Republican Senators in Austin continue to be the roadblock to legal sports betting in Texas. The governor, State House, and populace all support Texas sportsbooks. However, Republicans in the GOP-controlled Texas State Senate won’t deviate from the party line or cross the aisle to work on gambling legislation. In doing so, they are running against overall sentiment in the state.
Last year, the Texas State House passed a bill that would have allowed for sports betting in Texas. But that legislation was never brought to the floor of the State Senate for debate because it was opposed by Republican leadership in that chamber.
Gov. Greg Abbott, himself a Republican, supports a constitutional amendment vote on legalizing commercial gambling in his state, including sportsbooks. He cites the tax revenue and support from citizens in his state for his reasoning. Gov. Abbott has been at odds with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who opposes the expansion of gambling in the Lone Star State.
Study shows Texans support online sports betting
The Republicans obstructing sports betting in Texas may be standing on shifting ground. A recent study from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs reveals that 60% of Texans surveyed support the legalization of online sports betting in Texas. That support includes 59 percent of Republicans.
Texas is the second-largest state without legal online sports betting, following California. Texas is unique in that it also does not have commercial casino gaming, online casino gaming, or retail sports betting either. According to the University of Houston study, 73% of Texans support the legalization of resort casinos in Texas, including a whopping 72% of Republicans.
Past studies have garnered similar results when it comes to gambling expansion in the state.
In spite of the support from Abbott, members of the Texas State House of Representatives, and the population of this state, which has more than 30 million people, or roughly 9% of the U.S. population, a small number of GOP members in the State Senate continue to keep the issue of mobile sports betting at bay.
All of the major professional sports teams and leagues in Texas are in favor of legal sports betting in this state, which is home to seven teams in MLB, the NFL, NHL, and NBA.
Governor favors measured approach to gambling
In an interview with FOX4 News in Dallas, Abbott explained that he supports giving the decision to legalize online gambling to the citizenry via a statewide referendum.
“What I’m in favor of is giving it to the voters and let the voters decide.”
Texas state law requires an expansion of gambling to be approved by an amendment to the constitution. Such a vote would require the support of 2/3 of the votes cast.
The governor indicated in the interview concern over the impact expanded gambling could have in his state, including apparently the prospect of gaming options at retail locations.
“I want to make sure that every mom and pop or grandma or somebody who doesn’t have a lot of income is not able to go down to a local 7-Eleven or convenience store and lose money. They need to be spending on food or clothing or other items like that. So we need to make sure that if there is anything like this that happens, that expands gaming, that we’re not leading people down to a pathway of poverty. So there needs to be some guardrails put on it, even if it is presented to the voters.”
