© Jay Janner/Associated Press
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over the Senate at the Capitol on the first day of the 88th Legislative Session Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Austin.
Online sports betting isn’t coming to Texas any time soon, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Saturday.
The state House narrowly advanced a bill this week that would allow Texans to vote on legalizing the practice, a milestone for the gambling industry’s push to expand in the Lone Star State. Supporters had already expected an uphill climb in the Senate, but Patrick put an end to any remaining speculation on Twitter.
BACKGROUND: Texas House moves to legalize sports betting, with steep climb ahead in Senate
“I’ve said repeatedly there is little to no support for expanding gaming from Senate GOP,” Patrick tweeted. “I polled members this week. Nothing changed. The Senate must focus on issues voters expect us to pass. We don’t waste time on bills without overwhelming GOP support. HB 1942 won’t be referred.”
Still, gambling advocates say the bill’s passage in the House — by a vote of 101 to 42 — shows the potential to advance the legislation in future sessions.
State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano and the author of the legislation, has argued that Texans already have easy access to illegal forms of online betting, where they spend millions of untaxed dollars every year. He said legalizing the practice would “allow these people to come out of the shadows” and put them under a “regulatory framework that will protect Texans who are already doing this now.”
Critics were mostly Republicans who argued that legalizing the practice would stoke gambling addictions. State Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, said it would also “drag money out of Texas” to sports betting companies based in other states.
House Republicans were also considering a bill this week to allow “destination resort” casinos to come to Texas, but the legislation failed after supporters couldn’t find enough votes to advance it.