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Nanny State

Texas Two-Step, Indeed

Radley Balko | 6.20.2007 4:32 PM

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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!

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Radley Balko is a journalist at The Washington Post.

Nanny StateOnline Gambling
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  1. D.A. Ridgely   18 years ago

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

  2. Lost_In_Translation   18 years ago

    i've never liked the idea of a state lottery

  3. SPD   18 years ago

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

  4. Scooby   18 years ago

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

  5. J sub D   18 years ago

    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.

  6. Paul   18 years ago

    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?

  7. tlxtftrf   18 years ago

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

  8. LarryA   18 years ago

    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.

  9. Eddy   18 years ago

    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.

  10. joe   18 years ago

    Wouldn't raiding poker games be revenue-positive?

  11. place your bets, takes your lo   18 years ago

    Sometimes the house loses...

  12. LarryA   18 years ago

    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.

  13. Shelby   18 years ago

    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.)

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