Texas lawmaker seeks to block...

[Bob Of Burleson]

...approval of new form of betting

By Tim Eaton - American-Statesman Staff

A state lawmaker is questioning the authority of the Texas Racing Commission as it considers a move to allow a new form of betting in Texas.

Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, wrote to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to request an opinion regarding the Racing Commission’s authority to allow so-called “historical racing,” where bettors use electronic terminals to wager on already-run races that have been stripped of all identifying markings. The commission is considering a proposal by track owners in Texas to bring the slot machine-like terminals to Texas horse and dog tracks as a way to buoy the struggling racing industry.

The public comment period ends Monday, and the earliest the commission can vote will be August.

Flynn, who requested the opinion Tuesday as the chairman of the House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations, said he doesn’t believe the commission can approve the new form of gambling.

Flynn disagreed with track owners who say historical racing, sometimes called instant racing, equates to another form of legal pari-mutuel betting. Rather, Flynn said the introduction of the proposed terminals would amount to expansion of gambling in Texas and would require the approval of two-thirds of the Legislature and a vote of the electorate.

The commission also would be skirting the Legislature if it approves historical racing, Flynn added.

“We make public policy, not the commissions,” he said. “There is a question about usurping the authority of the Legislature.”

Robert Schmidt, chair of the Racing Commission, said the office is still in the fact-finding stage, but members continue to believe that the commission has the authority to allow historical racing in Texas, if it chooses to.

He added: “We would welcome an attorney general opinion.”

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[GRANDPA]

That sounds like what my Lions Club did as a fund raiser. We seemed to do pretty good with it & was fun too.