Editorial: Big voices join Texas tribes for gaming

Friday, April 10, 2009  

"Texans are no longer talking with tiny voices when advocating legalization of casino gambling. Now statesmen are abuzz with billion-dollar money-making reasons to set up the slot machines and card tables.

They're asking for casinos on not only the two Indian reservations, but at the race tracks -- and why not just go big and allow for the building of Las Vegas-type resort casinos? That's the cry now.

Tax money. Tourist dollars. High-end entertainment a la the Vegas Strip.

Since El Paso's Speaking Rock Casino was closed down by the state in 2002, it's been our local Tiguas and the Alabama-Coushatta tribe in East Texas calling for gaming restoration. Those were two small pockets in Texas -- in the far West and at the Big Thicket forest.

Now the opposition is the small voice. How a downturn in the economy can change minds."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Casino push: Big cash cow for Texas (The El Paso Times 4/10)