Texas Players Passionate to Legalize Poker

AUSTIN, Texas -- As reported by The Dallas Morning News: "Lawmakers considering a bill to legalize poker heard from passionate players Wednesday, but they didn't show their hands.

"'Poker
  players are the only people in the state of Texas saying, 'Please tax us,'said Vernon Harrison, president of the 500-member Texas Card Players Association. 'We want what we would get for that tax, which is a safe place to play poker.'

"It's legal for Texans to play poker for fun, or to play for money in their homes. But once the house or the dealer profits, the game becomes illegal, which has pushed the state's poker scene underground.

"Rep. Jose Menendez's bill, the first gambling measure to come before the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee this session, would issue poker licenses to certain establishments, allowing them to collect fees on poker hands and game buy-ins. The poker operators would be taxed based on their revenue.

"The bill would also require the poker games to provide video surveillance cameras and security, and players would have to be 21 or older..."