Texas Two-Step, Indeed

Radley Balko | June 20, 2007

In a fun reversal of roles, the Texas Lottery may have to dip into public school funds to cover payouts on one of its guaranteed-jackpot games.

But at least the state's SWAT teams still have money to raid private poker games!

Comments

D.A. Ridgely|6.20.07 @ 4:42PM|#

[Insert "... know when to fold 'em" joke here]

|6.20.07 @ 5:06PM|#

i've never liked the idea of a state lottery

SPD|6.20.07 @ 5:40PM|#

Why not have a privatized lottery company (or companies) and pay a licensing fee to the state as its cut?

Scooby|6.20.07 @ 5:54PM|#

Selling off the lottery was considered this year in the legislature. It didn't go far.

|6.20.07 @ 6:10PM|#

Why not have a privatized lottery company (or companies) and pay a licensing fee to the state as its cut?

Why not have a privatized lottery company (or companies) and pay the same fees and taxes that any other businesses pay. You know, like the 1 hour Martinizing place down the street.

Paul|6.20.07 @ 6:11PM|#

On the raiding of private poker parties... like anything else of this type, someone-- someone is turning these people in. I mean, think about it, no one's kicking in my door. A wrong-door drug raid you can at least point to the fact that they meant to hit the place next door. But someone is turning in their neighbor. A pissed off neighbor, an annoyed family member-- who's doing it?

tlxtftrf|6.20.07 @ 6:17PM|#

shame on you radley for stealing fark stories without citing your sources

LarryA|6.20.07 @ 7:32PM|#

But someone is turning in their neighbor. A pissed off neighbor, an annoyed family member-- who's doing it?

One would presume if Pokerati.com is really "The news source for Dallas poker ... As always, Pokerati has all the insider scoop and firsthand accounts" that someone in blue might be listening in.

|6.20.07 @ 9:39PM|#

Does this mean that price controls don't work any better in the lottery?

Oh, the neighbor doing the turning in is the one with tire tracks on the lawn the next morning.

joe|6.20.07 @ 10:49PM|#

Wouldn't raiding poker games be revenue-positive?

|6.21.07 @ 1:07AM|#

Sometimes the house loses...

LarryA|6.21.07 @ 11:40AM|#

In a fun reversal of roles, the Texas Lottery may have to dip into public school funds to cover payouts on one of its guaranteed-jackpot games.

Which may actually be a better use for the cash than what the public schools would have spent it for.

|6.21.07 @ 2:44PM|#

Of course, having a state-monopolized lottery makes it even more important to raid private gambling. Otherwise people will get to thinking they can gamble without giving the state its 50% cut. (I wonder how much money evaporates after the cops seize it and before the logs are filled out.)