Gambling

from CULTURE CLASH Galveston - July/Aug 2023

people of GALVESTON

LETTER FROM PUBLISHER:

Texas has always been known for its bold and adventurous spirit, and when it comes to gambling, we like to take risks too! Clint Eastwood and John Wayne taught us that Texas is synonymous with bad-ass cowboys who take chances and never ask for permission. To be a Texan you gotta be a bit of an outlaw. So it only makes sense that we Texans like to push the boundaries of the law, and for a while now, that means maybe we are a gambling state and maybe we aren’t....

While the city and the state’s history with gambling has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride, the tides are changing, and we are seemingly closer than ever to “officially” legalized gambling in the Lone Star State. The question now is what will that look like for Galveston and our residents.

Our contributors have brought us insights and perspectives on where Galveston came from and where it is going in relation to gambling. We encourage you all to think long and hard about how you want your island to look.

But most of all we hope you read, enjoy, share and vote.

Janese Maricelli Publisher

ON THE COVER: “Balinese Tribute” You can’t talk about Galveston and gambling without mentioning the Balinese Room. Although she has since fallen into the Gulf of Mexico, the Balinese Room was once Galveston’s shining beacon to the glory of gambling and nightlife. We honor this historic landmark with the glitz and gold she deserves.

In the words of Lee Beard Frank, Joe Hill, and Billy Gibbons; “It didn’t take too much money. Man, but it sure was nice. You could dance all night if you felt all right, drinking whiskey and throwing dice. It was hard to leave. And everybody knows, it was down at the Balinese.”

PUBLISHER

Janese Maricelli-Thomasson

LAYOUT & DESIGN

JanMar Agency

Corinne Tamayo