Abbott Signals Openness to Allowing Casinos in Texas (Baytown, Port Arthur: low income, hotels)

[supfromthesite]

Yes. Most republicans and democrats hate freedom. I have said that many times on this board.

Also, its not like there arent democrats that don’t want legalized gambling.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by supfromthesite

Yes. Most republicans and democrats hate freedom. I have said that many times on this board.

Also, its not like there arent democrats that don’t want legalized gambling.

The problem is when the so-called party of less government and personal responsibility make it illegal for people to spend their money gambling

[blameyourself]

It's stupid not too regardless of where the money goes.

I agree with Dopo on the hypocrisy of these "freedom" loving Texans. Anyone can gamble now using off shore casinos. You're not stopping anyone by making it illegal. I've wagered on sports for years using offshore sites and will continue to do so (and no, I don't see myself being arrested any time soon so spare me that ridiculous argument). I also don't buy that suddenly crime is going to go wild, etc. That would have already happened since people are already doing it (but you won't find the numbers because people aren't going to admit in some silly poll that they are gambling illegally).

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

While I don't view casinos as an effective economic development tool (sorry, hospitality jobs aren't a great foundational basis for local economies), there's no reason to prohibit them, plus we'd get the tax revenue.

I agree with another poster over concern that Fertitta and others will try to get big tax breaks / incentives though. That should only happen at the local level, and only to the extent that a casino project is achieving a pre-defined local economic development goal (say, reusing a deteriorated building). And only for the amount needed to satisfy that objective.

My problem isn’t what you said in this post. It’s considering Petrochemical plants economic development tools but not full service casinos. Both have around the same scale of salaries.

Either both are or neither are.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

^^^ Which btw isn't the usual reason casinos are considered economic development tools. Casinos bringing in outside tourism is the general reason.

[usc619]

First, Governor Hot wheels need to do a study on how much money he’ll be able to pocket.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by usc619

First, Governor Hot wheels need to do a study on how much money he’ll be able to pocket.

And how much money he's going to lose from the casinos outside of Texas

[detachable arm]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Casinos could easily be used to promote tourism in Galveston, Corpus Christi and South Padre Island

The casinos should be legal in coastal counties. Many of those are kinda dumpy and it would help them stimulate their local economies.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

My problem isn’t what you said in this post. It’s considering Petrochemical plants economic development tools but not full service casinos. Both have around the same scale of salaries.

Either both are or neither are.

Petrochemical plant employees make $75K+, often over $100K. Only top managers in hospitality facilities make that. Your average casino and hotel worker is working-class at best.

Explain why Atlantic City remains a low-income wasteland if your assertion is true.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

^^^ Which btw isn't the usual reason casinos are considered economic development tools. Casinos bringing in outside tourism is the general reason.

The less rare casinos are, the less they will bring in outside tourism. Would Lake Charles and Durant be anywhere as successful if TX had a bunch of casinos?