Texas State Rep. Jose Menendez is again trying to convince his lawmaking colleagues that people have the right to play poker in a safe and protected way by introducing a bill that would bring cardrooms to the state.
His bill, H.B. 222 (and also called the Poker Gaming Act of 2009), would create a poker gaming commission under the state’s lottery wing that would oversee the cardroom industry in Texas. Its duties would include approving cardroom establishment licenses and all equipment used to play poker there, and ensuring the safety of the players by regulating its license holders.
Menendez’s proposal would allow for people to apply for one of two kinds of poker licenses: One to run charity events and one to run a professional, commercial poker room.
The owner of any bar or restaurant with a liquor license issued by the state can apply for a commercial license, as can existing pari-mutuels and social clubs. His 41-page bill outlines all of the criteria an establishment has to meet to receive a license.
Organizers of charity poker tournaments must submit an application for each tournament they want to hold at least 30 days in advance, and the state caps the rake a charity tournament poker operator can collect at 30 percent.
A tax rate is not defined in the text, but it calls for a portion of the tax collected to be distributed to the municipalities that are home to the cardrooms. A portion of the tax collected is also earmarked to help the homeless and the impoverished.
H.B. 222 would also require that all dealers and poker room employees are licensed by the state through the poker commission. The dealer would have to go through a training program that would be approved by the commission.
Menendez, a Democrat from San Antonio, attempted to get a version of this bill passed in 2007, but it didn’t make it past committee. Menendez told a local TV station that one of the reasons he’s pushing for the state to get involved with regulating the industry is the dangers that players potentially face when playing at underground establishments.
Earlier this year, a man was killed during a botched robbery attempt at an Arlington apartment complex where a group of friends had gathered to play cards and gamble, and in and around Dallas, a series of poker robberies by masked gunmen have struck backroom card games in shopping malls and even a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) facility.
Menendez believes that licensing and regulating poker in Texas would give players the protection they deserve.
