Texas Hold'em in Texas

[hram]

Since the initial flurry of action over the bill to legalize poker in Texas little has been said. When I google the topic I only find old articles about the bills initial introduction. Does anyone know more ifo? Is the bill going to make it to the floor for a full vote? What are the odds of being passed if it does? If passed ho wlong would it take to have live, legal poker in Texas?

Any info will be appretiated.

[allbad]

Rick Perry will veto anything having to do with gambling, so whatever gets passed will have to have 2/3 vote in both house and senate regardless. Only chance we'll have either the regulated poker bill or the 12 casinos bill pass under Perry is if we have another education funding crisis (like last session) and home owners show up on the capitol steps with pitchforks refusing to pay (even) more for property tax. Even then I think a state income tax is more likely than legalized gambling in this God forsaken state.

[corndog]

From Mike Lavigne of the Texas Poker PAC:

[ QUOTE ]
I expect our bill to be voted out of committee either late this evening or tomorrow sometime.
It could be on the floor of the house as early as Friday, most likely sometime next week.
We are still very much alive and expect another gain in momentum this week when we get a
new Joint Author in the House...

[/ QUOTE ]

[lol_variance]

I discovered some more good news about legal gambling in Texas while I was at the checkout counter at the local grocery store. While my wife was paying for the groceries, I noticed a vending machine with multiple denominations of buttons from $1 up to $30. Apparently, anyone can simply go put as much cash as you can carry into one of these machines, and "legally gamble" by pressing one of the buttons. No need to show ID, no worries if you have a compulsive gambling problem...........you just put your money in and win win win.

LEGAL GAMBLING IN TEXAS

[allbad]

yea, we have horse racing, dog racing, scratch off tickets, lottery, bingo... there's all kinds of ways to gamble in this state BUT I STILL WANT TO SEE A FLOP DAMMIT.

[corndog]

Great news!

[ QUOTE ]
From The Desk Of:
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
JOSE MENENDEZ
Capitol Office: Room EXT E2.212, P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768
Phone: (512) 463-0634 Fax: (512) 463-7668

For Immediate Release: Contact: Jennifer Brader
May 1, 2007 (512) 463-0634

Poker Bill Headed to Full House for Vote

Austin, TX// HB 3186, The Texas Poker Act, was voted favorably out of committee today. This paves the way for a vote by the full House of Representatives within the next week. This will mark the first time the Texas House has considered the regulation of the game of poker.

Representative Jose Menendez, the bill’s sponsor, believes that the benefits of regulating poker in Texas are far reaching. “Right now, in any size city at almost any time, anyone can find an illegal poker game to play in, “ said Menendez. “Texas ought to benefit from the game rather than push these millions of dollars into the hands of criminals.”

The version of the legislation that passed out of committee today includes the following provisions:

* Allows certain bars to have poker tables (amount determined by Lottery Commission)
* Allows Racetracks to have poker tables (amount determined by Lottery Commission)
* Allows for charitable poker tournaments
* The state gets a “rake” of every hand played
* Raises additional money for affordable housing

Poker’s recent rise in popularity has led to a dramatic expansion of illegal poker rooms across the state. In each of these rooms, thousands of dollars are changing hands without any regulation or oversight. Often times law enforcement must close these rooms down after lengthy expensive investigations that rarely result in much more than misdemeanor penalties.

“Poker could bring in millions of dollars in tourism and television instead of being a law enforcement liability,” said Menendez.

HB 3186 is expected to be brought before the full House within the next week.

[/ QUOTE ]

[allbad]

well, well... this looks like a step in the right direction but hold on... i gotta check something... hmm, nope, still no monkeys flying out of my butt.

[brimelian]

Getting this bill out of committee was a small victory, but finding enough votes to pass the full House will be much more difficult.

The date we need to watch now is Thursday, May 10th. That is the last day under House rules that most house bills can be considered on the daily calendar. If the bill does not pass the full House by the 10th, it is effectively dead (though it can always be added to a similar Senate bill moving through the process).

House rules can be tricky, and they have a nasty tendency to kill bills late in the session.

[unfrgvn]

Those of you in Texas who haven't already contacted your representive should do so. I've called and sent an email.
Find your Texas Representive

[arod4276]

http://www.majorwager.com/daily-briefs-10050.html

atricle makes it seem lke the bill has a great shot at passing