Louisiana Texas Holdem Bill Risks Governor Veto

Despite the fact that the Louisiana governor made a clear statement that she would veto any bills that come her way that suggest an increase of gambling, one lawmaker pushed through legislation that would allow restaurants and bars to hold Texas Hold 'Em poker tournaments. The question of whether or not these types of tournaments are legal comes into play because the state's number one liquor regulator had indicated that they violate Louisiana's gambling laws.The bill was pushed through in the face of other lobbyists, this time for the video poker industry, and two of their own bills were killed when they heard Governor Kathleen Blanco say, "If I'm not clear -- veto."Backers of both the video poker and the Texas Hold'Em bills were highly critical of Blanco for her blanket opposition to the gambling bills, stating they should not be classified as gambling expansionism.