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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s election defeat has removed a long-standing obstacle to Texas sports betting legalization, supporters told Sports Business Journal in a Nov. 13 report. The outlet reported that Democrats also defeated Gov. Greg Abbott and flipped control of the Texas House for the first time in 24 years.
Patrick’s defeat changes the Senate conversation
Jeremy Kudon said Patrick’s departure could make Republican senators more receptive to sports betting legislation after years of frustration for proponents.
“Now that you know that Dan Patrick is not there, there will be Senate Republicans who will look at this much more closely than they did before,” Kudon told Sports Business Journal.
Kudon characterized the election results as an opportunity to reopen legalization discussions rather than a purely partisan change.
“It’s less a partisan issue and more a shakeup in the legislatures,” he said.
Texas voter-approval path requires a two-thirds majority
Sports Business Journal described the Texas legalization path as less clear than Georgia’s. In Texas, putting the issue before voters would require a two-thirds legislative majority, according to the outlet.
Georgia could move more quickly, Kudon said, if lawmakers pursue a stand-alone sports betting bill instead of a constitutional amendment. The Georgia proposal discussed in the report would generate a projected $250 million for pre-K education and need-based college scholarships.
For Texas, Kudon said newly elected legislators would need to learn about the issue as proponents renew their efforts.
“There is always going to be education of new members that has to be done,” he said.
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Source: As reported by Sports Business Journal.
