Voter approval required for video gambling

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Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 | 9:39 a.m.

AUSTIN -- The Texas Legislature may not authorize the operation of video gambling machines without voter approval, Attorney General Greg Abbott has ruled.

Abbott stated in an opinion issued Tuesday that the state Constitution would need amending to legalize the games. That would require voter approval.

Several bills were introduced this year to allow video poker and other electronic gambling machines at horse and dog racetracks. The machines would have been operated under direction of the Texas Lottery Commission.

Republican Rep. Frank J. Corte Jr. of San Antonio, chairman of the Committee on Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations, requested the opinion. The Legislature failed to approve the gaming measures because of strong opposition from Republican leadership.