I was living in Louisiana when Louisiana Downs was built. They wanted to build it in Shreveport but they said they didn't want it. Bossier City said bring it on and it was built there. In a few years Bossier City had a new police dept.,new fire stations, a new civic center, and others. Shreveport decided they wanted some of the tax money. They were told they couldn't have it. When Louisiana okayed casinos Shreveport had one of the first ones. This is a lot like Texas and gambling. They want to build but Texas says no and surrounding states say bring it on we will take that Texas money. I wish there was a way to figure out how much tax money Texas would make off the money Texans spend in all the casinos in surrounding states. I know our schools and roads would be in better shape than they are now. If you don't like casinos and gambling Don't Go. i don't gamble but I'd love to see all that money stay in Texas.

Mainly because the the state has the only game in town, the state lottery and they don't want anything interfering with it. I guess it's not organized gambling if the state runs the game. There's still plenty of poker games to be found but there's always risk involved, collusion, cheating and the chance of getting robbed. Legal poker rooms eliminate that problem. The state won't allow on-line gambling yet if a person in TX wants to there are ways. Seems the state would rather spend millions keeping these things out of the state rather than make millions from it.

It's because the outside states are filling the pockets of the lobbyist, that's why it won't come on the ballet.

I have been on the fringes of politics, as a lobbyist, never a politician. I was told by a very knowledgeable Austin insider, that the last time it came up, lots of out of State $, was funneled in from Vegas buying political clout. East Texas Baptist churches, with "donations" from interested parties led the charge.

I do not have personal knowledge or experience but also have no reason to doubt my source.

I believe it was the writer Goethe that said "Only the Church can digest ill gotten gains.".

Louisiana is not exactly known for their quality schools and roads. I find it funny that the same people who say the politicians are the ones not allowing gambling in Texas think that the same politicians will spend money gained from gambling appropriately. And as far the comments earlier about Baptist or who ever forcing their views on someone else through laws it’s pretty is to flip that on the ones who want gambling forcing it on those that don’t. With all that being said I have been to Shreveport several times to the buffet at the horseshoe and would be in favor of that being closer.

Gambling is forced on nobody. Don’t like it? Don’t go. Pretty simple. What a retarded thing to say.

I was speaking more of the premise of the idea that religious people were forcing their ideals on someone through law not weather you are forced to gamble or not. But hey keep calling folks retarded it if makes you feel better.

I was taking a stab at the garbage you wrote. Proofread if you don’t want anything lost in translation. I’m still not sure what you’re trying to say. No surprise. Your reading is no better than your writing. I didn’t call anyone retarded.

How is that possible?

So if you say someone said something racist or sexist would you not be implying that they were those things? I will present a different example for you since you have trouble comprehending this one. I am not in favor of abortion and therefore I would not vote for it to become law that doesn’t mean that I am forcing that view point on someone else. Is this more understandable for you or do you need another example?

Give me another example.

Your English is improving, so that’s good.

No, it get's worse with each explanation. You want to try again?

Don’t discourage him. I want another example.

Texas needs to create a Las Vegas style area. Choose one centrally located county (along the I-35 or I-45 corridor maybe) and legalize gambling only within the county line. Tax the living hell out of them. Let the big money come in and develop it accordingly. That would localize the impact but keep the money in the state.

I mean I guess that would be a start but Austin would get it and that’s further than Oklahoma is for me

It would be closer for all of DFW to keep going to Oklahoma

Legalize it for all

Let each county vote on whether the voters of that county want legal gambling in their county.

I’m in

How to we get that to a vote?

I would be all for it. Much rather see the $$ stay here. Out of state casino lobbyist and online gaming lobbyist will fight against it, but Texas would be dumb not to allow it.

Texas already owns and controls the casino, it’s called the lottery...... they would be giving away market share they control IMO.....

I'm never sure about when to hold them and when to fold the.

I say make casino zones , 5 miles from the border , on every hiway that has a casino just across the line.
Let the state offer license on a bid basis. Ear Mark all fees and taxes to reduce property taxes.

Mo

Headed to Oklahoma on Sunday for three days after a five hour drive. Eagle Pass is only three hours away but no comps there. OK state is giving us free nights, free food and $200 free play. If Texas wants to keep the business here they will have to step up on the comps.

Yea that will work, let's punish them before they ever get started. How about they get taxed at the same rates any other business get's taxed? Let them pick the area's they want to build, you would probably need 6 to 8 full size casino's to handle Texas. I'd also like to see development as far as just poker rooms to handle allot of the outlying area's. Give the players a safe place to play.

Yep!

I agree w Hwy