The Elephant In The Room: 8-Liners 777

gran · 05-12-2009,

No Matter How You Feel About Gambling On This Island It Is Not Legal At This Time And The 8 Liners Are Abusing The Law.....and Now They Are Abusing The Town....the Latest One Lied To Our City Planner Last Week And Said He Was Opening A Children Amusement Store...it Was Open Tonight And I Went In To Find About Fifty 8-liners And Was Told No One Under 21 Is Allowed.....this Person Had The Nerve To Call A Special Meetiing Of Planning And Zoning And Lie To Them Also....this Is The Beginning Of "mafia" Running Our Island Not The People Running Our Island.....someone Should Be Furious

Tacos · 05-13-2009,

Gran, where would you rank enforcement of laws regarding illegal 8 liners in order of importance compared the enforcement of other criminal laws?

gran · 05-13-2009,

what you are asking is ...what comes first the chicken or the egg....one leads to more of the other......do we need more enforcement i do not know,,,but one of the things that bothered me was the person lied to our city planner...is that a heathy way to conduct business...do we think that is unimportant.....i think it is what quality of a town do you want....

Spilulu · 05-14-2009,

One of my big issues with the "game rooms" is that they serve free alcohol to anyone "playing the games". Because they do not sell it, but give it away, they are not required to have a liquor license. So I guess that means no TABC regulation, no TABC stings, no responsibility? It just doesn't seem quite right to me.

Russ2064 · 05-14-2009,

I am not a gambler and am not a fan of legalized gambling coming to the Island. Everyone knows that the game rooms in Cameron County operate illegally paying out cash. Do you think that they would have the number of game rooms and people playing these games just for amusement or a case of toilet paper? That said I also do not care what people do with their own money.
The problem as I see it is that there is selective enforcement with Cameron County and the local police raiding a few arcades and letting others operate with impugnity. Cameron county also has a stake in the number of machines since they collect a $15 per machine liscensing fee. No large scale arcades exist in Hidalgo County since their DA declared all out war on illegal arcades in the late 1990's.
As I stated earlier I am not in favor of legalizing gambling on the Island,but if it exists anyway why not legalize and tax it. I feel the same about Marijuana,I don't have much use for the stuff myself,but in some ways it is less damaging than alcohol. Ever hear of someone getting stoned and beating up their wife?
Does anyone know how these game rooms are taxed other than a per machine fee? Anytime the authorities raid one they have several thousand dollars in cash on hand. I'm sure they are paying their fair share of taxes on that money. At least if they were legal the money could be taxed and sent back into the community instead of lining a certain fews pockets.
My last comment on this issue is that if they were legal at least they could be regulated. As far as I can tell the owners of the machines set the odds and I am sure that they are not in the favor of the player.
I see only two options. legalize them or shut 'em down.

Pangolin · 05-14-2009,

8-Liners are legal in the State of Texas. The problem has always been with the pay-out (the fuzzy stuffed animal ruling by the AG).

I do feel a bit miffed that somebody represented themselves before the City as wanting to start a children's store, and ended up with a bunch of 8-liners, "nobody allowed under 21." Must be those fuzzy stuffed animals - yeah right.

Tim · 05-14-2009,

With all due respect, Pangolin and others, you guys are SO naive. These places are GAMBLING not GAMING. They lie to get to operate. I don't care whether it is Salsa's or Jake's or this new one, they misrepresent themselves. I know people who work in them who say they pay out in cash...... big cash.

GAMBLING is not yet legal in Texas and may not be for many years. No matter what the legislators do in Austin, it still has to pass the voters of Texas. This is still the Bible belt. It will NOT pass in the foreseeable future and these guys are taking advantage of the town, with the full knowledge of the DA of Cameron County. Does the AG know?

Money is being spent in these places that could be spent in our good businesses.

trini · 05-14-2009,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim

GAMBLING is not yet legal in Texas and may not be for many years.

http://www.kickapooluckyeaglecasino.com/

You need to get around a bit more.

Tim · 05-14-2009,

I did not say it is not done; I said it is not LEGAL.

Indian Casinos are a whole different animal.

trini · 05-14-2009,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pangolin

I do feel a bit miffed that somebody represented themselves before the City as wanting to start a children's store, and ended up with a bunch of 8-liners, "nobody allowed under 21." Must be those fuzzy stuffed animals - yeah right.

Could also be a case of reality setting in and the will to survive and salvage their investment. Maybe they figured out that the options to succeed on the Island are very limited. Cannot really blame them, just like those aspiring actresses who go to Hollywood to make it big and end up as prostitutes.

trini · 05-14-2009,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim

I did not say it is not done; I said it is not LEGAL.

Indian Casinos are a whole different animal.

It is in Texas and it seems very legal. I've been there a couple of times. BIG money. ;-)

And wait until you see their expansion plans...The Mirage Eagle Pass!

Seashell · 05-14-2009,

Trini

Follow the signs to the Kickapoo Indian Reservation and the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino.

Gambling is legal on Indian Reservations - not just anywhere in Texas.

Tacos · 05-14-2009,

Rumor has it that lost members of the Carancua tribe will be taking over the Leaning Tower of Padre and turning it into a casino.

trini · 05-14-2009,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas

Rumor has it that lost members of the Carancua tribe will be taking over the Leaning Tower of Padre and turning it into a casino.

I wish it happened. It would be the most successful enterprise ever on SPI. Vegas-like setting with a leaning tower of Pisa, canals of Venice and a culture unable to manage itself out of a grocery bag. Casino Italia!

Russ2064 · 05-14-2009,

Back in the 90's the Kickapoo's tried to open a Casino in San Benito. They bought the old city airport that is now a truck driving school. They were stonewalled by the Bingo lobby and a certain state senator that did their bidding.
Just a little interesting history. Kind of ties into the Island if you look at the parties involved.

05-12-2009,	#1
gran GOLD Member Super Poster 100+ Join Date: 2007 Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas	The Elephant In The Room: 8-Liners 777 No Matter How You Feel About Gambling On This Island It Is Not Legal At This Time And The 8 Liners Are Abusing The Law.....and Now They Are Abusing The Town....the Latest One Lied To Our City Planner Last Week And Said He Was Opening A Children Amusement Store...it Was Open Tonight And I Went In To Find About Fifty 8-liners And Was Told No One Under 21 Is Allowed.....this Person Had The Nerve To Call A Special Meetiing Of Planning And Zoning And Lie To Them Also....this Is The Beginning Of "mafia" Running Our Island Not The People Running Our Island.....someone Should Be Furious

05-13-2009,	#2
Tacos Member Super Poster 100+ Join Date: 2007 Northern Cali	Re: The Elephant In The Room-8liners Gran, where would you rank enforcement of laws regarding illegal 8 liners in order of importance compared the enforcement of other criminal laws?

05-13-2009,	#3
gran GOLD Member Super Poster 100+ Join Date: 2007 Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas	Re: The Elephant In The Room-8liners what you are asking is ...what comes first the chicken or the egg....one leads to more of the other......do we need more enforcement i do not know,,,but one of the things that bothered me was the person lied to our city planner...is that a heathy way to conduct business...do we think that is unimportant.....i think it is what quality of a town do you want....

05-14-2009,	#4
Spilulu Member Frequent Poster 50+ Join Date: 2007 South Padre Island	Re: The Elephant In The Room-8liners One of my big issues with the "game rooms" is that they serve free alcohol to anyone "playing the games". Because they do not sell it, but give it away, they are not required to have a liquor license. So I guess that means no TABC regulation, no TABC stings, no responsibility? It just doesn't seem quite right to me.

05-14-2009,	#5
Russ2064 Member Frequent Poster 50+ Join Date: 2008 Rancho Viejo	Re: The Elephant In The Room-8liners I am not a gambler and am not a fan of legalized gambling coming to the Island. Everyone knows that the game rooms in Cameron County operate illegally paying out cash. Do you think that they would have the number of game rooms and people playing these games just for amusement or a case of toilet paper? That said I also do not care what people do with their own money. The problem as I see it is that there is selective enforcement with Cameron County and the local police raiding a few arcades and letting others operate with impugnity. Cameron county also has a stake in the number of machines since they collect a $15 per machine liscensing fee. No large scale arcades exist in Hidalgo County since their DA declared all out war on illegal arcades in the late 1990's. As I stated earlier I am not in favor of legalizing gambling on the Island,but if it exists anyway why not legalize and tax it. I feel the same about Marijuana,I don't have much use for the stuff myself,but in some ways it is less damaging than alcohol. Ever hear of someone getting stoned and beating up their wife? Does anyone know how these game rooms are taxed other than a per machine fee? Anytime the authorities raid one they have several thousand dollars in cash on hand. I'm sure they are paying their fair share of taxes on that money. At least if they were legal the money could be taxed and sent back into the community instead of lining a certain fews pockets. My last comment on this issue is that if they were legal at least they could be regulated. As far as I can tell the owners of the machines set the odds and I am sure that they are not in the favor of the player. I see only two options. legalize them or shut 'em down.

05-14-2009,	#6
Pangolin Member Super Poster 100+ Join Date: 2008 Maine	Re: The Elephant In The Room-8liners 8-Liners are legal in the State of Texas. The problem has always been with the pay-out (the fuzzy stuffed animal ruling by the AG). I do feel a bit miffed that somebody represented themselves before the City as wanting to start a children's store, and ended up with a bunch of 8-liners, "nobody allowed under 21." Must be those fuzzy stuffed animals - yeah right.

05-14-2009,	#7
Tim Member Super Poster 100+ Join Date: 2007 South Padre Island	Re: The Elephant In The Room-8liners With all due respect, Pangolin and others, you guys are SO naive. These places are GAMBLING not GAMING. They lie to get to operate. I don't care whether it is Salsa's or Jake's or this new one, they misrepresent themselves. I know people who work in them who say they pay out in cash...... big cash. GAMBLING is not yet legal in Texas and may not be for many years. No matter what the legislators do in Austin, it still has to pass the voters of Texas. This is still the Bible belt. It will NOT pass in the foreseeable future and these guys are taking advantage of the town, with the full knowledge of the DA of Cameron County. Does the AG know? Money is being spent in these places that could be spent in our good businesses.

05-14-2009,	#12
Seashell Member Super Poster 100+ Join Date: 2009 Port Isabel, Texas	Re: The Elephant In The Room-8liners Trini Follow the signs to the Kickapoo Indian Reservation and the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino. Gambling is legal on Indian Reservations - not just anywhere in Texas.

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