Posted: 3/16/07
Casino proposal predicted to roll
slack promises, not big jackpots
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
AUSTIN—A plan to fund college scholarships with as many as 12 casinos throughout Texas is another in a series of promises that won’t pan out, said Suzii Paynter, director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission.
Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, and Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, are sponsoring legislation that would put casinos in as many as 12 locations across the state. The senators’ effort also would legalize video slot machines at horse and dog tracks.
A portion of gambled Texas funds would be used to support eligible Texans to attend a community college or public university.
The move would require a constitutional amendment, which would need to be put before voters.
Paynter noted the proposed plan isn’t as efficient as a state lottery that also hasn’t produced the revenue that originally was projected. The state would get two cents of every dollar put into a slot machine. By contrast, the state receives 28 cents per dollar played in the lottery.
“It’s a bad plan for Texas,” Paynter said. “It’s just another in a series of broken promises.”
On top of an income shortfall, Texans also would pay for care for an increased number of gambling addicts, she insisted. A large percentage of casino gamblers come from within 50 miles of the business.
“Question is how much money has to go into the machines and how much bankruptcy and crime are going to come out,” Paynter said.
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