Texas Sports Betting Stalls

When Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who is also the Senate’s president, tweeted that there is no enthusiasm in that chamber for gambling expansion, any thoughts that legal sports betting in Texas is a possibility this year were all but dashed. “We don’t waste time on anything lacking resounding GOP backing. HB1942 won’t be referred, he wrote in his post. His statement was delivered two days after the House passed HJR 102, which would have put the legalization of gambling before the electorate, and the accompanying legislation.

Although Patrick has long stated that he opposes the expansion of gaming in the Lone Star State, stakeholders are happy that this session did at least see some progress. The House approved sports betting, but not casino legislation that would have allowed for eight “destination resorts.” Patrick has repeatedly stated that there is not enough support among Senate Republicans for either legalizing casino gambling or sports betting, despite both initiatives receiving approval in the House. Republicans own 19 of the Senate’s 31 seats, so the legislation would require 21 votes to pass. Republicans proposed and received support from both parties for the gambling legislation that passed the House.

As the Texas legislature only meets in even-numbered years, 2025 is the earliest that wagering might be authorized due to the resistance this session. May 29 is the deadline for the current session, and other types of gambling growth are likely to be postponed for at least as long. A House Joint Resolution that would have put the issue of casinos and its associated “destination resorts” proposal before voters was withdrawn.

By Sunday afternoon, more than 120 people had responded to Patrick’s tweet, with his detractors arguing that Texans should have the right to decide whether or not to authorize more gambling on their own and that Patrick was either failing to serve the people or was too politically minded.

The biggest states in the country have found it particularly difficult to legalize sports betting. Only New York has legalized among the top four states. In the 2022 election, California voters soundly rejected several legal sports betting propositions, while Florida’s legal gambling future is currently up for appeal to a federal appellate court. Indian Country has enjoyed a monopoly on casino gambling in both of those instances, and it wants the same for regulated sports betting.

Stakeholders were aware that moving any type of gaming law forward would be difficult on many levels throughout the Texas legislative session. Some states legalize sports betting in order to generate tax income, but Texas is not one among them. Additionally, none of the bills fully handle the tribal interests of Texas, and there is vehement resistance from the state’s religious organizations.

The pair of Texas wagering proposals would have authorized statewide mobile betting run by the state’s pro teams and other sports organizations, with a 10 percent tax rate.

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