There's no bluffing about a big budget shortfall awaiting legislators in the 2011 legislative session, and you can bet they're going to attempt to balance it without raising taxes or making dramatic cuts.

That's given gambling proponents what they call good odds for more legalized gaming this time around.

Winning the jackpot might be a quick fix to what could be an $11-billion to $18-billion budget shortfall legislators could face in 2011.

But many wonder if legalizing gambling — beyond bingo, pari-mutuel wagering and the lottery — is a long-term answer.

"You don't take a test until you've done your homework, and nobody's done any homework when it comes to gambling," Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco, said.

So before a number of likely gaming bills come before the Legislature next session, Rep. Dunnam wants state leaders to study it in the interim.

"I propose we do this in the sunshine, where the public can see what's going on, the press can see what's going on and legislators can make an informed decision," Dunnam said.

Shedding light on the issue gets a thumbs up from both proponents and opponents.

"We know that the more the public hears about our issue, the more likely it will be to move forward," Mike Lavigne, who's with Texans for Economic Development and who supports more legalized gambling at tracks, said.

"Anytime you can add sunlight to a particular issue, the people win," Rob Kohler, who lobbies against legalized gambling, said.

And with those two viewpoints, the betting begins on who has the best odds to win the votes of state lawmakers.

Lavigne said it would bring in about $1 billion into state coffers each year, and now is the time that money is needed most.

"The Legislature's going to have to do something to bring in long-term revenue sources, which is usually taxes, fees or new industry, and what we're offering up is a new industry for Texas," Lavigne said.

But Kohler said that proposal is simply "the lottery on steroids," and that the lottery hasn't been the funding solution it was sold as 20 years ago.

"Nine-point-nine of every 10 Texans walking around this state is acutely aware that when they voted on the lottery, it was going to solve the education [funding] problem. It hasn't solved the education problem," Kohler said.

He cautioned that slot machines wouldn't add much to the state's annual budget, only less than $.02 for every $1 wagered. He also said it would take away from local business.

"We're not talking about tourism here; we're talking about a 50-mile radius. We're talking about an enterprise coming in and competing and taking away from local businesses," he said.

Changing the state's gaming laws would mean a change to the Texas Constitution. So, two-thirds of the Legislature would have to vote to put an amendment on the ballot, and then the people would decide.

Rep. Dunnam said he would like to see studies conducting and public hearings set up as early as June.