The Texas House State Affairs Committee recently voted 9-3 for a pair of bills that would allow a voter referendum on a constitutional amendment legalizing casino gambling and sports betting. Besides a majority of voters, the measure also would require two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate.
But the bill faces intense opposition from Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who recently said the state Senate has “zero support” for legalizing sport betting and casino gambling.
Speaking on a local radio show on KXAN, Patrick said, “Our members have been clear: they’re not in support today. We don’t have any votes in the Senate. Couldn’t find one Senator who supported it.”
Patrick added he would not pass a bill that has the support of a majority of Democrats. “Unless I have 15 to 16 Republicans, meaning it’s a Republican-driven bill because we’re a Republican-driven state, I’m not bringing a bill to the floor. I need Republican consensus otherwise, it’s a Democrat bill,” Patrick said.
The version of the bill approved by committee members featured a key change observers said could appease Patrick. It would set aside 80 percent of gaming tax revenue for a new university endowment fund proposed by Patrick, who has made it a priority. The endowment would help some of the state’s public universities become research centers, increasing their standings in national rankings.
Las Vegas Sands supports the casino legislation. Since 2020, the company has spent millions of dollars on lobbyists, TV ads and political campaign contributions in Texas. Las Vegas Sands spokesman Matt Hirsch said, “The efforts to bring destination resorts to Texas made significant progress with today’s vote. Texans have made it clear that they want destination resorts in Texas, and we are now one step closer to ultimately allowing them to decide on this issue.”
State Rep. Jeff Leach, author of the sports betting bill, said his measure would advance “freedom and liberty” in Texas and allow the state to gain revenue from an activity that’s already occurring. He stated, “There are hundreds of our constituents−citizens of all ages, including minors−who right now, especially with March Madness, are placing unsafe, unsecure, illegal, criminal bets very easily.”
According to the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, more than 73,000 wagering attempts from Texas were blocked by GeoComply during the first week of March Madness. And the research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming estimated Texans wager more than $6 billion illegally every year through local bookies or offshore betting sites.
