An interesting development has just occurred in the quest to get legalized gaming in Texas. Efforts have been successful for years now to derail any attempts by the pro-gaming/poker lobby by the funneling of contributions by the Chickasaw and Cherokee interests in Oklahoma. The pro-gamers have been getting closer and closer to bringing the measures for expanding the Texas Gaming Commission to include casino gambling and/or poker rooms but as long as Rick Perry is Governor and his campaign receives funds from these sources and to keep his religious right constituency in line, a veto will always be a reality.
Now the winds are changing.....Kay Bailey Hutchison is ahead in the poles....right now......and Rick will have a big fight on his hands......he has not managed the State well........the Chickasaws can see the writing on the wall. With the fact that they are bidding on the Lone Star Park, they have showed their hand. This is a brilliant move on their part......good business. They can continue to rake in the $$$ in Oklahoma as there will be some who will continue to frequent the border casinos just because of their location and many of the rural patrons will not be as comfortable coming to the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area........any business they lose will be multiplied many times over by having a central Metroplex location.
In the Dallas Morning News today, Saturday September 19, 2009 this statement was made "They certainly didn't buy it (Lone Star Park) to race ponies", said Jack Pratt, treasurer of the pro-gaming lobbying group Texas Gaming Association. He said the company is making its bid 'on the basis that they'll get gaming'". You can bet they are not bidding $27 million just to operate a bankrupt asset.....they are looking to the future....
The pieces are falling into place and for once there is a real chance we will get the opportunity to vote on a gaming measure in the Great State of Texas......passing it will be another matter but instead of funding the religious community in defeating the casino issue, the Chickasaws and probably the other Tribes will be on the side to pass the constitutional amendment that will be required.
The Hag can see one fly in the ointment......Rick Perry has appointed the Gaming Commission folks so the process of approving Global Gaming Solutions LSP, a subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation for a permit to operate Lone Star Park could possibly a problem but we are keeping our proverbial fingers crossed that all goes according to plan.
We will have to wait until 2011 for all this to fall into place but all of us interested must keep the heat on in any way we can.......with KBH in the Governor's Mansion........we have a real shot this time....
