Many state governments are taking notice of the rapid growth of the Internet gambling industry and, with it, the tremendous revenue generating potential it promises. As a result, some state legislatures have tried to adopt measures that would make Internet gambling a legal activity. Texas is one of those states. Contemplating the additional $275 million in state revenues that experts calculate online gambling could bring to the state of Texas, legislatures in the state recently attempted to pass a proposal for state-sponsored online gambling. The proposal, however, was ultimately not included in the state budget plan in spite of the tremendous revenue generating potential of the online gambling industry. The lottery resolution was one of 46 proposals that were being considered, at the time, as part of the state budget plan.

If the Internet gambling measure had been adopted, it would have made it legal for residents in the state of Texas to play the lottery using ATM cards, debit cards, or by keeping a tab with the Texas Lottery Commission.

Apparently, members of the Texas House Appropriations Committee didn’t feel the extra revenue was necessary as the committee chairman was quoted as saying that the current budget plan will nevertheless contribute an additional one billion dollars.