|
THE HISTORY of CASINO PROSPECTS in TEXAS To have a clearer vision of the future prospects of casinos in Gambling is older than recorded history - EARLY HISTORY While some may think that gambling is a recent phenomenon, it actually dates back quite awhile. British colonization of America was partly financed through lottery proceeds, beginning in the early 17th century. Because lotteries were viewed as a popular form of voluntary taxation in England, they also became popular in America as European settlers arrived here. A half-dozen lotteries sponsored by prominent individuals such as Ben Franklin, John Hancock, and George Washington operated in each of the 13 colonies to raise funds for building projects. Between 1765 and 1806, Massachusetts authorized lotteries to help build dormitories and supply equipment for Harvard College; many other institutions of higher learning, including Dartmouth, Yale and Columbia, were also financed through lotteries. A lottery even was approved to finance the American Revolution. Here in Texas during the 1800s and early 1900s, there were hundreds of 'gambling halls' and saloons where anyone could have a good old time enjoying one of the world's oldest recreational pursuits.
The first prospects for riverboat casinos popped up on the Texas scene in 1991 (which was the last year that the state had a sizeable budget deficit {$4.6 billion in 1991 vs. $10-$13 billion in 2003}). The relatively modest 1991 deficit prompted the Lottery legislation to pass, during a special session of the Legislature - in a state where many said it will NEVER pass. In 1992, a group of casino advocates mobilized to support riverboat casino legislation during the 1993 Session. The riverboat casino bill actually passed in the Texas House of Representatives, but the proposed legislation was pulled from the Senate. After George W. Bush was elected governor, casino gaming prospects died in committee during the 1995 Session. Ever since then, various advocates have been tracking the prospects for casino legislation to be resurrected in the Lone Star State. Conversations with economists, legislators, government agencies and community leaders over the past couple of years, have confirmed that there's not anything on the horizon that will have the enormous economic impact that casino-anchored destination attractions would generate for all Texans. |
