Texas Senate Joint Resolution 64:Curretn State Gaming Issues

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Senate Joint Resolution 643

Texas Gaming Association3

Legal Gaming4

Types and Statistics4

Illegal Gaming5-7

Types and Statistics5,6

Recent Events6,7

A Resolution?8-11

Supporters8,9

Opposition9,11

Gaming Support12-13

Education and Support Networks12,13

Summary and Conclusion14-15

References16-17

Texas Senate Joint Resolution 64: Current State Gaming Issues

Introduction

Senate Joint Resolution 64 proposes a “constitutional amendment providing immediate additional revenue for the state budget by creating the Texas Gaming Commission, and authorizing and regulating the operation of casino games and slot machines by a limited number of licensed operators and certain Indian tribes” (LegiScan, 2013). This proposal would open the state of Texas up to Vegas-style casinos and renew the state’s horse racing industry, but has delayed in a Senate committee and is currently pending approval or dismissal. Texas voters would be able to vote on the legalization of gambling statewide if the bill passes. The Texas Gaming Association predicts that more Texans are in favor of having Vegas-style casinos than are opposed.

According to the Texas Gaming Association (TGA), Texans are already gambling and mostly outside of Texas in states like Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The problem? Out-of-state gambling results in a loss of potential state revenue resulting from the taxation of casinos and gambling wins. These states are receiving an influx of out-of-state funding that helps to better their economy and improve their state. These are funds that Texas could use to support their communities, highways, schools, and other state relief programs but are going towards the betterment of states across the Texas border. It is estimated that Texans alone contribute millions of dollars to other states via the legal gambling circuit.

Legal Gambling Statistics

Some forms of gambling are legal in Texas and result in state earnings that...