|
Ohio decided against using slot machines as a way to
provide college scholarships students. And Florida currently uses revenue
from the Florida lottery (not slot machines, but still gambling revenue) to
support Florida Bright Futures—a college scholarship program for qualified
students. Now Texas citizens will decide which state they choose to imitate.
The Texas Gaming Commission and others in the state are pushing for a
constitutional amendment that would allow slot machines and casinos in the
state as a way to bring in millions a year for college scholarships.
The Texas Gaming Association is behind this push for the slot machines
though many believe the terms they are pushing for will actually be
beneficial for the state. Unlike Ohio’s last attempts at bringing in slot
machines (the Learn and Earn Initiative)—the Texas Gaming Commission is
proposing using a very large percentage of the slot machines revenue for the
scholarship program.
If the amendment is approved in Texas, the state should have a slightly
easier time awarding the slot machines licenses than Pennsylvania did. Of
the twelve planned slot machines casinos and resorts, nine already have
appointed cities which means that only three licenses are left for the other
cities if the measure is approved.
So far it seems that the initiative is well planned—the percentages of
revenue going to the local and state governments and the college funds are
generous and seem to be fair. But most importantly, the voters will have a
chance to decide if this is fair because before slot machines become legal
in Texas, the voters will have to make the choice to amend their state
constitution.
Back to January News>>>
Back to Recent
News>>>
|
