GERARDO CARDENAS ARCADE - 1645 S. 7th St., 60 machines. The last time we reported on the status of the gambling casinos in Raymondville was Sept. 23, 2009.

At that time there were 340 machines in seven gambling parlors. That number has grown in the past 9 months to 455 machines in seven casinos.

Raymondville, no doubt, has more 8-liners than any city in the Rio Grande Valley with the exception of Santa Rosa and that community is doing its best to drive 8-liners out of town.

On June 10, 40 Dept. of Public Safety troopers and Nueces County sheriff's deputies raided six gambling houses in Robstown, Agua Dulce and Banquete.

They seized $65,280 in cash and 481 machines. Eleven workers at the casinos were arrested for participating in organized crime and one for parole violations.

There were 2 casinos raided in each of the three cities, while in Willacy County there are seven casinos in Raymondville and one in Lyford.

JAY BIRD AMUSEMENTS - 623 S. 7th St., 45 machines. Why are the gambling casinos allowed to operate here while they are not permitted to do so in other Texas communities?

Texas law says that only prizes can be given out to winners of 8-liner jackpots but does anyone believe that players drive from Brownsville or McAllen to Raymondville to win cupie dolls?

Surely cash is awarded to players in violation of State law and nothing is done about it. And there is a possiblity that money laundering from other illegal activities is a part of the seemingly harmless games.

A few individuals are scooping up thousands of dollars a day from these machines that could be spent on food, clothing, utilities and child support.

What does the city get in return for allowing gamblers to occupy many of the vacant buildings in our coummunity?

LIBERTY AMUSEMENT DEVICES - 905 S. 7th St., 40 machines. According to Olga Fadely, tax assessor, the casinos pay $20 per year in taxes on each machine, or a total of $9,100 per year in revenue.

What does the city give up in return for the extra taxes?

In one month, May, the city lost $11,000 in sales tax revenue. In the first eight months of the 2009/2010 fiscal year the city lost $66,000 in sales tax revenue.

Based on the amount of money seized when 8-liner casinos are raided, some do $10,000 to $15,000 per day. Probably only Wal-Mart and HE B bring in as much revenue.

Gambling is fun but it is a luxury this poor city can't afford. It is a tax on the poor and the ignorant. A few people reap hundreds of thousands of dollars while the suckers keep pouring cash into the machines.

Who is protecting these illegal gambling dens?

City commissioners seem concerned when the issue is discussed and tried to raise the tax on 8-liners to $75 each plus $100 for a license but city attorney William "Bill" Wepfer advised that the city can only charge 25 percent of what the state charges.

MGM ARCADE - SAN ANTONIO - 100 N. Exp. 77, 111 machines. Rocking 7s - 100 N. Exp. 77, 80 machines. Once city police acting with a Cameron County Task Force raided local gambling halls and seized a large number of machines.

Now there seems to be little appetite for tangling with the gamblers again. Police detective David Robles said there is no investigation underway to determine if the casinos are oprerating legally, or paying cash in violation of the law.

Chief of police Uvaldo "Valdo" Zamora told the Chronicle/News,

"We haven't had any complaints and we haven't had time to concentrate on them (gambling casinos). I believe they are the cause of the drop in retail sales. If people are gambling they aren't spending money on food, gas and groceries."

WAGON WHEEL ARCADE - Bus. Hwy. 77 North, Lyford. Zamora said that he and district attorney investigator Carlos Ramos investigated illegal gambling rumors once before.

"It took us two months and we seized 115 machines and $8, or $9,000 cash from the casino in the old "Dress For Less" shop on South 7th St. It was owned by a lady from Harlingen, but the district attorney, Juan Guerra, gave the money and machines back."

Zamora described two other attempts to shut down the gamblers.

"The Cameron County Task Force raided the "Longhorn" Casino owned by Minerva Ramirez and her husband, Hugo. They seized $400,000 from a house on North 7th and FM 1761. The D.A. (Guerra) got $50,000 for his office, the defendant’s attorney got $200,000 and the Task Force kept the rest. We provided perimeter security but it was a Cameron County deal."

LONGHORN ARCADE - 585 N. 7th St., 67 machines. The chief said illegal gam- bling is a Class C misdemeanor and and it is difficult to keep evidence seized.

"We will meet with the D.A. (Ammerman) and see what can be done," he said.

Zamora agreed that the amount of money spent by casino operators indicates that they have no expectation of being raided. One casino near the Casa Blanca cafe has been remodeled inside and out and another on South 7th Streets now looks like City Hall, with limestone tile across the front and floodlights around the building.

District Attorney Bernard Ammerman is doing a good job prosecuting criminals but does not seem worried about the gambling operations in the community.

Ammerman said he does not believe the gamblers are "laundering drug money."

"No, I believe they are mostly mom and pop operations," said Ammerman.

TEXAS 7TH - 222 W. Hidalgo Ave., 52 machines. And Ammerman says he would have to see some complaints before he gets involved and none have been forthcoming.

Not even the Chamber of Commerce is raising objections to the gambling dens, surprising given the fact that they are sucking the economic vitality out of our small impoverished city.

There is also the specter of violence in the casinos.

On November 27, 2009 5- armed robbers entered a casino on South 7th Street, at 10:30 p.m. armed with pistols.

"They were covered with tatoos and they didn't wear masks. They escaped with almost $9,000," said police investigator Andy Maldonado, Jr. He estimated the robbers were in the casinos less than 5 minutes and that most of the patrons didn't know there was a robbery going on.

What if someone had started shooting?

We've seen as many as 25 cars parking in front of some of the more popular gambling joints. There could be as many as 30- or-40 customers at one time.

If someone gets hurt, who will be to blame?

Last fall there were two armed robberies in San Benito casinos with $8,000 taken in one and $2,000 in the other.

Raymondville has four gambling halls on Seventh Street, two at Raymondville Plaza and one on West Hidalgo Avenue.

Money spent on 8-liners won't be spent at H-E-B, Wal-Mart, Alamo Lumber, Watson Drug, Jano’s or Ken’s Furniture.

It won't be spent at any of our local restaurants or donated to our churches. It won't be spent to pay child support.

What kind of community do we want? A family community, or a gambling town. If the 8-liners remain should we consider renaming our City.

What about Casino City, Little Las Vegas, or maybe Raymondville Reno?

As of July 6, 2010, the following casinos are active in the city of Raymondville, plus one at the old Wagon Wheel Cafe in Lyford.

LONGHORN ARCADE, 55 N. 7 ST., 67 MACHINES.

GERARDO CARDENAS, 1645 S. 7 ST., 60 MACHINES.

LIBERTY AMUSEMENT DEVICES, 905 S. 7th ST., 40 MACHINES.

MGM ARCADE/FROM SAN ANTONIO, 100 N. EXP 77, Ste C&D, 111 MACHINES.

ROCKIN 7S, 100 N. EXP 77, Ste P, 80 MACHINES.

JAY BIRD AMUSEMENT, 623 S. 7th ST., 45MACHINES.

TEXAS 7th, 222 W. HIDALGO, 52 MACHINES. TOTAL:455 MACHINES.