Tuesday, March 3, 2009

State economy looking bad, go GAMBLE?

Texas Legislators are considering "12 new las-Vegas style casinos, one in every major city across the state." According to this morning's Wall Street Journal.

More gambling in Texas? Legislators have argued that instead of Texan's going to neighboring Louisiana and New Mexico to gamble, we should keep that revenue here, with more race tracks, casinos, and slot machines.

Pros: Texan's would be able to go and get drunk and gamble, and the money we would save in gas we can just gamble away!? Maybe this would create some jobs inside and around the casinos, but the amount of increased social problems that are married to a gambling community might not be worth it? Casino's could create an influx of tourism to the cities that do build casinos, but do Texan's want that type of tourist frequenting their city?

Cons: Social problems; such as gambling addiction, increased alcohol and drug abuse, and a seedy element possibly would increase within and around major metropolitan areas that really don't need any assistance in that department (Dallas Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Austin). Are these casino giants (MGM and Harrahs) really going to funnel revenues back into Texas, last time I checked neither one of these corporations are based out of Texas? Possibly, a loss of future federal assistance if we do instill a beefed up gambling market. In reality does Texas really have the money to expand something like gambling given the global financial crisis.

The far right is not going to let this happen, and Governor Perry isn't going to let this happen. Suzi Paynter the director for public-policy of the Baptist General Convention of Texas is quoted in the Wall Street Journal as saying, "We built our state on family-friendly tourism, and we have a saying in Texas: Dance with who brung ya." These people and Mrs. Paynter have a lot of pull and they aren't going allow anyone to take that away, especially not gambling speculators.

What do Texan's think?         

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