Many players, including some professionals show support for Menendez’s proposition, that Texas should join California and Montana and create a safe regulated environment for poker games.
There was barely a whisper from the anti-gambling faction which adds credence to the National Poker Players Alliance (NPPA) that poker is not strictly gambling.
'It's one of the most difficult games to play and requires a consummate amount of skill,' said Michael Bolcerek, president of the NPPA, which has more than 20,000 members in Texas alone.
Some members of the online gambling community are wary of this argument as it could polarise the industry and reduce the chances of online casino success.
The bill would rule on the location of the games, and race tracks, and some establishments with liquor licenses are prime candidates. Sexually oriented businesses would not be considered. Charitable tournaments are also being proposed, and penalties on illegal games would increase.
Currently in Texas, private games are allowed on condition that there is no profit and all participants have an equal chance of winning, though illegally organised games are said to be thriving.
Mike Lavigne, treasurer of the Texas Poker Coalition, said that the bill will not stray into the federal issue of online poker playing.
Many players, including some professionals show support for Menendez’s proposition, that Texas should join California and Montana and create a safe regulated environment for poker games.