Texas poker players say they are willing to be taxed

In Austin, Texas on Wednesday lawmakers heard about a bill that would legalize poker but players would be taxed.

Vernon Harrison, president of the Texas Card Players Association said, "Poker players are the only people in the state of Texas saying 'please tax us'. Harrison added, " We want what we would get for that tax, which is a safe place to play poker."

Under current law in Texas, poker players can play for fun or in their homes, as long as the house or the dealers do not profit from the game. This, in effect, has pushed the poker scene to go underground.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Jose Mendendez and went befor the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee during the houses current session. The bill would mean issueing licenses to certain establishments, thus allowing them to collect fees on game buy-ins and poker hands. The license holders would then be taxed on their revenue.

Under this bill, video surveillance cameras and security would be required and all players would have to be at least 21 years old.

The committee has not voted yet on the measure.

Menendez, the representative from San Antonio that introduced the bill and serves on the committee also said, " We want to make sure wen poker is being played, it's played in a place that's safe."

Supporters of the say that hundreds of thousands of dollars change hands tax-free every week in illegal backroom poker games and this money should be taxed. The players have endorsed the tax because of safety issues. More and more these secret poker games are becoming the target of robbers because game operators are not willing to call police if they have problems.

Houston poker player, Michele Lewis, who has made more than $80,000 playing poker says, " If somebody comes in with a gun, you better hope it's the police", because "people do get robbed."

Those opposed to the bill say that by legalizing poker it would open the door to legalize other forms of gambling, like casinos and slot machines, especially at racetracks. They have also said that taxing the license holders wouldn't cut down on the amount of underground games because the people running those games would still operate illegally to avoid being taxed.

Rob Kolher from the Baptist General Convention's Christian Life Comission is concern about "the expansion of the games." Kohler says that poker is a game of chance more than a game of skill, meaning that it should require the constitutional amendment and a two-thirds vote to pass.

News Added: 26 March, 2009

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