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April 9, 2009 · The Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas begins its 13th season today with the track's parent company under bankruptcy protection.
Lone Star is hoping that legislators and voters will approve adding slot machines at the park as a way to increase revenue.
Lone Star Park is the state's biggest of seven para-mutuel betting tracks, and has been making money every year.
Vice President G. W. Hail said the park is unaffected by parent Magna Entertainment's bankruptcy filing. But with competing tracks in border states offering slot machines, Hail said his track needs slots to level the playing field. He also said the machines could help add thousands of jobs needed in these tough times.
“It's an additional revenue stream we don't have today, it would keep about a billion dollars from going out of state,” said Hail.
For worried opponents, Hail said the track is already regulated for gaming by the state racing commission, so adding casino type slot machines would be a natural fit.
Suzii Paynter, with the Christian Life Commission, said slot machines would introduce a predatory business model that Texas does not need.
“When people lose more money than they intended to spend at a slot machine, the casino organization that runs the slot barns at race tracks have the authority of a bank to go in and repossess your car, to take savings, to take your belongings; that's not entertainment,”
said Paynter. “That's not a business model that leads to good community citizens.”
Paynter is worried about gambling addictions that lead to credit card fraud and other crimes, even when those affected are a tiny fraction of the population.
Austin lawmakers considered nearly a dozen casino bills in committee sessions Wednesday including the bill that would allow slot machines.
A consolidation of these bills is expected to come up again in a few weeks. |
