Opening Statement:
We, the undersigned residents, parents, and business owners, are formally requesting immediate investigation and enforcement action regarding “legal casino” or gambling-style establishments operating within our neighborhoods.

Texas law currently prohibits most forms of gambling. Despite this, a growing number of pop-up operations appear to be exploiting legal loopholes while creating documented harm to community safety, youth, families, and nearby small businesses.

Concerns:

These establishments raise serious concerns regarding:

• Possible violations of Texas gambling laws
• Zoning and land-use violations
• Nuisance activity (loitering, smoking, late-night disturbances)
• Alcohol-related violations
• Proximity to youth-serving businesses, schools, and family spaces
• Lack of transparency, oversight, and accountability

Our Request:

We respectfully request that the following actions be taken:

1. Immediate investigation of suspected gambling operations operating under “legal” claims
2. Coordination between law enforcement, code enforcement, and the city attorney
3. Enforcement of existing state and municipal laws where violations are found
4. Clear public reporting on findings and enforcement outcomes

Why This Matters:

Our community has a right to safety, clarity, and lawful governance. Allowing unregulated gambling-style businesses to operate undermines public trust and disproportionately harms vulnerable populations.

From Local Government Code Chapter 234: Subchapter E "Game Rooms"
"Sec. 234.131.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:

(1)  "Amusement redemption machine" means any electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance designed, made, and adopted for bona fide amusement purposes that rewards the player exclusively with noncash merchandise, prizes, toys, or novelties, or a representation of value redeemable for those items, with a wholesale value available from a single play of the game or device in an amount not more than 10 times the amount charged to play the game or device once or $5, whichever amount is less.

(2)  "Game room" means a for-profit business located in a building or place that contains six or more:

(A)  amusement redemption machines; or

(B)  electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical contrivances that, for consideration, afford a player the opportunity to obtain a prize or thing of value, the award of which is determined solely or partially by chance, regardless of whether the contrivance is designed, made, or adopted solely for bona fide amusement purposes.

(3)  "Game room owner" means a person who:

(A)  has an ownership interest in, or receives the profits from, a game room or an amusement redemption machine located in a game room;

(B)  is a partner, director, or officer of a business, including a company or corporation, that has an ownership interest in a game room or in an amusement redemption machine located in a game room;

(C)  is a shareholder that holds more than 10 percent of the outstanding shares of a business, including a company or corporation, that has an ownership interest in a game room or in an amusement redemption machine located in a game room;

(D)  has been issued by the county clerk an assumed name certificate for a business that owns a game room or an amusement redemption machine located in a game room;

(E)  signs a lease for a game room;

(F)  opens an account for utilities for a game room;

(G)  receives a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance for a game room;

(H)  pays for advertising for a game room; or

(I)  signs an alarm permit for a game room.

(4)  "Operator" means an individual who:

(A)  operates a cash register, cash drawer, or other depository on the premises of a game room or of a business where the money earned or the records of credit card transactions or other credit transactions generated in any manner by the operation of a game room or activities conducted in a game room are kept;

(B)  displays, delivers, or provides to a customer of a game room merchandise, goods, entertainment, or other services offered on the premises of a game room;

(C)  takes orders from a customer of a game room for merchandise, goods, entertainment, or other services offered on the premises of a game room;

(D)  acts as a door attendant to regulate entry of customers or other persons into a game room; or

(E)  supervises or manages other persons at a game room in the performance of an activity listed in this subdivision.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1284 (H.B. 2123), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.

Amended by: 

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1170 (S.B. 866), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Sec. 234.133.  AUTHORITY TO REGULATE.  To promote the public health, safety, and welfare, the commissioners court of a county may regulate the operation of game rooms and may:

(1)  restrict the location of game rooms to specified areas of the county, including the unincorporated area of the county;

(2)  prohibit a game room location within a certain distance, prescribed by the commissioners court, of a school, regular place of religious worship, or residential neighborhood; or

(3)  restrict the number of game rooms that may operate in a specified area of the county.

 

Personal Statement from a Local Business Owner:

I am a local, small business owner who works with children, families, and members of our community on a daily basis. My business operates during the morning through late evening hours (depending on the season), which means our students and their families are often arriving or leaving after dark.

Since the opening of the next-door “legal game room” or gambling-style establishments in our area, I have personally experienced a noticeable shift in the environment around my business.

Over time, I have had to address a growing number of situations that directly impact the safety and comfort of our students and families. These include individuals loitering and camping nearby the property, which has required me to repeatedly ask people to move away from the area around our entrance. I have also had to regularly ask patrons of the nearby game room to stop smoking directly next to my building despite clearly posted no-smoking signs.

There have also been incidents that raise broader safety concerns. A break-in occurred at the game room next door to my business. Late-night gatherings, loud music, and disturbances have become more common while I and my students are locking up and leaving the building. In addition, my business vehicle - a bus used in connection with my work - was vandalized in the area.

These types of situations place additional stress on small businesses like mine that serve youth and families. My goal is not to target individuals or create unnecessary conflict, but rather to ask that our community environment remain safe, respectful, and appropriate for the children and families who visit our businesses.

I believe it is reasonable to ask for proper investigation and enforcement of existing laws regarding gambling operations and related activities in our community. Businesses that serve youth should not have to manage the side effects of loosely regulated gambling establishments operating nearby.

I care deeply about this community and the people in it, and I hope that by raising these concerns we can work toward solutions that protect local families, small businesses, and the overall safety of our neighborhood.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

Holly Holt

Owner & Head Instructor of Golden Hands Martial Arts

holly@goldenhands.love