Legislation to regulate poker in Texas was filed in the Texas House
March 8 2008. Bill HB 3186 defines poker as a game of skill and proposes
a set of guidelines for thousands of Texans who already play poker to follow.
The bill was filed by Representative Jose Menendez (D) of San Antonio.
Economist Ray Perryman said the Ellis-Carona proposal would provide
$1 billion per year for a trust fund to pay for college tuition covering about
240,000 students once the program is fully running. He estimated that it
would also create up to 400,000 new jobs and generate $3 billion
to $4.5 billion in state and local revenue.
What Bingo has done for our State poker could go there and beyond.
Charitable Bingo in Texas Bingo is The Most Charitable Game in Texas! In 2006 alone,
charitable bingo players in Texas won over $489 million in
prizes and Texas charities received over $31.7 million from
charitable bingo proceeds. Bingo, the oldest form of legalized
gambling in Texas, has been approved by voter referendum in 157
of the state’s 254 counties. There are 1,263 nonprofit or
charitable organizations conducting charitable bingo in Texas.
These organizations are required to distribute a minimum of 35
percent of their adjusted gross receipts from bingo activities for the
charitable purposes of the organization. Since 1982, when the first
licenses to conduct bingo were issued in Texas, through 2006,
charitable bingo distributions exceed $844 million.
Charitable bingo is a form of legalized gambling. In 1981 the
playing of bingo was authorized by the Texas Legislature,
subject to local jurisdiction approval. State oversight of
charitable bingo activity is required by state laws and
regulations intended to prevent fraud and protect the public.
The Charitable Bingo Operations Division of the Texas Lottery
Commission regulates the licensing, accounting and audit
operations of charitable bingo activities based upon the Bingo
Enabling Act and Charitable Bingo Administrative Rules.
