While other states are rushing to legalize sports betting, don’t count on Texas to do the same.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick told a radio announcer in Lubbock on Tuesday that he simply does not see support for the idea in the Texas Senate, which he chairs, or among Republican voters.
“It is not even a problem that will see the light of day in this session,” Patrick told Chad Hasty at KFYO in Lubbock.
Patrick said he personally was never in favor of expanding the legal game, but in addition, there are not enough members in the Texas Senate in favor – which makes the issue a waste of time.
“We’re not even close to having votes in favor,” said Patrick.
His comments come at a time when state legislatures across the country seek to capitalize on a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned a law that had effectively banned sports betting in most states. Before that decision, only Nevada had legalized sports betting. Since the decision, dozens of other states and the District of Columbia have legalized some form of sports betting.
One of the most recent examples was Tennessee, which began legalizing online sports betting in November 2020.
The Dallas Morning News reported on Monday that the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers and Dallas Mavericks are supporting legislation that would allow Texans to vote on lifting the state’s ban on gambling.
The Texas Constitution currently prohibits any expansion of the game. To change that, two-thirds of the Texas House and Senate would have to vote to send an electoral question to voters.
Texas is facing a hole in the $ 9 billion budget and some gaming interests hope that this opens the door for lawmakers to consider allowing more gambling. But Patrick said that if the Republican-led legislature is influenced to allow gambling, it will not be based on the projected revenues that sports betting or casinos say they can bring to the state.
He said that given that Texas has a budget of more than $ 125 billion, sports betting groups are proud that they could generate $ 150 million for the state does little to move the pointer. Patrick said he would not even finance a Texas government day.
“If you want to launch your casinos or sports bets, talk about jobs, talk about tourism,” said Patrick.
How much gaming companies want in Texas can be seen in state elections and in the lobby data over the past six months.
Some of the world’s largest casino operators have agreed to hire dozens of lobbyists in Texas. The late Las Vegas game tycoon Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam agreed to give more than $ 5 million in campaign donations to Texas politicians to help Republicans retain control of the Texas House and to boost reelection campaigns Governor Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan.
Supporters of the expansion of gambling in Texas say the state is losing billions of dollars in revenue as Texans drive to Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico, which have more permissive casinos and gambling laws.