Perhaps it is the Texas history of gambling with card rooms and famous players like Amarillo Slim that makes it difficult for Texans to follow the Texas ban on land casinos. Whether it is or not, there are definitely plenty of illegal casinos currently operating in Texas according to the New York Times. The news piece stated a tire shop close to the Rio Grande Valley was closed down, but not as quiet as one might think. On a February afternoon it was found full of 75 slot machines along with dozens of women and men. There are others such as one found amid cattle ranches near Highway 83. According to research Texas has about 30,000 to 150,000 illegal slot machines that are making $1.9 billion in revenue. The downside is that gamblers are getting poor payouts because the casino industry is not regulated properly. The only currently legal casino operating in the state is the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle’s Pass. That may change next year though if a proposed change takes effect and the issue goes in front of voters this November.
Creative Commons photo by: Jeff Kubina