Texans Fighting to End Predatory Gambling
Our mission is to raise awareness, advocate for responsible legislation, and provide resources for individuals and communities affected by gambling exploitation. We work to create a safer, healthier Texas by fostering policies that prioritize the well-being of our citizens over profit-driven gambling interests.
The Texans Anti-Predatory Gambling Alliance defines predatory gambling as a form of gambling where there is a profit motive for people to facilitate gambling, to encourage their customers to gamble more. TAPGA is not opposed to social gambling (i.e. fantasy football league with friends, bingo night at church, or even a wager with your sibling).
Get the Facts: The Threat of Casino Gambling
- Economic Impact:
- False Promises: Casino proponents often promise economic prosperity, but this never happens. Instead, they often divert spending from local businesses, leading to their closure.
- Increased Costs: When a casino opens there is always an increase in public spending to address a rise in crime, the regulatory enforcement that is needed to keep the casino honest, and social services to address gambling addiction.
- Social Consequences:
- Addiction: Gambling addiction is a serious and growing problem. Legalizing casino gambling in Texas would increase the accessibility and exposure of gambling addicts to their addiction. Gambling addiction often leads to financial ruin, family strife, child neglect, and abuse of substances such as alcohol or drugs.
- Crime: Predatory gambling attracts and breeds crime, including money laundering, fraud, government corruption, and violent crimes. This places a heavier burden on our law enforcement and judicial systems.
- Moral and Ethical Concerns:
- Exploitation of Vulnerable Populations: Predatory gambling often targets vulnerable populations, including low-income individuals and senior citizens, exacerbating financial inequalities and taking advantage of those least able to afford losses.
- Community Values: Texas has a strong tradition of family values and community integrity. Casino gambling undermines these values by promoting a culture of quick fixes and easy money.
What we do
Grassroots Mobilization: Texans Anti-Predatory Gambling Alliance building a coalition of concerned citizens, community leaders, and organizations across Texas to speak out against the legalization of casinos, online sports betting, and other forms of predatory gambling in the state and educate the citizens of Texas on the true cost of legalizing Casinos in the state.
Legislative Advocacy: Texans Anti-Predatory Gambling Alliance is working with legislators to ensure that the voices of Texas families are heard, and that legislation promoting casinos, online sports betting, and other forms of predatory gambling is opposed and defeated.
Texans Anti-Predatory Gambling Alliance (TAPGA) is a project of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, dedicated to opposing the legalization of casino gambling in Texas. TAPGA focuses on protecting Texas families and communities from the social, economic, and moral consequences of gambling.