Over in the Lone Star, a president of a regional university has restricted access to online gambling sites on school-related devices. Per a local report, the President of West Texas A&M has issued a ban on gambling sites, stating they can no longer be accessed through Wi-Fi and by using WTAMU resources. This was according to a local news outlet in the area. Those owning university-owned cell phones, laptops, tablets, desktops, and other internet-connected devices will not be able to access online gambling sites. The new restrictions are set to take effect immediately. President Dr. Walter Wendler said in a recent news release that he considers online gambling sites, “predatory.”
For this report, SBS will be going over the latest gambling news coming from the Lone Star State, along with a variety of other notes and information you can only find at SBS.
Also covered in the article, the president went on to comment, “college students at a particularly formative state in their lives can develop habits and lifestyles that are akin to drug and substance abuse.” He would go on to state, “there is not a single thread of evidence showing predatory gambling has a positive impact on academic excellence and the pursuit of excellence is our first job.” The ban on online gambling will apply not only to university students, but also to faculty and staff.
In related news, one Alabama legislator has proposed a bill that could ban games of chance that include slots, horseracing machines and electronic bingo entirely, according to a local news report from the area. The bill would eliminate gray areas in the current law and establish a clear definition of what machines would be considered illegal. Should Alabama Representative Matthew Hammett’s proposal pass, the charge for operating illegal gambling could be changed from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony. House Bill 41 would apply to those charged with “possession of electronic gambling machines and other offenses.” In addition to the higher charge, violators could face an increase in fines that would more than double what the penalty is now.
In other Texas gaming news, Galveston police and regional police agencies struck multiple game rooms across the island Tuesday morning. This ended up recovering a “significant number” of gambling machines, police said. Several people were also arrested in the raids as well. The raids, which officials said were conducted after a months-long investigation by the Galveston Police Department. This operation resulted in the seizure of several so-called “eight-liner” machines, electronic gaming devices similar to slot machines. Officers also confiscated electronic records and an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.
Businesses hit in what a police news release called the “large-scale tactical operation” included A&M Grocery on 39th Street, the Happy Buddha restaurant on 61st Street, and three addresses in the 61st Street Plaza shopping center. Four private residences on the island were also part of the operation, police said.
According to police, several people were taken into custody and are expected to be charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and possession of gambling devices or equipment. The investigation is ongoing, and no names were released Tuesday “to protect the integrity of the evidence and the safety of the officers involved,” police said.
“Illegal gambling operations are often a magnet for secondary crimes, including money laundering and narcotics distribution,” Galveston police chief Dougals Balli said in a statement. “Today’s action demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the safety and integrity of our neighborhoods by dismantling these unauthorized operations.”
The raid was a far cry from the days when gambling was a cornerstone of the “Free State of Galveston” empire built by Sicilian immigrants Salvatore and Rosario Maceo. The brothers’ flagship business, the Polynesian-themed Balinese Room, once drew high-roller clientele from Houston to Hollywood. Built in the 1920s, the seaside casino and nightclub was infamous for a long central hallway that, when law enforcement approached, bought enough time to stash the incriminating gaming tables safely out of sight. The system worked until the political winds shifted and the Texas Rangers successfully raided the Balinese in 1957. It later reopened, minus the gambling, and was a fixture of the seawall until September 2008, when it was destroyed by Hurricane Ike. With so many moving parts in the Texas gaming legalization scene, it remains to be seen just how long it will take for widespread gambling to become legal there.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the newest gaming notes coming from the Lone Star State, make sure to check out the excellent array of information for you only at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis on the topic covered in this article, the sports betting in Texas guide has you covered with a variety of updates and notes coming from the region and beyond. Of course, for those who are eligible and interested, the BetOnline sportsbook review rundown is a must-read page that goes over a variety of information coming from the outlet and more. Here, you can also learn about the latest contests and promotions coming from the sportsbook as well. Finally, for those who also qualify, the best bonus betting sites breakdown is a must-read resource that covers a catalogue of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers available.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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