Texas legislators are trying to pass a law expanding gambling to resort style casinos, Indian Reservation Casinos and video slot machines at the race tracks.
Many legislators are against the passage of the new bill saying that the state has a budget surplus and does not need to bring in extra revenue.
Proponents of this bill are trying to rally support from fellow
Texans by using the money to pay for student’s college tuition.
If the bill passes and becomes law the new gambling could bring in as much as $1.6 billon dollars a year and assuming that 4 years of college will run about $100,000 this would help pay for 16,000 students to go to college to continue their education.
Many parents are in favor of this law because of their worries about the constantly rising tuition costs.
"This is a no-brainer," said one man, who will support casino gambling only if it's done with the limited resort-style destinations outlined in the gaming association's proposal. "It's probably rather nearsighted not to recognize the public's strong support for legalized gambling."
The gamming association who is proposing the bill is seeking to allow 12 resort like casinos that will compete for their licenses based on their economic impact of the proposed communities. Dallas County and Harris County would each get two casinos, Tarrant and Travis counties would get one apiece, as would Galveston and South Padre Island.
The remaining 3 casinos would be decided on by the Texas gamming commission that will be set up according to the rules set out in the bill.