A craps shoot to get gambling in Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Gambling lobbyists threw the dice and came out winners for round one of making casinos legal in Texas. Behind their bill to allow a certain number of destination resort casinos to come to the Lone Star State are some heavy hitting legislators: Rep. Jim Pitts, Sen. John Carona, Rep. Jose Menendez and Sen. Rodney Ellis.

"Surveys show that over 68 percent of Texans support legalizing casino gambling," said Ellis.

Ellis was referring to a poll conducted by Wilson Research Strategies. The poll shows a majority of Texans in every part of the state support destination resort casinos. However, in order for those casinos to become a reality, a super majority in both the House and Senate need to agree to allow voters to make the ultimate decision. Since Gov. Perry is against gambling, the super majority would also allow law makers to overrule his likely veto.

"I propose it will generate $3 billion and $5 billion per year," said Ellis.

Advocates for gambling said $1 billion of the money would go to a trust fund for college scholarships and $1 billion would go toward transportation projects.

"Gaming is already here," said Sen. Carona, who recently signed on board with the gambling advocates. "It's now time to regulate it." Carona is chairman of the committee for Transportation and Homeland Security. "If we don't find a new revenue source for transportation, the problem of moving goods across the state will hurt us economically."

Carona said being a Conservative Republican, he is an unlikely supporter of the bill. However, he said a further look at the issue convinced him the fears of gambling are unwarranted.

"No research shows an increase in crime rates or bankruptcy in states that allow gambling," he said.

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