Texas State Representative Wants to Legalize Poker

Jose Menendez, the State Representative for Texas has created a bill that would create a poker gaming commission to oversee the poker card room industry in the state of Texas. The gaming commission would operate under the state’s lottery wing and help approve card room licenses, equipment for poker play and ensure regulation of licensing holders.

The new bill is called H.B. 222 and is also known as the Poker Gaming Act of 2009. The bill would allow people to apply for two kinds of poker licenses: One for charity events and one for professional, commercial poker rooms.

Bar and restaurant owners with a liquor license from the state of Texas could apply for a commercial license. The bill, created by Menendez states several criteria that the businesses must adhere to before being able to receive a license.

Charity poker tournament organizers would have to submit an application for each tournament they would like to hold at least thirty days in advance. The state would have a cap on the amount the operator can keep at thirty percent.

Passing of the bill would also require that all poker room employees and dealers have to be licensed by the state through the poker commission. Dealers would have to go through a training program before they would be approved by the commission.

Menendez tried to get the bill passed in 2007 but it did not make it past the committee. Menendez hopes that with 2009 his bill will get a better opportunity of passing.