Eight Liner Raid Highlights Texas’ Gambling Hypocrisy

From the Star Telegram-

Sheriff’s deputies early Friday arrested 15 people and seized 300 “eight-liner” gaming machines in what they say is their largest raid ever on illegal gambling sites in Tarrant County.

Readers of this blog know my disdain for victimless crime enforcement. If consenting adults want to place bets there is no reason to send the police in. What exactly was the Tarrant County Sheriff keeping us safe from? Apparently, the threat of winning cash from a slot machine.

“All five of these locations are violating the law by paying cash out to their customers as they win playing these slot machines,” Chief Simonds said. “They may claim ignorance of the law but they know exactly what they’re doing.

I don’t know how Tarrant county residents slept at night knowing that individuals were being paid cash for winning bets. I guess these eight liner payouts are somehow much more dangerous than the hundreds of lottery ticket/scratch off payouts that happen every day in Tarrant County.

Texas law doesn’t ban gambling, it just bans gambling that isn’t run by the State (horse/dog tracks aside). The State hypocritically promotes lottery sales while arresting eight liner patrons.

When gambling is legalized Texans won’t be forced to wager in illegal eight liner parlors (or Shreveport). Until then, law enforcement is working hard to protect our State’s gambling monopoly.

Dennis says:

October 12, 2008 at 9:18 am

Well said!!
Dennis

Michael Pack says:

October 12, 2008 at 2:47 pm

For years ,at my golf club,at the end of a round my friends and I would play tong for a dollar open.Now the state says thats a minor felony and we were told by the owner to stop.They took our poker and our cigars.Next they’ll out law our skins game.

me says:

October 13, 2008 at 1:10 pm

it’s not about the gambling. it’s the money they are seizing. more money to spend on stuff they want.

Michael in LH says:

October 13, 2008 at 8:15 pm

I feel safer already.

Sherry says:

November 8, 2008 at 9:06 am

Read the meeting minutes from the Oct 29th Texas Lotto Commission meeting. They are comparing those that designate themselves as “Professional Gamblers” to murderers and pedophiles. Seriously, somthing needs to be done about that commission and gambling needs to be legal in Texas!

Jamie says:

February 25, 2009 at 7:13 pm

Now that ” gambling ” is coming up for another vote I understand that the Baptists intend to fight it as they have before . I happen to come from a Christian family and have taken two wonderful Baptists to Shreveport and Okl. for many years now and have encountered throngs of Baptists and other Christians at these establishments . I resent the fact that some folks wish to impose their wishes on others . Not very
Christian ” in my opinion !!! Many Texans could use the jobs that land-based Casinos provide and we all could certainly use tax relief which this should bring provided that niether the State nor the Casino operators are GREEDY !!! I hate to see the rivers of money flowing from Texas into other states and , at a time when we are asked to conserve energy , we are ” FORCED ” to travel many miles for our entertainment .

Eight liners were never a threat ( except perhaps to the Texas Lotto and the Texas Scratch – off scam !!! ) . Would seem that law enforecment would have far better and more productive activities than raiding these little entertainment halls . I do think they should eventually be regulated and be required to post their pay-out percentage .
Jamie
Posted by: Jamie | February 25, 2009 7:07 PM