Bill To Legalise Hold’em in Texas
Texas, the home of poker, has launched a bill to advocate the legalization of Texas Hold’em in the state that gave it its name. Should it be passed, Bill 222 will seek to regulate the game and channel revenue back into the community.
The State after which the Cadillac of Poker is named has, quite ironically, always outlawed the game of Hold’em poker. A succession of attempts has been made in the past to alter the law but have largely resulted in dead ends and failure.
The latest attempt however - House Bill 222, introduced by Senator Menendez in November 2008 - is receiving widespread support and will be a serious possibility when it hits the House of Texas discussion floor later today.
Going under the name of "The Poker Gaming Act of 2009", Bill 222 is seeking to regulate and legalise poker in the state of Texas. Bill 222 is taking a slightly different approach to the rash of similar bills of recent times. It will be citing poker as a game of skill (just like, for example, Nevada, New Jersey and Ohio) and so testimony from poker players will be given but it will also take another route. A recent spate of armed robberies on underground poker games has taken place in Texas, seriously jeopardising and endangering players and public.
Senator Menendez will argue that, "unregulated poker gaming conducted by unlicensed operators in public establishments is inimical to the public health, safety, welfare, and good order."
Essentially, people will play poker and the state should protect their physical welfare and the community around the games. Poker playing should not result in loss of life, illegal or otherwise.
With regulated gaming there are also other advantages that stem from any potential legislation. To quote the bill, "the development of regulated poker gaming in this state will benefit the general welfare of the people of this state by enhancing investment, development, and tourism in this state, resulting in new jobs and additional revenue to this state."
Gaming licenses would be awarded to acceptable parties, including Indian tribes, charitable organizations and bars. All awardees would answer to the Texas Lottery Commission who would have established all the regulations by which participants would have to abide. In a bid to entice the good natured, House Bill 222 will advocate the distribution of 50% of all poker related tax revenues to non-profit organizations and local councils for community programs.
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