The Texas Legislature is considering two separate bills—HB 1942 and HJR 102— that could open the door for sports betting in the Lone Star State, but the clock is ticking to get things done before the session ends.
Both bills received approval from the House State Affairs Committee, but that’s just the beginning of a quest for approval by May 29, according to Covers.
Both bills would also open the state up to destination casinos. The Texas Destination Resort alliance has solicited support among residents.
Meanwhile, representatives from 11 Texas professional sports teams recently sent a letter to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. While supportive of the casino initiative, they are also backing HB 1942 and HJR 102, which would legalize online sports betting sites.
In the letter, they said, “By Texas not having legalized sports betting it disadvantages our fans compared to sports fans in other states that are protected by regulation and given the freedom of opportunity to legally bet.”
“Ultimately, (the proposed measures) protect Texans from the illegal, foreign sports betting market that is operating unregulated in Texas,” the letter added. “These bills provide a fair and responsible system of permitting and taxation for operators and the proposed legislation has best practices from other states that will maintain the integrity of Texas professional sports.”
The executives represent the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Texans, the Texas Rangers, the Houston Astros, the Houston Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Stars, Austin FC, FC Dallas, and Houston Dynamo FC.
In February, Texas Governor Greg Abbott told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he could agree to resort-style casinos and considered sports betting just another form of entertainment.
“I’m such a sports fan, and I see people doing this, and it’s really a form of entertainment for them, and it’s also kind of related to these sports leagues—like fantasy football, things like that—that people participate in,” said Abbott. “It seems like there could be a way where we could create a system where something like this could happen.”
On the flip side, Patrick has consistently opposed legalized gambling in Texas.
Earlier this month on the Mark Davis Show, Patrick said, “Our members have been clear: they’re not in support today. We don’t have any votes in the Senate.”
