Several pieces of legislation are making their way through the Texas Assembly but a recent one would bring horse racing into the mix. State Rep. Charlie Geren, a Republican from Fort Worth, filed a joint resolution that seeks to legalize not only gambling, but sports betting, and make horse-racing operators partners in the venture.
A similar bill failed in 2021 but unlike that bill, this gives horse racing operators the ability to apply for licenses for full casino gaming, unlike the limited version two years ago.
The bill would also allow for seven “destination resorts” in the state, with two in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Geren’s district. Two others are slated for the Houston area.
Other parts of the bill call for horse racing track to construct casinos on site and allow for a 15% tax on gaming revenue, with a portion of that going to fund purses for races.
Geren got a big ally when the Las Vegas Sands Corp. endorsed the lawmaker’s legislation.
“It brings everyone together, by and large, that in some ways were divided last time,” Andy Abboud, Sands’ senior vice president of government relations told the Texas Tribune. “We have a much broader coalition of people behind this. (It could) really revitalize the thoroughbred horse-racing industry in Texas.”
The Sands backed the plan to legalize gambling in the state in 2021, hiring several lobbyists and pouring millions of dollars in television ads. All the money and effort got them was a committee hearing in the House where the bill eventually died.
This time around, however, it seems as if the new tact is working. The Chickasaw Nation, which owns a horse racing facility near Dallas said in a statement that they were eager to discuss Geren’s bill.
“(We look) forward to engaging with [the] Legislature about the economic benefits and tens of thousands of jobs destination resorts will bring to the Lone Star State,” the statement read.
Still there are powerful opponents to bringing gambling to the Lone Star State. Most notably, is Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has maintained his steadfast opposition to gambling.
Geren and other proponents of legalizing casinos point to how it will benefit the horseracing industry.
Abboud remains optimistic the bill will get passed.
“We’ll always take a maybe over a no,” Abboud said.
