After stalling out last legislative session, two betting proposals cleared a significant hurdle earlier this month by passing a House State Affairs Committee vote in Texas. Per one report in the Texas Tribune, gaming advocates have long pushed to legalize casinos and sports in the Lone Star State. Moreover, this new update in the Texas legislature represented more progress than prior proposals had in previous legislative sessions. For instance, during the last time out, a pro-gaming proposal in Texas got to hearings in the committee but was never voted out. While the two main bills face “long odds in the Senate” this is still a promising update for pro-gaming advocates in Texas.
In this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news in Texas along with more notes about Lone Star State wagering.
Per the same article from the Texas Tribune, while the two main proposals to expand betting in the state advanced earlier this month, they will continue to face long odds in the Senate. However, this new development does represent more progress than previously seen in the prior legislative session, when there were committee hearings but was never voted out. According to sources and those familiar with this space, national gaming powers have been targeting Texas as the next uncharted gambling frontier for two political sessions in a row.
In the report, the House State Affairs Committee approved legislation earlier this month that would let voters decide whether to legalize casinos and online sports betting in Texas. More specifically, the vote passed without discussion and ended in a 9-3 decision with Republicans making up the opposition. However, as the report points out, the legislation still has a long way to go. For instance, the expansion of gambling would require changes to the Texas Constitution which would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers. That said, this would appear unlikely as the Texas Senate, according to other reports, has signaled little appetite for the bills.
As shown in the same report, the powerful presiding officer of the Texas Senate, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, has “long thrown cold water on the prospects of expanding gambling in Texas.” Moreover, Patrick has also been more pointed in recent media appearances, saying the Senate lacks the GOP support he wants to see for either proposal. For reference, House Bill 2843 would allow for casino gambling in Texas, while House Bill 1942 would legalize online sports betting. Moreover, the casino bill would additionally make way for sports wagering in the state.
While the odds of getting some gaming legislation approved in Texas might be a bit stacked up right now, there’s certainly money being poured into the state on behalf of gaming advocates. Per the report, the casino legislation is backed by Las Vegas Sands, which has spent millions of dollars since 2020 on lobbyists, TV ads, and campaign contributions in the Lone Star State. The bills themselves were also met with familiar arguments from both sides surrounding gaming expansion in Texas. Proponents said that it would be an economic boon, while opponents warned of societal harm by increasing gambling addiction.
Once you are all dialed in regarding getting up to speed on Texas gaming news, make sure to also check out the different resources available to you from SBS. Of course, for even more information pertaining to the Lone Star State, the SBS sports betting in Texas guide goes over all the latest gaming news coming out of Texas. Moreover, if you are perhaps uncertain about which payment options are the best for you then do not fret as our payment methods rundown has you covered. On this page, you can find a detailed list of options ranging from traditional routes for payment and withdrawals to cryptocurrencies. On a final note, if you are also interested in some higher stakes wagering then the SBS VIP sports betting sites breakdown is just for you. Here you can find more about the perks of VIP sports betting.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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