The blogosphere is abuzz this morning over news that the Texas legislature is making its first attempt to expand gambling in the state with a measure that would put up "Las Vegas-style casino complexes in major cities, legalize slot machines at Lone Star Park and other racetracks and allow the state’s three Indian tribes to run gaming enterprises," according to this Star-Telegram story. The bi-partisan bill "would authorize two casinos each in Dallas and Harris counties, one in Bexar County and one in Travis County. Two others would be on Gulf Coast barrier islands, such as Galveston or South Padre Island."

"Supporters forecast an economic boost of $50 billion a year, creation of more than 300,000 jobs and generation of $3.25 billion to $4.5 billion in state tax revenue, a portion of which would be used for transportation and scholarships, Warren said.

Part of the proceeds from slot-machine revenue would be used to increase the size of horse-race purses, Pratt said.

'It’s the biggest economic-development bill that has ever been presented to the state of Texas,' Pratt said. 'It’s much more of an economic-development bill than it is a gambling bill.'

Are Texas voters — the ones who will eventually approve or reject this bill — up for it?

Well, Off the Kuff tells us that 75 percent surveyed earlier this month by Baselice and Associates are frustrated that Texas is losing gambling revenue to neighboring states and would like to see slot machines at racetracks and Indian casinos. Meanwhile, the group Texans Against Gambling rejects the poll as "bought and paid for by pro-gambling interests" and calls gambling "poor public policy."

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