Texas gambling bill hits snag
By Staff
Some of the greatest poker players in history are from Texas. That, along with the massive popularity of Texas Hold’em, makes talking poker without talking Texas, difficult.
A movement to broaden legalized gambling in the state would only strengthen the connection.
In early May, a bill legalizing online sports betting was passed by the Texas House. A second piece of gambling legislation, however, failed to make the cut. Under House Joint Resolution 155, voters would be able to pass an amendment to allow legalized gambling. Proponents of the measure withdrew the resolution after seeing they lacked necessary votes.
As the future of casinos in Texas remains unclear, there’s no debate regarding what the state’s players have meant to poker.
Doyle Brunson, the winner of 10 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and one WPT title, is originally from Longworth, Texas. A track and basketball star in high school, Brunson, 89, has made 26 final tables at the WSOP. Now retired, he advanced to three final tables at WPT events.
His career winnings exceed $6.1 million.
Considering all Brunson’s accomplished, it’s hard to think he’s not at the top in all categories when looking at players from the Lone Star State. Another of the game’s standouts, TJ Cloutier, who’s from Richardson, ranks higher in earnings. Cloutier’s won more than $10.4 million playing live.
He’s finished second twice in the WSOP Main Event and has won six bracelets at the World Series. The author of books on hold’em and Omaha, Cloutier was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2006.
Brunson was inducted in 1988.
David Williams may live in Las Vegas, but he was born in Dallas. Williams has cashed 19 times and has won one bracelet at the WSOP. He’s also finished first on the WPT circuit. For his career, Williams, 42, has totaled more than $9.1 million in winnings.
A native of Lebanon, Sam Farha makes him home in Houston. He’s cashed 20 times and has made more than $2.8 million via tournaments. Farha’s collected three bracelets and registered 12 of those cashes – the most recent in 2021 – at the WSOP. The owner of a degree in business administration from the University of Kansas, Farha began playing poker in the 1980s.
Given that Texas has nearly 60 poker rooms – and with the noted movement for expanded legalization – it’s easy to see other players from the state following in the footsteps of Brunson, Cloutier, Williams, Farha and additional greats not mentioned here, among them “Amarillo Slim” Preston and Johnny Moss.
It’s been said not to mess with Texas. When it comes to poker, that just may be the case.
