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Texas Gambling Laws Benefit Louisiana Casinos
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA --
Texas legislators continue to debate the merits and drawbacks of casino gambling, trying to decide whether to loosen their strict anti-gaming policies. In the meantime, Louisiana casinos are taking advantage, thriving as Texas residents cross the state border to play at their neighbor's legal gambling venues.
Reports show that five riverboats operating in Shreveport, Louisiana, have grossed almost $10 billion since the first one opened in 1994. Shreveport is a medium-sized city in northwest Louisiana, with a population in the city and surrounding area of less than 400,000.
But Dallas lies only a two-hour drive across the Red River away. The population of the Dallas metropolitan area is well over 6 million. And all those thirsty gamblers are seeking the oasis of Shreveport gambling boats.
While Texas gaming opponents scream about social costs and the ruin of cities due to the implementation of casino gambling, Shreveport officials say the facts are that social conditions have improved markedly since the casinos came to town.
Unemployment, which was among the worst in the country before gambling was legalized, has dropped considerably. Since 1993, violent crime has dropped by an astounding fifty percent.
"There were fears, even from all of us, about the crime. We heard there would be prostitution, but we get more prostitution off of Craig's List than we do from the casinos," said Mike Halpern, chief of police in sister town Bossier City.
As far as Louisiana is concerned, Texas can take its time removing gambling bans... a loooong time.
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