New Bill Targets Closed Tribal Casinos In Texas

In the state of Texas there has been a lot of talk about expanding their gambling laws to include casinos. A new Bill has surfaced that aims not at opening new casinos, but re-opening tribal casinos that already exist.

Representative Norma Chavez is the author of the Bill and if approved, it would allow for two tribal casinos to once3 again open their doors. They were shut down by court orders because the state felt they were violating Texas laws.

The Alabama-Coushatta tribe and the Tigua tribe both have casinos in Texas that they say they need revenue from. The tribes use the gambling revenue for funding health care and education, among other things, for their members.

This is not the first time legislation like this for the tribes has been introduced. Two years ago Chavez initially tried to protect the Indian tribes, but the Bill was shot down in a stalemate among lawmakers votes, 66-66.

The more important factor to the new Bill is not as much having the casinos re-open, but the protection that if they were once again opened they would be free from any forms of prosecution from the state.

The tribes have a legitimate argument for running the casinos. Texas has a state run lottery, which in essence, would clear the tribes from any wrongdoing.

The battle may not end with this current Bill. There is also other legislation being introduced that would bring non-tribal casinos to certain parts of the state. If that legislation is passed, the tribes would then be allowed to have the same rights as any casino developers.

February 18, 2009
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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