.
Texas Climate
Gutierrez isn’t the only Texan who believes it’s time to end commercial casino prohibition in the Lone Star State. Late last year, Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont) unveiled legislation that would allow casino gambling to commence along the coastline.
House Bill 494 would direct subsequent revenues from the gaming expansion for “residual windstorm insurance coverage and catastrophic flooding assistance in the coastal areas.” Hurricane Harvey in 2017 caused an estimated $125 billion in damage.
The state funds the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association – which was hit hard by the natural disaster that was responsible for the deaths of more than 100 people.
Deshotel has been an advocate in expanding gambling in Texas for several years. Him and Gutierrez have uphill battles to overcome in gaining support. It’s not just casinos, but all forms of gambling many state lawmakers oppose.
Last May, the US Supreme Court ruled that the longstanding federal ban on sports betting violated the Constitution, and therefore gave power back to the states on the gambling activity. Seven states have since joined Nevada in allowing full-scale sports betting operations, but Texas is a longshot for inclusion.
That isn’t stopping Rep. Eddie Lucio III (D-Brownville). The Democrat introduced sports betting legislation last month to the House, but it continues to sit with the Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee.
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Last Comments ( 18 )
Dallas / ft. Worth has many illegal game rooms arabians making all that money , best casino money maker dallas / ft worth area. Hell Windstar casino make all their income from most.texas residents
In corpus christi we have all kinds of game rooms making all kinds of money,the city and state get nothing,Wife and i have to travel to Las Vegas or Louisiana to spend our money.
WE NEED CASINOS PERIOD
Texas should allow Casinos and it will really make Texas number one in the US. It will also help to fund the schools and other calamity instead of raising property tax to fund the school. The casinos makes so much money from Texans and could have been an income in Texas if we allow Casinos here...
Casino's are a great idea provided the revenue is handled properly. The argument that it would help schools is absurd though. Take Missouri for example. When Casino's started paying into the general revenue fund what happened is the state quit putting in the money that they always had. Lets say the state had always contributed 100,000 dollars per year to the school district. If the casino paid the school district 50 thousand dollars than the state would only pay 50 thousand. The schools didn't receive any extra money. If your gonna do this the General Revenue fund is not the place to put the money. As we are all aware, if there is a way for politicians to mess with funds they will.
I have 117 acres in Texas that is along a highway and perfect for a casino
Why put casinos only in urban areas. Hell allow for some to be sprinkled around rural areas that could use the revenues, plus rural areas have low priced land that could use a boost, why just put them in areas where there is already too much congestion, crime and high land prices. I know if I build one people will come especially if there are Rv hookups new hotel and other rural type recreation stuff to do, that promotes good stuff not adding to already crime riddled areas
We want Casino Gambling!! My husband and I gamble frequently in Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Mississippi. I didn't mention Eagle Pass as they are the Only casino, and a PURE Ripoff. Why not, No Competition. This is our "Fun Money. We lose, we win, we have FUN!!! We elect officials that speak for us, and it's time we, the True 90% that are gambling Elsewhere spoke UP!! We are Sick and Tired of driving a minimum of 5 Hours, then pay hotel, gas, and food. Guess what TEXAS, that money we spend is NOT going into TEXAS pockets, but rather Other States. Drive to the other states, and ALL you see is TEXAS plates. Does that tell you Anything?? STOP taxing US, when we are PAYING another states TAXES!! Legislators, DO YOUR JOB, or WE'll VOTE YOU OUT!
Do the research like other states have done. The numbers make sense! Revenue from gambling and keeping Texas dollars in Texas would allow us not to raise taxes from other means and avoid a State Income Tax. New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana are capitalizing on Austin ignorance. Let the people vote!
Rivers of Texas money are flowing to Okla. and Shreveport . I have written to Gov.Abbot several times regarding Texans desire to have Casinos in our State and got absolutely no response . Gov. Abbott got my votes in the past , but never again . We need to have something to defray unreasonable property taxation imposed on citizens by an out of control Appraisal Mafia !! We also should have a fair lotto in which numbers are drawn blindly by hand on TV and not by manipulated computers or by a possibly rigged ping pong ball machine . Texans must vote wisely !
We need to have casinos operating legally in Houston, texas--- PERIOD ! All the casino revenio of TEXANS is going into LOUISIANA..... So: PLEASE VOTE YES---FOR CASINO'S IN TEXAS... THX
The dollars that are brought in through the Texas lottery was promised for EDUCATION. Never happened. Why is it only Democrats that are submitting Bills for Casinos. I see not one R. Huum. Probably not a good idea. Why the Gulf Coast area. Stick them in the middle of San Antonio Houston Austin & Dfw. That about covers the state also those areas have infatructure hotels lodging and workforce. They have crime already so casinos shouldn't bother them.
Every state on our borders allow Casino gaming.If you walk the parking lot at Winstar or Choctaw 9 out of 10 cars have Texas plates.Its not like we could not use the money for our education if the money was allocated to that.Maybe teachers would not have to buy supplies themselves.Let the people vote on it.
1.) I believe that pockets are being lined somewhere in Austin like the slot machines are filled daily with hundred dollar bills at the 2 casinos north of the Red River. 2.) The hold off makes no sense. Dallas TX just in May 2019 had 41 killings - they did not report the # of robberies-drug arrests-DWI's - embezzlement crimes or rapes. This one city in one month & there is not a casino within 50 miles of downtown Dallas - maybe there would be less crime instead of more crime. 3.) I also say that 3 billion dollars a year does not touch the revenue amount that could be used for the education fund. However the revenue allocated should never be allowed to be in a "general" fund and it should not be controlled by the Texas Lottery Commission. I own and run a business. Every dollar coming is tracked & every dollar going out is accounted for. There are no "other" or "miscellaneous" entries in our system. Run the fund like a small business - common sense and accountability. Hire a small honest firm to handle the accounting & results will flow in like the hundreds of thousands of dollars flow in to the Oklahoma border casinos every month, for the past 15 years.
Why doesn’t Texas allow casinos, most the states residents gamble. Texas is losing revenue with border states that allow it . I know that Texans would vote for it, our legislators need to review this.