Introduction to Texas Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Dec 27, 2019 COLUMBIA, Mo. — For Albert Newsome, the short drive to play the slots at the Fast Lane gas station near his house is more appealing than making a 20-mile trip to the nearest casino in Boonville. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device.

Texas slot machine casino gambling consists of two American Indian tribal casinos with Class II competition-style or bingo-style electronic gaming machines. Carnival cruise ships offer onboard casinos when traveling to international destinations.

Texas does not have theoretical payout limits at its tribal casinos. No return statistics are publicly available.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Texas*

The minimum legal gambling age in Texas depends upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 21
• Poker Rooms: 21
• Bingo: 21 in casinos, 18 in churches, and less than 18 with an adult
• Lottery: 18
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

The Texas government and the state’s three federally-recognized tribes have, so far, been unable to negotiate tribal-state compacts. Without these gaming compacts, Texas prohibits tribal casinos from having Class III Vegas-style electronic gaming machines.

However, Texas tribal casinos can offer Class II bingo-style machines. Although these machines appear as traditional slot machines, they are not Class III machines. Players compete for prizes against other players throughout a casino’s gaming floor.

There have been substantial lawsuits by the Texas government to shut down tribal casinos offering Class II gaming, with some successes. Various court filings and rulings regarding the legality of tribal casinos in Texas have continued since the late 1980s.

Texas challenges the legality of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 based on the argument that the federal Restoration Act of 1987 takes legal precedence. This somewhat earlier Restoration Act gave federal recognition to the Tigua and Alabama-Coushatta tribes while also explicitly forbidding gambling.

None of the pari-mutual racetracks in Texas offer electronic gaming machines.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Texas

It is legal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Texas without restriction on its date of manufacture.

Gaming Control Board in Texas

Texas does not have a state gaming commission as it prohibits non-tribal casinos. No tribal-state gaming compact exists. However, the Texas Lottery Commission exists and operates the Texas Lottery.

Casinos in Texas

There are two American Indian tribal casinos in Texas as well as up to five international cruise ships with onboard casinos.

The largest casino in Texas is Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel with 3,300 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Naskila Gaming with 365 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in Texas

The commercial casinos available in Texas are up to five cruise ships. Onboard casinos are only open while in international waters.

Carnival Cruise Lines operates these cruise ships sailing out of the Port of Galveston.

Tribal Casinos in Texas

The two tribal casinos in Texas are:

• Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel in Eagle Pass located 143 miles southwest from San Antonio.
• Naskila Gaming in Livingston located 74 miles north-northeast from Houston.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Texas slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Texas is:

• North: Oklahoma Slots
• East, Arkansas Slots, Louisiana Slots, and the Gulf of Mexico
• South: The country of Mexico
• North and West: New Mexico Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Texas.

Our Texas Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Texas? If so, join our Texas slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Texas. Join us!

Payout Returns in Texas

Texas has no theoretical payout limits established as the state prohibits slot machines. Further, no return statistics are available.

Summary of Texas Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Texas slot machine casino gambling consists of two American Indian tribal casinos offering bingo-style video gaming machines. The Port of Galveston offers Carnival cruise ships with onboard casinos open while sailing in international waters.

Neither theoretical payouts nor return statistics exist as Texas prohibits land-based casinos with Vegas-style slot machines.

Annual Progress in Texas Slot Machine Casino Gambling

In the last year, there has been little to no change in the slots gaming industry in Texas.

Related Articles from Professor Slots

Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots

• Previous: Tennessee Slot Machine Casino Gambling
• Next: U.S. Virgin Islands Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC

This is a list of casinos in Alabama.

List of casinos[edit]

Electronic Gambling Machines Near Me Location

History[edit]

Legality of electronic bingo[edit]

Alabama has had many 'electronic bingo' parlors which feature slot machines that are or are similar to Class II gaming machines. The legality of these vary from county to county, and are in a near-constant state of flux. In particular, most such parlors were closed through the efforts of an anti-gambling task force put in place by Gov. Bob Riley early in 2010. But in March 2010, the Alabama Supreme Court determined that Riley did not have the authority to convene such a task force, but that power rested with Attorney GeneralTroy King. Shortly after the task force was sidelined, e-bingo parlors reopened in cities which had previously enacted ordinances permitting and regulating such halls. Additionally, Victoryland also reopened after a brief closure. (Greenetrack and the three Poarch Band of Indians gaming facilities did not close.)

At one time, several counties in Alabama featured numerous e-bingo halls, most notably Walker County, with halls large and small mostly concentrated along the former U.S. Highway 78 between Jasper and the Jefferson County line, ranging in size from converted small storefronts to large halls with hundreds of machines. But a ruling in a lawsuit by the Walker County sheriff determined that the machines in the county's halls were illegal, and the halls were forced to close. District attorneys in Jefferson County used that ruling to justify their order of closure for halls in that county. However, several large halls in Fairfield remained open because the city had passed specific ordinances permitting them. Those halls closed during the governor's task force raids in January 2010, but reopened on March 12, 2010 when the task force was invalidated. They again closed briefly in April 2010, as a part of the ongoing controversy over their legality and a dispute over jurisdiction between Riley and King.

In late May 2010, in yet another legal action in the anti-gambling feud between Riley and King, the Alabama Supreme Court determined that Riley had the ultimate authority to appoint an anti-gambling task force. Riley then announced plans to reactivate the task force, and the district attorney in the Bessemer Cutoff area of Jefferson County (including Fairfield) advised halls there to shut down immediately, or risk having their machines seized. King announced he would no longer interfere with the governor's efforts. Halls began closures on May 24, 2010. Victoryland and Greenetrack remained open for the time being. Poarch Creek operations were not affected, as the state has no jurisdiction over them.

Fairfield legalized large electronic bingo halls in mid-2009, with certain requirements for minimum number of gaming machines. Bamaco Bingo opened in September 2009 with more than 800 machines installed and announced plans for up to 5,000 machines. Two other large e-bingo halls, Bingo Fantastico and World Bingo, later opened adjacent to Bamaco, followed by Legacy Bingo in March 2010. All except Bingo Fantastico occupied empty 'big box' retail stores; Bingo Fantastico replaced a roller skating rink. Three other small bingo halls, including one that shared space with an automotive repair shop, were also located in Fairfield. The city received a permit fee of $100 per machine per month, and bingo was a major tax source for the city.

Bessemer, Alabama had some e-bingo halls in place, but their legality was in question due to a dispute between the city council, which voted to allow the halls, and the mayor, who opposed gambling. Those halls remained closed after the task force invalidation. Other smaller halls were located in cities and unincorporated areas near Bessemer; they also closed later.

Two other large e-bingo halls, Country Crossing in Dothan and White Hall Gaming Center between Selma and Montgomery, were shut down by the task force.

Throughout the controversy, the Poarch Creek band's operations not only continued, they expanded. Facilities in Wetumpka, Atmore and suburban Montgomery added to their gaming floors, and the Wetumpka and Atmore facilities added new high-rise hotels.

In July 2010, after all legal avenues were exhausted, state police and the task force shut down machines at Greenetrack in Eutaw, Alabama, then later at Victoryland. And on October 4, 2010, federal prosecutors filed charges against and arrested Victoryland owner Milton McGregor and several members of the Alabama State Senate in a corruption investigation regarding the entire affair.^[1]

In 2016, after winning a ruling in a federal court against the state, Victoryland reopened its electronic bingo floor on September 14, 2016.^[2]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^Byerele, Dana (2010-10-04). 'VictoryLand owner, state senators arrested'. The Tuscaloosa News.
2. ^Moon, Josh (September 14, 2016). ''Victoryland reopens to large crowd''. Montgomery Advertiser.

External links[edit]

• Media related to Casinos in Alabama at Wikimedia Commons

Electronic Gambling Machines Near Me Craigslist