As some of you know by now, The Chickasaw Nation, operating as Global Gaming Solutions, LLC, has purchased Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas for $47.8 million dollars on October 28th of this year. The Chickasaw Nation, which owns casinos throughout Oklahoma, including Winstar Casino, just north of the Texas border, bought Lone Star Park with the intention of opening a casino in Grand Prairie. At least that's how it started.
On August 21st of this year, The Chickasaw Nation Legislature, in General Resolution #GR 26-071, approved the formation of Global Gaming Solutions, "....formed under the laws of the state of Texas......for the purpose of operating a horse racing track and casino in Grand Prairie, Texas".
Whoops!! Can't have a "casino" in Texas, so on October 19th, there was an emergency session of the Chickasaw Nation Legislature called, and in General Resolution, #GR 27-004, they amended the language "casino" to "pari-mutual betting operation". Yeah, that will work. Nobody will notice that.
I guess I shouldn't be saying anything. I think that if the Chickasaw Nation put a casino down here in Grand Prairie, I would finally get the poker room that I have been trying get. Some poker friends of mine believe that a poker room is practically guaranteed. But I know that at the Winstar, the poker room takes up probably an eighth of the floorspace; the rest of the mile long casino is filled with slot machines. And if Global Gaming is shooting for profits, the slot machines will be the first things to be set up. Which is bad for poker. I think most of the uptight people (outspoken close-minded conservative Christians) will try to block the slot machines, and the poker room will suffer collateral damage.
What we need to do is follow the money. Let's watch the 2011 Texas Legislative session. A year and half until then is a long time for the Chickasaw Nation to make "donations" to your neighborhood senator or representative.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
AA vs. ?
I was in Las Vegas last week playing in the noon Caesar's Palace tournament, when my pocket KK's ran into pocket AA's. I lost that hand, and soon finished out on the money bubble in 9th. This past Saturday, I was in a tournament here in Dallas when my pocket AA's lost to KQ offsuit.
God, I really hate AA's.
As evidenced in the WSOP, when Jordan Smith got knocked out in 10th, having pocket AA's anymore it seems can get you in trouble. When did this happen?
I haven't played tournament poker for that long, maybe a couple of years, but it seems more and more when people turn over AA, they feel like they have to shout out something like "C'mon hold up one time"! Since when did such an overwhelming favorite hand turn into a race? I think it comes from all the analysts on TV that are telling the audience that a small pair or suited connectors are the way to bust AA. So now, there are less people folding to a big raise preflop, hoping suck out on somebody. I guess there's only one thing left to do....
kill all the analysts.
God, I really hate AA's.
As evidenced in the WSOP, when Jordan Smith got knocked out in 10th, having pocket AA's anymore it seems can get you in trouble. When did this happen?
I haven't played tournament poker for that long, maybe a couple of years, but it seems more and more when people turn over AA, they feel like they have to shout out something like "C'mon hold up one time"! Since when did such an overwhelming favorite hand turn into a race? I think it comes from all the analysts on TV that are telling the audience that a small pair or suited connectors are the way to bust AA. So now, there are less people folding to a big raise preflop, hoping suck out on somebody. I guess there's only one thing left to do....
kill all the analysts.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
King Rick
On May 8th, 2009, Texas Governor Rick Perry tightened his grip on his dictatorship on the State of Texas when he threatened to veto House Bill 222. What is HB 222?
Texas House Bill 222 was introduced by Rep. Jose Menendez of San Antonio that “related to the authorization and regulation of poker gaming and the duties of the Texas Lottery Commission; providing civil and criminal penalties”. In other words, it would have allowed for legal poker rooms in Texas operating under the authority of the Texas Lottery. The poker rooms would pay a licensing fee to operate legally in the State of Texas. It would have provided a safe and legal place for all poker players in Texas to enjoy a poker game and not have to worry about being robbed or arrested.
HB 222 was passed out of committee on April 14, 2009 and was placed on the General Calendar on May 8, 2009. When a bill is placed on the General Calendar, it comes to the floor of the House for a reading and a vote. You know, the democratic way of doing things.
To pass a bill in the House, a majority vote is needed. Despite the fact that there were enough votes to pass HB 222, our beloved Governor issued a warning that he would exercise a veto in the event that the bill passed. The reason he did this is that, while there was a majority vote that would pass the bill, the House would need 2/3 majority to override the veto, which the House did not have. There you go. Problem solved.
But does a solution lie in an old opinion given by then Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox? In Opinion No. JM-1267, he summarizes that, “The legislature, without amending section 47 of Article III of the Texas Constitution, may amend Chapter 47 of the Penal Code to authorize the holding of those gaming activities that do not comprise the elements of a lottery………….” In other words, change the penalty, not the law. Now most people think that to allow poker, we need to change our Constitution. Changing the Constitution requires a 2/3 majority vote. However, a vote to amend Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code only requires a simple majority.
So where does this leave the poker players? Out of luck, for now. Poker players who love to play Texas Hold ‘Em will not be able to play in the state that the game is named after. While poker is enjoying a surge of popularity that is unprecedented, poker players in Texas have to be content with driving to Winstar Casino in Oklahoma and Harrah’s and other casinos in Louisiana. Come to think of it, I wonder how much in “contributions” from these casinos made their way to the Governor’s pocket about the same time he was threatening a veto.
What are his concerns about poker? Does he worry about “gambling”? Why would he, when Joe Blow working minimum wage can go down to the corner store and buy a lottery ticket, gambling that he might actually be the 1 in 20 million. Maybe it’s the headache he has from the haranguing of Suzii Paynter, the director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, screeching in his ear that we will all become degenerates who will become addicts and go broke when we lose all our money. Maybe he can’t decide whether to work for the gambling interests, which gave him over $793,000 dollars in 2007-08. or the religious right, who view gambling as sin, even as they yell out “B-4” in the parish hall.
Sure, there are bigger issues that need to be addressed. But if we can’t even play a game of cards, for heaven’s sake, without fear of somebody pointing a gun at us, police issue or otherwise, then maybe we need to make a change. It’s time to make your voice heard. Why not contact the Governor directly through the link below, and let him know that you will do everything that you can do to prevent him from being re-elected. I, for one, would rather have someone who will work within a democracy rather than some guy that has forgotten who actually counts in this state. The Voters.
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact/assistance.aspx
Texas House Bill 222 was introduced by Rep. Jose Menendez of San Antonio that “related to the authorization and regulation of poker gaming and the duties of the Texas Lottery Commission; providing civil and criminal penalties”. In other words, it would have allowed for legal poker rooms in Texas operating under the authority of the Texas Lottery. The poker rooms would pay a licensing fee to operate legally in the State of Texas. It would have provided a safe and legal place for all poker players in Texas to enjoy a poker game and not have to worry about being robbed or arrested.
HB 222 was passed out of committee on April 14, 2009 and was placed on the General Calendar on May 8, 2009. When a bill is placed on the General Calendar, it comes to the floor of the House for a reading and a vote. You know, the democratic way of doing things.
To pass a bill in the House, a majority vote is needed. Despite the fact that there were enough votes to pass HB 222, our beloved Governor issued a warning that he would exercise a veto in the event that the bill passed. The reason he did this is that, while there was a majority vote that would pass the bill, the House would need 2/3 majority to override the veto, which the House did not have. There you go. Problem solved.
But does a solution lie in an old opinion given by then Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox? In Opinion No. JM-1267, he summarizes that, “The legislature, without amending section 47 of Article III of the Texas Constitution, may amend Chapter 47 of the Penal Code to authorize the holding of those gaming activities that do not comprise the elements of a lottery………….” In other words, change the penalty, not the law. Now most people think that to allow poker, we need to change our Constitution. Changing the Constitution requires a 2/3 majority vote. However, a vote to amend Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code only requires a simple majority.
So where does this leave the poker players? Out of luck, for now. Poker players who love to play Texas Hold ‘Em will not be able to play in the state that the game is named after. While poker is enjoying a surge of popularity that is unprecedented, poker players in Texas have to be content with driving to Winstar Casino in Oklahoma and Harrah’s and other casinos in Louisiana. Come to think of it, I wonder how much in “contributions” from these casinos made their way to the Governor’s pocket about the same time he was threatening a veto.
What are his concerns about poker? Does he worry about “gambling”? Why would he, when Joe Blow working minimum wage can go down to the corner store and buy a lottery ticket, gambling that he might actually be the 1 in 20 million. Maybe it’s the headache he has from the haranguing of Suzii Paynter, the director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, screeching in his ear that we will all become degenerates who will become addicts and go broke when we lose all our money. Maybe he can’t decide whether to work for the gambling interests, which gave him over $793,000 dollars in 2007-08. or the religious right, who view gambling as sin, even as they yell out “B-4” in the parish hall.
Sure, there are bigger issues that need to be addressed. But if we can’t even play a game of cards, for heaven’s sake, without fear of somebody pointing a gun at us, police issue or otherwise, then maybe we need to make a change. It’s time to make your voice heard. Why not contact the Governor directly through the link below, and let him know that you will do everything that you can do to prevent him from being re-elected. I, for one, would rather have someone who will work within a democracy rather than some guy that has forgotten who actually counts in this state. The Voters.
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact/assistance.aspx
Poker in Texas
I am starting this blog in the hopes that a few people will read it and decide that they have had enough of Governor Rick Perry. We need to get a Governor who has actually played a game of poker, and not someone who thinks a game of cards is a sin.
I am not a journalist, or a liberal who hates having a Republican in charge. I'm just a poker player who loves the game of Texas Hold 'Em, and I hate the fact that I have to drive to Oklahoma to play poker. It seems ridiculous to me that we have a lottery here in Texas, yet we can't legally play poker.
I have been playing poker for many years, but it was always a rare Saturday night game at someones' house. I could never scare up a game until the recent boom in Poker started in 2003. Now you can find a underground card game anywhere in the D/FW area where I live, as long as you don't mind the thought of people bursting in and pointing a gun at you. Other than that, your only option is to drive to Louisiana or to the Winstar Casino in Oklahoma, just over the border.
Ahhhh, Winstar. I'm not sure that everyone knows that Winstar Casino, at Exit 1 just over the Red River, has become the fifth largest casino in the world. Yes, you read that right.....5th largest casino in the WORLD!! Where do you think that money came from? The farmers in Thackerville, the closest town to Winstar? Yes, that must be it. Thackerville, pop. 450
Now I'm not saying that Winstar gets ALL their money from Texans, but then again, they didn't put the casino in Oklahoma City, did they?
In this economy we need to bring some money back to Texas. We are hemorrhaging money to Oklahoma and Louisiana. It's time to start keeping our money here in Texas. Electing a new governor is the best way to start.
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