Why no casinos in Texas? = Republicans (John Cornyn) (San Antonio, Austin: live in, price)

[ReppingDFW]

Originally Posted by TXNGL

I agree. If they did away with all the social conservatism and took on a more libertarian streak, I'd join them in a heartbeat. As it is I'm partyless.

I'm an Independent Liberal, but if the GOP went the way of people like Ron Paul and Barry Goldwater and not the nuts like Rick Perry and Rick Santorum, they'd be easier for me to vote for.

[ReppingDFW]

Originally Posted by Chris Balducci

By all means legalize gambling and watch the number of personal bankruptcies and broken families rise!

Gambling addicts will find a way to gamble, whether it be to driving to Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, ect. There are plenty of them in Texas who go out of state for their gambling fix. However, the overwhelming majority of gamblers are very responsible and are looking to have a good time. Legalizing gambling in Texas will keep Texas money inside Texas.

[Trainwreck20]

Legalizing gambling in Texas will keep Texas money inside Texas.

Legalized gambling will take people's money and make a few individuals rich. The house always wins. These few people will quite possibly not even live in state, either. The taxable income will likely barely (if that) off-set the cost of enforcement of the industry and the related social problems.

Gambling addicts will find a way to gamble

Not if they do not have easy access (no physical or legal barriers) to gambling and never 'nurture' the addiction.

I agree. If they did away with all the social conservatism and took on a more libertarian streak, I'd join them in a heartbeat. As it is I'm partyless.

I have several friends active in the RP that are essentially waiting for the religious zealots to die so they can make the party more about fiscal issues and ditch the current social agenda...... Only time will tell if they are successful.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by Chris Balducci

By all means legalize gambling and watch the number of personal bankruptcies and broken families rise!

Rise to what?
Those people are already gambling in Oklahoma, Louisiana, the Texas lottery and horse racing.

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by ReppingDFW

I'm an Independent Liberal, but if the GOP went the way of people like Ron Paul and Barry Goldwater and not the nuts like Rick Perry and Rick Santorum, they'd be easier for me to vote for.

At least with Santorum you know what you're getting (I'd never vote for him). With Perry it's all about him staying in office. Getting off topic, but I remember the whole Gardisil issue. That was the first time I could stand with the religious right. Boy that was refreshing!

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Legalized gambling will take people's money and make a few individuals rich. The house always wins. These few people will quite possibly not even live in state, either. The taxable income will likely barely (if that) off-set the cost of enforcement of the industry and the related social problems.


Not if they do not have easy access (no physical or legal barriers) to gambling and never 'nurture' the addiction.


I have several friends active in the RP that are essentially waiting for the religious zealots to die so they can make the party more about fiscal issues and ditch the current social agenda...... Only time will tell if they are successful.

There are a lot of younger religious zealots too, so that may not happen. But I agree with your friends, I wish they'd ditch the social agenda.

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Rise to what?
Those people are already gambling in Oklahoma, Louisiana, the Texas lottery and horse racing.

Right. Someone mentioned (Trainwreck?) gambling addicts. There are all sorts of addictions out there, but because someone else has a problem with alcohol (which also wrecks families), I can't have access to a margarita?

[ReppingDFW]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Legalized gambling will take people's money and make a few individuals rich. The house always wins. These few people will quite possibly not even live in state, either. The taxable income will likely barely (if that) off-set the cost of enforcement of the industry and the related social problems.

I'd like to see some kind of proof or study on that. Places all over the US have casinos (not necessarily huge ones like Vegas). The two states with the lowest divorce rates (New York and New Jersey) both have gambling within the state.

Not if they do not have easy access (no physical or legal barriers) to gambling and never 'nurture' the addiction.

They can still drive to Louisiana, New Mexico or Texas. Besides, why should the responsible people suffer because there are a few people who are addicted? It isn't the government's responsibility to protect people with addictive personalities from gambling, anyway.

[JohninAustin]

They should just zone legalized gambling on about 5-10 consecutive blocks in downtown Austin... and 5-10 consecutive blocks in downtown San Antonio. Let the synergy of having multiple casinos in an urban area turn those places into active tourist destinations. NOTHING MORE DEPRESSING than going into some half-assed casino in some midwestern or southern city sitting alone by the highway.

[Trainwreck20]

I'd like to see some kind of proof or study on that.

I assume you are not talking about the part where 'the house always wins', because if you need any proof on that, YOU are the primary target of a casino . There have been a lot of studies on the social and governmental cost of gambling in general, and depending on who did the study, we will all become millionaires or the world will slide into a black hole. It is just my own opinion from experience with some people with gambling problems that it can (or is) a life wrecker.

They can still drive to Louisiana, New Mexico or Texas.

Those are physical barriers....it is harder to lose all your money as quickly, you can't just drop in every day after work (assuming you do not live right next to one of the Texas casinos..?)

Right. Someone mentioned (Trainwreck?) gambling addicts. There are all sorts of addictions out there, but because someone else has a problem with alcohol (which also wrecks families), I can't have access to a margarita?

This is a quite valid observation, but there are a couple of potential differences:
- with alcohol, that cat is out of the bag, genie is out of the bottle, train has left the station, etc.
- alcohol is enjoyed by many more people (responsibly) than gambling. If you are not a gambling addict, you probably go once or twice every year (or few years) to enjoy some gambling. If you are not an alcoholic, you might easily have several drinks a week. Alcohol actually has some potential health benefits (stress relief, maybe even heart-health), whereas the same cannot be said of gambling - it is strictly entertainment.
- finally, the logistics of a return to 'prohibition' have also proven to be impossible. Alcohol is transportable - you can take a bottle of alcohol home, or store up a year's worth in your pantry. Gambling is easier to control, since you can't carry it around with you. That is why the gambling lobby is trying to get into the state of Texas more. They need to overcome those physical barriers to people gambling and into their pockets. Why, it would not surprise me if they even tried to carry out internet forum campaigns!