The Libertarian Party of Texas (LPTexas) opposes Senate Bill 517, which maintains criminal penalties and excessive regulations on the use and operation of gambling devices, including eight-liners. While the bill introduces certain defenses to prosecution, it ultimately preserves a framework that restricts personal liberty, private property rights, and voluntary exchange.

Upholding Individual Freedom and Voluntary Exchange
SB 517 fails to recognize the inherent right of individuals to engage in peaceful, voluntary activities, including gambling. LPTexas holds that government has no legitimate authority to interfere in consensual adult behavior that causes no harm to others.

Rejecting Vice and Morality-Based Laws
SB 517 continues to criminalize behavior based on arbitrary definitions of “chance” and “value,” reinforcing the very vice and morality-based laws that LPTexas seeks to repeal. These laws violate the principles of self-ownership and non-aggression by punishing actions that are not inherently criminal.

Protecting Property Rights and Free Markets
By restricting how individuals can use their own property (i.e., gambling devices) and imposing limits on the value of prizes, SB 517 infringes on economic liberty and property rights. A truly free market must allow for risk, reward, and competition without government interference.

Conclusion
The Libertarian Party of Texas urges the Legislature to reject SB 517 and instead pursue full decriminalization of gambling between consenting adults. Texans should be free to make their own choices, including those involving games of chance, without fear of prosecution or government overreach.