Nelson Seeks Opinion On Electronic Pull-Tab Bingo

State Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville) has asked Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott [opinion req., .pdf] to determine whether or not a change in the Texas Administrative Code concerning electronic pull-tab bingo constitutes an “end-run” around a previously issued AG’s opinion declaring a legislative action to allow the same thing unconstitutional.

Via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

Nelson, a Lewisville Republican who represents parts of Fort Worth and northern Tarrant County, is asking the state attorney general’s office to examine whether the commission had the authority to make such a rule change at its June 25 meeting. In April, Attorney General Greg Abbott ruled that neither the commission nor the Legislature could authorize pull-tab electronic bingo games without amending the state Constitution.

The use of the video monitors at bingo halls appears to cross the line, Nelson said.

“The ‘video confirmation’ [of a winning bingo card] involves the same substantive concept, intent and ultimate outcome as allowing an actual electronic game,” Nelson said in her June 27 letter to Abbott.

But lottery commission Chairman James Cox said that the video monitors will only display what would be printed on the pull-tab bingo card. Pull-tab refers to the way the cards are opened. The cards look like lottery tickets and tell players immediately whether they have won.

Players would not operate the monitors that display winning cards in the way players in Las Vegas-style casinos operate slot machines.

“The rule…does not constitute an expansion of gambling and does not authorize slot machines, gambling devices or electronic pull-tab bingo,” Cox said in his reply.

The monitors’ animated images can show how the game might have progressed, supporters told the commission at its June 25 meeting.

“So this is like the dot race at UT football games,” Cox said. “Nothing happens. It’s interesting, it’s fun, but nothing happens as a result of it….My kids love the dot race.”

The bingo industry has pushed for the rule allowing the video monitors because some charity bingo operators have been using them for some time while others have been reluctant to use them out of concern they might be violating the law.

Gambling foes, such as the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ Christian Life Commission, have fought against allowing the monitors on grounds that they lure more people to wager money in games of chance.

While the Lottery Commission should obey the law, one would think that HHS Committee Chair Nelson would have better things to do than be the state’s self-appointed gambling cop. Oh, well.