Texas Poker Gaming Act of 2013 Introduced in State Legislature

kidkvno1

kidkvno1

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Proposed legislation would regulate brick-and-mortar poker but does not address online poker
Texas state legislatures will have a new poker bill to consider in 2013, after a measure called the “Texas Poker Gaming Act of 2013” was introduced in December.

The new bill, sponsored by State Sen. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin), seeks to regulate the offering of brick-and-mortar poker games while banning other forms of poker, including over the Internet. Electronic poker tables, warmly supported in an earlier Texas poker measure that died in committee, would also be banned under the Rodriguez bill.

Rodriguez’ measure would define a new poker division of the Texas Lottery Commission, though the bill also defines poker as a game of skill and therefore not a lottery.

The bill would also allow licenses for offering poker to be applied for by existing pari-mutuel facilities, bingo halls and tribal concerns. Participating tribes and pari-mutuels could offer poker around the clock, while bingo halls would be limited to providing poker only during the halls’ normal hours of operation.

As initially constructed, the measure would favor cash-game action, with no limits on buy-ins and a 10% rake capped at $4. Tournaments could also be held, but the proposed $100 max buy-in would preclude major poker series from visiting a Lone Star State venue under this measure.

Provisions establishing bad-beat and promotional jackpots are also included.

Operators would be taxed a maximum of 18% of gross revenues under the bill, with a portion of the tax proceeds targeted to go to Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, to aid homeless and low-income residents of the state.

The bill’s wider goals appear to be the corralling of widespread illicit poker games across the state, none of which generate tax revenue for Texas. While underground games and illicit poker rooms abound, the state has only one legal poker room at present — the Kickapoo Nation’s 12-table Lucky Eagle Casino poker room, at Eagle Pass, near the Texas-Mexico border.

The poker bill will receive its first consideration once the Texas state legislature reconvenes in January of 2013, though its prospects are uncertain. Despite the state giving poker’s most popular variant its name, the state remains a conservative bastion with strong anti-gambling interests, which have lined up to defeat similar proposals in the past.
:stupid: :stupid:
 
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Chips4Buds

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Have you guys heard of the preventive detention speech Obama gave? Its hella stupid like the movie minority report. I wonder if poker players will be sent there knowing we might play poker again? LOL

Does this mean there won't be a 2013 wsop????
 
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aa88wildbill

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I can't believe the state of Texas is trying to ban any type of poker online or not. What's the world come into!
 
aa88wildbill

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You know once upon a time, down there and Texas, if a man talk like that Rodriguez talks. They were found the nearest tree and got rid of the problem.
 
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RiverOfDreamz

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Contemplating moving. This is just getting stupid. Especially when you consider that all of the states surrounding Texas, not to mention our neighbor to the South, have casinos. And yet Texas has a lottery - talk about -EV there. Somehow it's OK to buy $50 scratch-off lottery tickets, but it's immoral to buy-in to a poker room.

In Texas the legislature is part-time, because our wonderful framers of our state constitution knew that nothing good ever came from having the legislature in session.
 
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I hope Sen Rodriguez rots in hell. Its clear we are not One Nation Under God. Being a Hispanic i am ashamed of Sen Rodriguez. Idiots like this is what is killing our country.
 
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TIMNILES44

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People like this are in every state! Its easier for them to ban something than it it to sit down and figure out away to actually make money and keep everyone happy!Its always easier to say no and not THINK!
 
imafin

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let it be noted that that rascally state senator has a great big "D" by his name. Tired hearing its always republicans. the unlawful internet gaming bill that started all this pain we see now had plenty of dem votes.

on his behalf, i'd say he feels if we all stopped online poker we'd drive to the nearest location and start droping 10% rakes on the tables. creating mucho jobs probably for his district and his greedy hands on the 18% gross operator tax. this seems high to me and how long will it be before rakes go 11-12-15%

only government can take something that works, tax it so high that they lose out in the end. one can only look at the huge cigerette taxed states and see the results of what happens.
 
TheEngineer

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The bill did no such thing, though. I reached out to PokerFuse for a correction today.

PokerFuse updated their article on the Texas Poker Gaming Act as follows: "Correction: The article as originally published stated that online poker would be banned under the proposed legislation; however, the bill would not affect the current status of online poker in Texas."
 
suit2please

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let it be noted that that rascally state senator has a great big "D" by his name. Tired hearing its always republicans. the unlawful internet gaming bill that started all this pain we see now had plenty of dem votes.

This is just completely wrong. The UIGEA was never itself voted on. UIGEA was added as Title VIII to the SAFE Port Act, which was passed. Adding random unrelated things last minute is just one of the many things wrong with the way our government works. Blame it on the Ds or Rs, to me the difference between them is negligible and way too many people think it matters.
 
TheEngineer

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This is just completely wrong. The UIGEA was never itself voted on. UIGEA was added as Title VIII to the SAFE Port Act, which was passed. Adding random unrelated things last minute is just one of the many things wrong with the way our government works. Blame it on the Ds or Rs, to me the difference between them is negligible and way too many people think it matters.

UIGEA passed the House as HR 4411 by 317-93. It was freestanding, fully debated, and passed with a majority of votes of each party. It was watered down in the Senate backrooms and added to the SAFE Port Act, but not because they lacked support in the Senate. To the contrary, the Senate passed a poker prohibition bill three years prior by 90-10.

I mention this because it's important for us to understand the fight if we are to win it. As Sun Tzu said, "know your enemy."
 
triplesyxx

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And yet Texas has a lottery - talk about -EV there. Somehow it's OK to buy $50 scratch-off lottery tickets, but it's immoral to buy-in to a poker room.

In Texas the legislature is part-time, because our wonderful framers of our state constitution knew that nothing good ever came from having the legislature in session.

Dude...so true, the hipocracy of some people still blow my mind
 
ScottieDuncan

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What's the difference if you play online or in a casino?
 
BLACKSTACK

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What's the difference if you play online or in a casino?

The difference here in Texas is that Tx is not receiving any money off of online poker and there are no casinos in TX and that is why there are alot of underground and ''home games'', As a result of that Tx is not gaining any taxes and that is what they want.

If this bill passes would it be like the bill banning online horse racing in Tx? or will there be a way around it? I still bet on ponies online, Not with tvg ofcourse.
 
TheEngineer

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The bill does not ban online poker. Can a mod update the title?
 
Mortis

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Does this mean there won't be a 2013 wsop????


What does this have to do with the WSOP? This is about Texas, where they don't have regulated poker or casinos right now anyway.
 
coyotegal

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Talk about tunnel vision though.. I can not see how any government could sit idly by, knowing of the explosion of new players out there .(and most likely, kif it wasn't for the internet, the sudden popularity would have never come about..) every day...losing extreme amounts of money that legalized, taxed online poker would bring in To the Gov. I believe that certain people are getting paid off to keep it un legal by Indian casinos, and others with vested interest.. it it wouldnt surprise me if that good old Texas boy has a hidden agenda of his own. I that certain politicians would rather line their own pockets than to allow it to be legal so the states can make money from it. there are some legitimate *clears throat* politicians out there and there are some crooked greedy ones and the one pushing this CRAP sounds like the latter to me.
 
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We have nothing but idiots running our country. All politicians had to have graduated from "Idiots r Us University". Want to pay the deficit down without raising taxes on anyone here is how.

Congress should open there own online poker site so all Americans can play, everyone will be happy players are playing legally and money secure and Congress making oodles of money to pay the deficit. Win win for everyone except Gary Loveman.
 
suit2please

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UIGEA passed the House as HR 4411 by 317-93. It was freestanding, fully debated, and passed with a majority of votes of each party. It was watered down in the Senate backrooms and added to the SAFE Port Act, but not because they lacked support in the Senate. To the contrary, the Senate passed a poker prohibition bill three years prior by 90-10.

I mention this because it's important for us to understand the fight if we are to win it. As Sun Tzu said, "know your enemy."

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle”

This quote can not be cut down to just "know your enemy", although thats what most people do. And it isn't an actual quote, its an interpretation.

The government isn't my enemy though. Lobbyists and campaign finance are, of which you are a part. There is no way to fix our government with out removing both.
 
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FlinnFlush

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All I know is if TX ever allows casinos, OK's economy will take a hit. We've got casinos everywhere!
 
wagon596

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Being that I'm an old guy and somewhat disabled, not having the "RIGHT" to play online would upset me greatly. Guess I'd have to move to OK.

I do make it to Winstar a few times a year, when my nephew goes. I's so tired of this stuff ! People deciding what I can do with my money and what's moral. We are adults and have the "right" (damn, there's that word again) to do what we want to with our money.

Lotto, scratch offs and bingo are ok but not poker, give me a break. Take care
 
buzzmania

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this is what i got via email.
Dearrichard,

Eddie.jpg
Great News! Texas State Representative Eddie Rodriquez recently introduced poker bill HB 292, to legalize poker in Texas.

Representative Rodriquez’s bill is different from previously introduced pro-poker bills because it designates poker as a “game of skill,” issues poker licenses to bingo operators, licensed pari-mutuels and Indian tribes, and allows for charitable poker tournaments. It will also provide consumer protections that currently do not exist in Texas.
kinda fed up they call it texas holdem but cant play it legally in texas.im surrounded by states that can and are benefitting from it but texas refuses to jump on board and reap the rewards. ,go figure.
 
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jdmBlue

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I`m not optimistic about this bill since Texas Governor Rick Perry announced he would veto any bill legalizing live casinos. I`m not sure if he was also referring to online play.
 
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chriseles

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We actually do have a casino in TX...Kickapoo Casino in Eagle Pass, TX is open for business offering the usual slots and other electronic games as well as a poker room with cash games and tournaments. I haven't been there (yet) so I can't say how busy it is or if the poker room is any good, but it's there! Still doesn't change the fact that this bill is enough to make me want to move. Not sure how someone can be allowed to hold a poker tourney in a private home or even a cash game (as long as the house doesn't take a rake), which does not provide the state with any kind of revenue either, and yet not be allowed to play online. Just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me!!!
 
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MrBB33

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I just don't seeing it being passed. If it does, I'll drive the hour north and play with good old cash.
 
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