It’s a Long, Long Road to Slots at Texas Tracks© Greg Melikov
May 23, 2005
Time is running out for lawmakers to act on allowing Las Vegas-style slot machines at Texas racetracks. This would require an amendment to the state constitution.
So, if such legislation passes, voters still would have a say. Even if Texans go for it, the Legislature must pass enabling measures.
The road to slots is long and not without potholes. For example, Gulfstream Park, one of my old stomping grounds in South Florida, looked like it would benefit when voters in Broward County approved slots.
Then the Florida Legislature recently adjourned after the House and Senate passed dramatically different bills. Those differences weren't reconciled and, to make matters worse, there are no plans for a special session this year. It appears the courts will settle the issue.
The referendum that passed in March required the Legislature to OK a bill by July 1. Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida's Native-American tribes, many of which operate casinos in the state, opposed the slots referendum.
It's a shame that the futures of many tracks depend on those video terminals, but that's the facts of life. Quite a few tracks have been resurrected because the machines attract gamblers and common folks.
The Sport of Kings after World War II lost out when fans embraced other sports such as pro baseball, football and basketball. Then lotteries blossomed around the country, siphoning dollars from tracks.
Enter casino gambling, thanks to flourishing Las Vegas, which has surpassed most vacation spots, including South Florida.
What hurt racing until simulcasting emerged was that if you couldn't visit the track of your choice, you couldn't wager unless you went the bookie route. Now there's online wagering and betting by phone. Simulcasting rescued tracks fighting to survive.
Slot machines are picking up where simulcasting left off. A case in point, Louisiana tracks that have them are doing much better than Texas tracks that don't. That's because purses climb as revenue from the slots roll in.
In fact, neighboring states such as New Mexico are attracting Texas horse owners, trainers and jockeys as well as Lone Star State residents looking for action.
Since slots were introduced at New Mexico tracks in 1999, horse breeding operations have soared to record numbers, fueling big increases in employment and salaries in all areas of its racing industry.
For all the facts and figures, check out Keep Texas Running (www.keeptexasrunning.com) a coalition of tracks, including Retama, and organizations.
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