HOUSTON (FOX 26) -
The rapid spread of illegal gambling is one of many reasons State Senator Rodney Ellis believes Texas should open up to regulated casinos.
The Houston democrat has filed legislation that would put the issue of casino gaming it the hands of Texas voters.
Ellis said legalizing casinos would keep billions of dollars from leaving the state or being spent at illegal operations here at home.
"We have these sleazy, illegal 8 liners in virtually every neighborhood you can think of," he said. "I think we ought to legalize casino gaming. We ought to do it in such a way that the voters of Texas make that decision not members of the legislature."
He proposes using tax revenues from casinos to pay for college scholarships.
