September 16, 2014 4:13 PM

Bingo coalition sues to block Racing Commission decision on historical racing

Bingo halls will “dry up virtually overnight if casino gambling is allowed…”

A second lawsuit has been filed to try to stop the Texas Racing Commission from moving ahead with approval of slot machine-like terminals that allow gamblers to bet on horse races that have already been run. The “historical racing” machines, as they are known, have become a flashpoint as conservative lawmakers and others rush to block them from operating at dog tracks and race tracks around Texas.

About two dozen organizations that run bingo halls across Texas filed suit in Travis County on Tuesday, arguing that a rule adopted by the commission violates the Texas Constitution, the Texas Racing Act, and the Administrative Procedures Act. The rule approved nearly unanimously by the commission, with only one member voting “no,” is set to take effect this month, opening the door for the machines.

This lawsuit is not unlike litigation filed in Tarrant County by Rep. Matt Krause, R-Ft Worth, which is under consideration by a judge who could rule as soon as today. Some legal experts, however, have said Tarrant County is the wrong venue and the proper place to file is in the county where state government is located, as this bingo coaltion has now done.

By Scott Braddock