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Nueces County weighs new game-room ordinance amid policing, health and funding concerns
Summary
Sheriff and county staff urged a permitted, funded regulatory scheme for game rooms to combat illegal gambling, violence and gang ties; commissioners directed county attorney and law-enforcement partners to draft an ordinance and to identify funding and enforcement options for review.
A months‑long law-enforcement effort to curb illegal gambling and related crime moved closer to a formal county response Feb. 8–9 as Nueces County officials heard a detailed briefing and multiple public commenters urging a countywide game-room ordinance.
Chief Cook and Sheriff Hooper outlined the legal authority under the Texas Local Government Code (sections cited in court as §234.132–234.133) for counties to require permits, restrict locations, and limit the number of game-room machines. The sheriff’s office reported dozens of investigations since 2015; Chief Cook said county deputies had discovered operations with large numbers of machines, some operated by people with criminal records, and tied to violent incidents in a few instances.
Chief Cook recommended that if the court…
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