Introduction to Texas Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
The legal landscape in Texas is an interesting one, but thanks to some great information from the Texas State Law Library on their gambling laws, we have the answers you are looking for. When it comes to brick and mortar gambling, the locations you gamble at are very limited. If You Want to Gamble in Texas, This Casino Boat is Your Best Bet The Jacks or Better takes daily trips out of Galveston and into federal waters, where gambling is legal.
Texas slot machine casino gambling consists of two American Indian tribal casinos with Class II competition-style or bingo-style electronic gaming machines. Carnival cruise ships offer onboard casinos when traveling to international destinations.
Texas does not have theoretical payout limits at its tribal casinos. No return statistics are publicly available.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Texas*
The minimum legal gambling age in Texas depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 21 in casinos, 18 in churches, and less than 18 with an adult
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
The Texas government and the state's three federally-recognized tribes have, so far, been unable to negotiate tribal-state compacts. Without these gaming compacts, Texas prohibits tribal casinos from having Class III Vegas-style electronic gaming machines.
However, Texas tribal casinos can offer Class II bingo-style machines. Although these machines appear as traditional slot machines, they are not Class III machines. Players compete for prizes against other players throughout a casino's gaming floor.
There have been substantial lawsuits by the Texas government to shut down tribal casinos offering Class II gaming, with some successes. Various court filings and rulings regarding the legality of tribal casinos in Texas have continued since the late 1980s.
Texas challenges the legality of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 based on the argument that the federal Restoration Act of 1987 takes legal precedence. This somewhat earlier Restoration Act gave federal recognition to the Tigua and Alabama-Coushatta tribes while also explicitly forbidding gambling.
None of the pari-mutual racetracks in Texas offer electronic gaming machines.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Texas
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Texas without restriction on its date of manufacture.
Gaming Control Board in Texas
Texas does not have a state gaming commission as it prohibits non-tribal casinos. No tribal-state gaming compact exists. However, the Texas Lottery Commission exists and operates the Texas Lottery.
Casinos in Texas
There are two American Indian tribal casinos in Texas as well as up to five international cruise ships with onboard casinos.
The largest casino in Texas is Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel with 3,300 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is Naskila Gaming with 365 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in Texas
The commercial casinos available in Texas are up to five cruise ships. Onboard casinos are only open while in international waters.
Carnival Cruise Lines operates these cruise ships sailing out of the Port of Galveston.
Tribal Casinos in Texas
The two tribal casinos in Texas are:
- Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel in Eagle Pass located 143 miles southwest from San Antonio.
- Naskila Gaming in Livingston located 74 miles north-northeast from Houston.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Texas slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Texas is:
- North: Oklahoma Slots
- East, Arkansas Slots, Louisiana Slots, and the Gulf of Mexico
- South: The country of Mexico
- North and West: New Mexico Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Texas.
Our Texas Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Texas? If so, join our Texas slots community on Facebook. All you'll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you'll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Texas. Join us!
Payout Returns in Texas
Texas has no theoretical payout limits established as the state prohibits slot machines. Further, no return statistics are available.
Summary of Texas Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Texas slot machine casino gambling consists of two American Indian tribal casinos offering bingo-style video gaming machines. The Port of Galveston offers Carnival cruise ships with onboard casinos open while sailing in international waters.
Neither theoretical payouts nor return statistics exist as Texas prohibits land-based casinos with Vegas-style slot machines.
Annual Progress in Texas Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, there has been little to no change in the slots gaming industry in Texas.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Tennessee Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: U.S. Virgin Islands Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
Persuasive Speech Outline
Legalizing Casino Gambling in Texas
Specific Purpose Statement: To persuade my class about why legalizing casino gambling in Texas is for the better. Thesis Statement: Legalizing casino gambling in the state of Texas would enhance society and will be beneficial for the entire state. Organizational Pattern: Problem-Solution
Social Gambling In Texas
Introduction
I. Did you know that gambling generates more revenue than movies, spectator sports, theme parks, cruise ships and recorded music combined ('Statistics gambling facts,')? II. Regardless of your opinion of gambling, the legalization of casino gambling is important because of all the benefits it will bring for the citizens of Texas.
III. Jim Pitts, Texas House Appropriations Chairman, said that legalized casinos in Texas could bring in one billion dollars in the first two years and about four billion dollars each subsequent year (Stutz, 2010). IV. Euro games technology. Legalizing casino gambling in the state of Texas would enhance society and will be beneficial for the entire state. V. First, the state of Texas loses much needed revenue to other states.
Second, legalized gambling would ensure the underworld would not be in power. Third, we will discuss what you can do to aid in legalizing casino gambling and solving the fore-mentioned problems. (To begin, we need to look at the current economic problems in Texas.)
Body
I. First of all, the Lone Star state would greatly be able to advance her economy if we legalized casino gambling.
A. Texas is losing billions of dollars in revenue that could be used to relieve society's social and economic problems.
A.1. According to Politifact.com, Texas residents are spending an outrageous 2.5 billion dollars at casinos located in our border states, such as Louisiana and Oklahoma ('Texans spend $2.5,' 2011). A.1.a. Texas residents' vacation at other states and spend money at the casinos, hotels, gas stations and restaurants. Why should we go to other states and spend money there when we should be spending it in our own state? A.1.b. If casinos were legal in Texas, tourists would visit Texas and spend money, which would enrich our economy. A.2. Legalizing casino gambling would create more jobs, thus lowering the unemployment rate. A.2.a. This would lead to people not relying on social welfare programs provided by the government. A.2.b. Therefore, it would alleviate the budget allocated to welfare, which means the state could spend that money on education and other much needed programs. B. Furthermore, Texas would be able to tax the casinos.
B.1. Legalizing gambling would let Texas collect tax revenue from casinos and those who profit from playing.
B.1.a. The government could tax the casinos higher because Texas charges extra for sin taxes.
B.1.b. People who gamble also have to pay a certain portion of their earnings to the federal government.
B.2. In addition, Texas could collect revenue from licenses the casino owners would need to possess in order to stay in business. (Next, we need to look at the how illegal gambling creates criminals, which hurts society.) II. The legalization of gambling would bring the underworld of illegal gambling to a rest.
A. When I lived in Brownsville, Texas, I recall hearing a news story about a large group of people getting arrested for illegal casino gambling like they have committed a heinous crime. (Vela, 2012) A.1. If casino gambling were legal numerous people would not be in jail for something that is legal in numerous states next to us. A.2. Also, legalizing casino gambling would give the power of regulating casinos to the state as opposed to unauthorized individuals.
B. Legalizing casino gambling would mean that less time and money is wasted searching for illegal gaming arenas. B.1. Police effort could be focused more on other serious criminal issues, like solving murder, rather than gambling. B.2. Legalizing casino gambling would keep so called criminals out of jail and lessen the number of people in the prison system. (There is hope for solving the problems that arise because gambling is illegal.) III. Third, there are solutions to help solve the problems that come from not legalizing casino gambling.
A. Residents of the state of Texas need to petition to their local representatives.
A.1. You can write or call your local representative and express how you think legalizing casinos will help reduce crime and increase revenue for the state.
A.2. Gather friends to contact their representatives because a large majority can have the issue placed on election ballots.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Tennessee Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: U.S. Virgin Islands Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
Persuasive Speech Outline
Legalizing Casino Gambling in Texas
Specific Purpose Statement: To persuade my class about why legalizing casino gambling in Texas is for the better. Thesis Statement: Legalizing casino gambling in the state of Texas would enhance society and will be beneficial for the entire state. Organizational Pattern: Problem-Solution
Social Gambling In Texas
Introduction
I. Did you know that gambling generates more revenue than movies, spectator sports, theme parks, cruise ships and recorded music combined ('Statistics gambling facts,')? II. Regardless of your opinion of gambling, the legalization of casino gambling is important because of all the benefits it will bring for the citizens of Texas.
III. Jim Pitts, Texas House Appropriations Chairman, said that legalized casinos in Texas could bring in one billion dollars in the first two years and about four billion dollars each subsequent year (Stutz, 2010). IV. Euro games technology. Legalizing casino gambling in the state of Texas would enhance society and will be beneficial for the entire state. V. First, the state of Texas loses much needed revenue to other states.
Second, legalized gambling would ensure the underworld would not be in power. Third, we will discuss what you can do to aid in legalizing casino gambling and solving the fore-mentioned problems. (To begin, we need to look at the current economic problems in Texas.)
Body
I. First of all, the Lone Star state would greatly be able to advance her economy if we legalized casino gambling.
A. Texas is losing billions of dollars in revenue that could be used to relieve society's social and economic problems.
A.1. According to Politifact.com, Texas residents are spending an outrageous 2.5 billion dollars at casinos located in our border states, such as Louisiana and Oklahoma ('Texans spend $2.5,' 2011). A.1.a. Texas residents' vacation at other states and spend money at the casinos, hotels, gas stations and restaurants. Why should we go to other states and spend money there when we should be spending it in our own state? A.1.b. If casinos were legal in Texas, tourists would visit Texas and spend money, which would enrich our economy. A.2. Legalizing casino gambling would create more jobs, thus lowering the unemployment rate. A.2.a. This would lead to people not relying on social welfare programs provided by the government. A.2.b. Therefore, it would alleviate the budget allocated to welfare, which means the state could spend that money on education and other much needed programs. B. Furthermore, Texas would be able to tax the casinos.
B.1. Legalizing gambling would let Texas collect tax revenue from casinos and those who profit from playing.
B.1.a. The government could tax the casinos higher because Texas charges extra for sin taxes.
B.1.b. People who gamble also have to pay a certain portion of their earnings to the federal government.
B.2. In addition, Texas could collect revenue from licenses the casino owners would need to possess in order to stay in business. (Next, we need to look at the how illegal gambling creates criminals, which hurts society.) II. The legalization of gambling would bring the underworld of illegal gambling to a rest.
A. When I lived in Brownsville, Texas, I recall hearing a news story about a large group of people getting arrested for illegal casino gambling like they have committed a heinous crime. (Vela, 2012) A.1. If casino gambling were legal numerous people would not be in jail for something that is legal in numerous states next to us. A.2. Also, legalizing casino gambling would give the power of regulating casinos to the state as opposed to unauthorized individuals.
B. Legalizing casino gambling would mean that less time and money is wasted searching for illegal gaming arenas. B.1. Police effort could be focused more on other serious criminal issues, like solving murder, rather than gambling. B.2. Legalizing casino gambling would keep so called criminals out of jail and lessen the number of people in the prison system. (There is hope for solving the problems that arise because gambling is illegal.) III. Third, there are solutions to help solve the problems that come from not legalizing casino gambling.
A. Residents of the state of Texas need to petition to their local representatives.
A.1. You can write or call your local representative and express how you think legalizing casinos will help reduce crime and increase revenue for the state.
A.2. Gather friends to contact their representatives because a large majority can have the issue placed on election ballots.
B. Once the issue is placed on the ballot, we need to vote for legalizing casinos.
States Where Gambling Is Legal
B.1. People need to become informed of the positives of legalizing gambling
B.2. Finally, they should vote for legalizing.
(Legalizing casino gambling is the best for Texas.)
Legalizing Casino Gambling In Texas
Conclusion
I. To review, Texas does not allow casino gambling.
A. Texas has lost billions of dollars in revenue to other states.
B. In addition, illegal gambling has given crime lords power of controlling gaming set up in illegal casinos.
C. Nevertheless, Texas can solve this issue by legalizing casino gambling.
II. Legalizing casino gambling in the state of Texas would enhance society and will be beneficial for the entire state. III. Since there are no casinos in Texas, I will be driving six hours to Louisiana. If gambling were legal I would not have to make such a long journey. So lets save ourselves the trouble of having to drive all the way to Louisiana and lets try to convince our state government to legalize casino gambling.
Reference List
Statistics gambling facts & stats. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/gamble/etc/facts.html
Stutz, H. (2010, May 13). Texas legislator pushes legalized gaming as budget salve. Retrieved from http://www.lvrj.com/business/texas-legislator-pushes-legalized-gaming-as-budget-salve-93662924.html
Texans spend $2.5 billion gambling in our neighboring states every year. (2011, April 19). Retrieved from http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2011/apr/29/texans-economic-devel
