Group hoping for casino gambling in Texas changes goals
If you want to go to a casino to get your gambling fix in, it looks like you’ll have to go to Las Vegas, Louisiana or Oklahoma. Casinos, for now at least, are not coming to Texas.
The group, 'Let Texans Decide' was hoping to get casino gambling in the state. Now they are now re-stating their goals. The group now says they'd like slot machines at race tracks in the state. But former state Senator John Montford told KTRH don't look at it as accepting defeat.
“We really haven’t backed off any position. My group just wants to get this issue on the ballot. We are going to be for any referendum that is fairly drafted,” Montford explained.
Montford says he is concentrating on what has a better shot of getting through, and that the state's horse industry could use the extra cash slot machines at tracks would bring.
“It’s totally in decline. Our horse breeders are leaving the state. Our purses aren’t nearly as competitive as those in neighboring states,” Montford said.
Critics like lobbyist Rob Kohler told KTRH are the answer for the horse industry in Texas.
“I think if they concentrate on horse racing in this state instead of trying to turn their facilities into casinos they might fare a little bit better,” Kohler said.
Kohler said when it’s all said and done he still doesn't think expanded gambling is coming to the Lone Star State.
“There’s not a will in Austin to turn to gambling to raise revenue. We’ve been down this road twice before,” Kohler stated.
