Texans Support Destination Resort Casinos
DownloadTexans Support Destination Resort Casinos
Texans Support Destination Resort Casinos
It’s no secret that Texas voters support destination resort casinos. Multiple polls over many years confirm that Texans want the right to vote on this issue, and that it will likely pass by a large margin if placed on the ballot.
The survey results set forth in this brief were developed by Wilson Research Strategies (WRS), one of the top political and corporate polling firms in the country. The firm has completed over 3,000 research engagements and its principals have made numerous appearances on MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, CNBC and C-SPAN. WRS surveyed 1,000 registered voters between February 27 and March 1, 2011, for this poll.
The constitutional amendment creating the Texas Gaming Commission and authorizing and regulating a limited number of destination resort casinos by licensed operators and certain Indian tribes to provide money for property tax relief and additional financial aid for higher education students.
1% Refused/Would Not Vote
3% Undecided
29% Total Against
67% Total For
Support for destination resort casinos is strong in all regions of the state.
The casino amendment has majority support in every region of Texas.
Region/Casino Support
Austin 59%
Central Texas 53%
Dallas/Ft. Worth 66%
East Texas 73%
Houston 73%
San Antonio 66%
South Texas 68%
West Texas 63%
75% of Democrats and 65% of Republicans would vote to allow destination resort casinos.
Democrats
6% Undecided/Ref
19% Vote Against
75% Vote For
Republicans
2% Undecided/Ref
33% Independents
Vote Against
65% Vote For
5% Undecided/Ref
34% Vote Against
61% Vote For
Texans want to decide whether to allow destination resort casinos.
The legislature should let the voters decide whether and what kind of expanded gambling options should be allowed in Texas.
Texans lose billions of dollars to out of state casinos, and are paying for the public schools and highways in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Texas could use that money to improve our own services.
Whether or not a person decides to gamble and how much they gamble is a matter of personal choice and responsibility.
A limited number of destination resort casinos that are regulated and taxed by the state is better than having tens of thousands of illegal and unregulated slot machines in places like convenience stores and strip malls.
Our Plan
Authorize a limited number of destination resort casinos. Places a constitutional amendment before Texas voters that would authorize up to eight destination resort casinos, and an additional eight licenses for slots at Texas tracks.
Dedicate the gaming tax revenues to the Property Tax Relief Fund. Dedication of these revenues will help to ensure that the legislature keeps the promise of lower school property tax rates.
Fund the TEXAS Grant College Scholarship Program. Dedicates other tax streams generated directly from these gaming facilities to fund college scholarships through the TEXAS Grant Program.
Allow each of the three recognized Indian tribes in Texas to operate a gaming facility on their tribal lands in accordance with state and federal law.
Our Goals
Let the voters decide. Our democratic system trusts the voters to elect legislators to serve in Austin who will enact their will. Poll after poll shows that as many as 85% of our state’s voters want to vote on the expansion of gaming. We should trust them to make the right choice.
Provide at least a billion dollars in state revenue for the upcoming biennium to help the state balance its budget. This would be mostly in the form of up-front fees from the companies winning the licenses to operate facilities.
Don’t feed the beast. Spend the revenues that are generated in a way that does not grow government, but instead lowers taxes and helps Texas remain competitive.
Create tens of thousands of direct jobs in the new gaming facilities. These are good jobs, with career paths, high salaries and benefits. And, they won’t cost the state one penny in incentives.
Require competition for the gaming licenses. Competition, not entitlement, is what will generate the greatest economic impact and benefit for the public. No one is automatically entitled to anything under this proposal.
Keep Texas dollars in Texas. World-class destination resort facilities will not only bring Texas gaming dollars back from adjoining states, but will significantly increase the flow of convention and tourism dollars into Texas.