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Legislation

Gambling expansion has little chances to be approved in Texas

Wednesday 15 de January 2025 / 12:00

2 minutos de lectura

(Texas).- The Texas House approved bills to legalize gambling in the state in 2023, but they were not considered in the Senate, which remains a key obstacle. State leaders are settling in at the Texas capital for the 89th legislative session, and sparks flew on day one. The race for Speaker of the House needed two rounds of voting to reach a conclusion.

Gambling expansion has little chances to be approved in Texas

Polls show a majority of Texans favor efforts to loosen limits on gambling, but the Legislature has been hesitant to act, although legislation to expand gambling made it further than ever before in the 2023 session.

A proposed constitutional amendment to legalize digital sports betting passed the House but died in the Senate. A separate constitutional amendment to allow destination casinos came close but fell short in the House.

Ultimately, state voters would have the final say on adding pro-gambling amendments to the Texas Constitution.

Before the issue can get to that point, state lawmakers would have to act. Here are the key players in the legislative session that began January 14.

Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) secured 85 votes the second time around, topping Rep. David Cook’s (R-Mansfield) 55. Burrows takes over for former House Speaker Dade Phelan. With a new speaker officially set, the focus shifts to a session full of statewide issues. 

Over 2,600 bills have been filed, and the 140 day push to pass is now underway. In the spotlight are public education, gambling expansions, the southern border, and the power grid.

With regard to Gambling:

-Casinos may soon make there way south of the Red River.

-Gambling also made an appearance in 2023, but the support just wasn’t there. But this time around, there a move spearheaded by Dallas Mavericks majority owner Miriam Adelson to expand opportunities for casinos and sports betting statewide.

Gov. Greg Abbott

As governor, Abbott has influence on policy decisions in the Texas Legislature by signaling which bills he wants to see on his desk and which he intends to veto.

Abbott’s views on gambling have shifted since he took office in 2015, when he said he “wholeheartedly” supported current prohibitions on gaming and asked the Texas Lottery Commission to stop exploring sports betting and fantasy sports betting.

During the 2023 legislative session, Abbott said he was “open” to destination casinos and told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that such resorts would be “a gaming version of the Great Wolf Lodge.”

Despite his change in tone, Abbott has not asked lawmakers to send a bill expanding gambling to his desk, prioritizing other issues such as property tax cuts, border security and education.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

Patrick, who presides over the Texas Senate and determines which bills get a floor vote, has repeatedly thrown cold water on gambling expansion.

After the House approved a bill and companion constitutional amendment to legalize mobile sports betting in 2023, Patrick shut down any hope of action by the Senate, saying there was “little to no support” for expanding gambling among Republican senators.

Patrick has said he won’t advance bills that have more support from Democrats than Republicans. Heading into the 2025 legislative session, Republicans have a 20-11 majority in the Senate.

In a Nov. 7 interview with WFAA, Patrick said he told Las Vegas Sands that there still isn’t enough support among Senate Republicans to pass a pro-casino bill.

Dustin Burrows, David Cook

The House speaker also has significant influence on legislation by appointing lawmakers to committees, selecting committee chairs and determining legislative priorities.

Speaker Dade Phelan told reporters before the 2023 session that he was open to bringing resort-style casinos to Texas, but the Beaumont Republican will not return as speaker in the 2025 session.

GOP Reps. Dustin Burrows and David Cook are the two Republicans vying to be the next speaker.

In 2023, Burrows voted against resort-style gambling and mobile sports betting.

Cook voted in favor of both.

Texas GOP

The state Republican Party’s most recent platform opposes expanded gambling, including casinos, and calls for lawmakers to reject contributions from pro-gambling groups and lobbyists.

In the past, the platform held little sway beyond the party’s state convention. In recent years, however, failure to adhere to the platform has become an issue in the GOP primaries, particularly when incumbents are challenged from their party’s right wing.

Miriam Adelson

Miriam Adelson and her family are majority owners of the Las Vegas Sands casino empire and in 2023 became the majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

Adelson is a strong advocate for legalized gambling in Texas, and the purchase of the Mavericks came after former owner Mark Cuban said he wanted to build a new NBA stadium as part of a resort-style casino in partnership with Las Vegas Sands.

Over the past several years, Adelson has donated millions of dollars to Republican and Democratic lawmakers. In 2023, she dealt $3.3 million to politicians and political committees amid the gambling push.

In the first 10 months of 2024, she quadrupled her donations, sending $13.7 million to two political action committees that distributed the money to lawmakers, candidates and other political committees across Texas.

Categoría:Legislation

Tags: Sin tags

País: United States

Región: North America

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