Austin – One of the country’s richest men said Wednesday that he would consider building a luxury casino complex in Dallas-Fort Worth if the Texas Legislature approves a measure allowing up to 12 destination casinos in the state’s urban centers.

Austin, Texas – Casino gambling in Texas should be done with a bang — with large resorts that attract convention-goers and tourists, proponents told state lawmakers Wednesday.
„Texas is situated in an unbelievable position to do this and do it right,“ said Jack Pratt of Dallas, a former casino developer and chairman of the Texas Gaming Association.

A bill proposed by Texas State Representative Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) designed to expand poker’s availability in Texas was passed by a House committee on Thursday. The bill, titled the „Poker Gaming Act of 2009“ (H.B. 222), was passed by the House’s Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee by a vote of 6-3.

Galveston – The odds are against proposed legislation slotting a Las Vegas-style destination resort casino in Galveston, legislators and local pundits say. “I haven’t handicapped it yet,” said state Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston. “I think the votes are probably there in the Senate, but I’m not sure they are in the House.” Eiland said a constitutional amendment would be a better place to start a battle for casino gambling, not legislative proposals enabling casinos.

Galveston, Texas (Reuters) – First came Hurricane Ike, then the tidal wave from the U.S. economic collapse hit. The steamy Texas island city of Galveston, an historic port known for palm trees, Victorian buildings and shipping cattle and oil to the world, now finds its economy clinging to a life raft. Some leaders believe the only hope for the city of about 45,000 — down about a third from its pre-hurricane population — is to legalize gambling and open casinos that would lure in tourists.

Nachdem in Kentucky der Domain-Fall zu Gunsten der Beklagten ausgegangen war und auch in Pennsylvania das Pokerspiel von einem Gericht als „Geschicklichkeitsspiel“ beurteilt wurde, häufen sich nun Gerichtsurteile die Poker von illegalem Glücksspiel ausnehmen. Liegt es am neuen Präsidenten? An derzeit herrschender Umbruchstimmung in den USA? Seit einigen Wochen scheint es fast so, also ob die US-Gerichte ihre Meinung über das Pokerspiel grundlegend geändert hätten.

Advocates for legalizing poker in Texas are endorsing legislation this session to regulate the game, which they say would bring revenue to the state and allow them to play in safety. The hundreds of illegal poker rooms across Texas – which can rake in USD 3,000 on an average night – have become robbers’ easy targets. But these players aren’t folding yet.

With the economy slumping and state revenue getting tighter, gambling proponents are betting that it’s the perfect time to bring casino-style gambling to Texas. They say casinos could bring billions of dollars into the state and add thousands of jobs. Some of the extra push this session is coming from Galveston, the storm-ravaged island that is struggling to recover from Hurricane Ike.

Der Abgeordnete des Staates Texas, Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) hat erneut einen Gesetzesentwurf vorgestellt, um die Verbreitung von Hold’em in Texas zu fördern. Menendez, hatte ein ähnliches Gesetzespaket bereits im Jahr 2007 vorgestellt. Der neue Versuch einer Gesetzesvorlage trägt den Titel „Poker Gaming Act of 2009“ und es wird erwartet, daß das Gesetz durch die texanische Legislative intensiv unterstützt werden wird.

Freeport – Laying anchor in Freeport once again, the owners of the Texas Star Casino gambling boat are looking for a fresh start after being scuttled by controversy. The Texas Star Casino gambling boat returned Monday from Burton Shipyard in Bridge City where it received [[USD]] 200,000 in repairs and refurbishment and an overhaul inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas Star Casino CEO Grant Poynor said.

Freeport – The owners of Texas Star Casino have been dealt a pair of rejections in its efforts to put gamblers on its boat. City Council voted 3-2 to reject a rezoning request for the block of Sailfish Drive at which the boat is docked. The rezoning from manufacturing to waterfront, which was unanimously recommended by the city’s planning commission, would have allowed the board to take on passengers and begin gambling operations.