New Legislators Dampen Chances At Texas Gambling Expansion

Based on the changing landscape in the state legislature, attempts to legalize sports betting and casinos in Texas may be hitting a dead end.

This is despite recent support from Gov. Greg Abbott and other legislators.

However, a dozen new Republican legislators have replaced pro-gaming lawmakers this legislative session and have come out against any expanded gambling in the Lone Star State. Three more returning lawmakers who previously supported a sports betting bill also now say they have joined the group to oppose gaming expansion.

“We are confident this legislation does not have the votes necessary to pass the Texas House this session,” a letter from the group notes. “Given the certainty of its failure, I urge you not to waste valuable committee time on an issue that is dead on arrival.”

Opposition Further Jeopardizes Current Bills

Neither the casino or sports betting bill have yet to even reach a committee and passage would require a two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature and signed by the governor. The issue would then go to voters to decide whether to amend the constitution.

In 2023, the house barely met that threshold and seeing about 15 legislators express opposition puts the issue in doubt. Coupled with continued opposition from Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick in the senate may doom the chance of passage of either bill.

Patrick has said in the past that he would not bring a vote on gambling unless there was enough support from the Republican caucus. It appears that threshold hasn’t been met.

“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.”

Las Vegas Sands Corp. has been pushing for gambling expansion in Texas since 2020 when the company hired eight lobbyists to sway Texas legislators. Given the current landscape, if legislators allow casino gambling, Texas sports betting won’t be far behind.

In related news, legislators introduced two poker bills in the legislature. One would legalize the state’s poker clubs while the other would ban them.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

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