Sports Betting Proposal Filed In Texas LegislatureKey Opposition Remains In State Senate |
|
After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently expressed support for legalizing sports betting, fellow Republican and state Rep. Sam Harless filed a bill this week that if passed would allow voters to decide the issue.
The proposal calls for Texans to vote on a constitutional amendment, putting sports betting on the ballot this November. House Joint Resolution 134 says it would “legalize wagering in this state on certain sporting events.”
Details Remain Sketchy
The details of the plan are vague in the two-page resolution. The resolution allows for several entities to offer sports betting, including professional teams, which possibly could mean retail sports betting at stadiums. Groups that held an annual PGA Tour event before Jan. 1, 2025, would also be allowed to offer betting, along with Class 1 racetracks in existence before that date as well.
Whether online wagering would be legal is a bit of an open question, but the resolution does allow for “a designee of an (approved) entity.” It’s unclear if that could include major online sports betting operators. A tax rate isn’t mentioned in the resolution.
Senate Obstacles Remain
Sports betting has been a hot topic in Texas over the last few years as numerous other states around the country have legalized sports wagering. The Texas Sports Betting Alliance (TSBA), made up of gaming companies and backed by professional sports teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Astros, and San Antonio Spurs, welcomed the proposal.
“We appreciate Rep. Harless introducing this constitutional amendment,” TSBA spokeswoman Karina Kling said. “Right now, unregulated sports betting is happening across the state, putting consumers at risk and costing Texas millions in lost tax revenue every year.
“It’s time to let Texans take control and decide if they want a strong, regulatory framework for sports betting — just like the 39 states that have already moved forward.”
In 2023, a sports betting bill passed the house in a 100-43 vote, but failed to get to a vote in the state senate. Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick sets the agenda in the state senate and has shown no interest in backing a bill that isn’t supported by a majority of Republicans. If that support isn’t found, Harless’ bill may face a similar fate.
“I might have three or four senators out of 20 Republicans who support it. That’s it,” he told WFAA in November. “They say, ‘Oh, we almost passed it last session.’ You know, they almost passed it with every Democrat voting for it and about one of four Republicans voting for it. We don’t do that in the senate.”
A new study from the University of Houston shows that 60% of residents support Texas sports betting, with 64% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans backing legalization. Another recent study noted that the state could generate more than $360 million in annual tax revenue while adding over 8,000 jobs.
Copyright © 2001-2025
CardPlayer.com. All rights reserved.
