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Illegal Slots Raided In Texas

A massive raid on illegal slot machines in Tarrant County, Texas, has prompted some pundits to question what the big deal is, anyway. Recently, a posse of Sheriff’s Department deputies seized more than seventy five-reel, eight-payline slot game terminals from the J&S Game Room in South Fort Worth, arrested four people, and confiscated twenty-four thousand dollars. A representative for the department proudly held up the raid as an example of ongoing efforts to “stomp out” the menace of illicit gambling in Tarrant County.

But really, what is the difference between legal and illegal gambling in Texas, short of legislative definition? The lottery is alive and thriving in the Lone Star State, and citizens are allowed to buy scratch-off cards. There is legal horseracing (including the Grand Prairie racetrack in nearby Dallas County) and pari-mutuel betting, and bingo parlors are legal and swarming. What, exactly, distinguishes these forms of playing ones luck from slot machines, other than prejudice against the so-called “one-armed bandits?”

An article in the Examiner daily newspaper pointed out the fact that the Legislature is now giving serious consideration to authorizing slot machines and other forms of casino gambling in order to boost the state budget through the rich taxable revenues that will result. Reportedly, the state is also considering the legalization and regulation of marijuana for the same reason. Is there any reason that these things are currently illegal, other than the state not needing to make money off them until now? It’s a good point, we think.

Back to March 2009 Archive.