For Texas gaming proponents, it appears that another individual aiming for the Lone Star legislature has her mind set on casinos not becoming a fixture in the state. Per a recent article, Texas political newcomer Cheryl Bean, who will take part in a legislative primary runoff later this month, has repeated her opposition to casino resorts in the state. In her race to capture the Republican nomination for the Texas House District 97 seat, she recently told a CBS News outlet in the state, “I’m not a fan of gambling.” Also, one of her objections is that with casinos, the jobs created lead to more union activity. The jobs may also be filled by illegal migrants coming from across the border, she noted in the article.
In this report, SBS will be going over the latest updates coming from the Lone Star State, along with even more notes and info regarding Texas gaming news.
Per the same article, Bean said regarding casino resort proposals, “it’s a moot point and a waste of taxpayer money to go down that path.” Also, gambling is currently available in nearby states with travel times of just two or three hours from anywhere in Texas. “That’s fine with me,” Bean said regarding the proximity of these options in other states. Bean will face John McQueeney in the May 28 Republican primary. Another key issue in the race is border security. The House seat is currently held by state Rep. Craig Goldman, a Republican who is seeking to get elected to Congress.
Beyond just Bean’s sentiments, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, also a Republican, is opposed to gambling legislation. He has said it won’t pass as long as he stays in office and dominates the state Senate. Patrick has also endorsed Bean in the primary.
Per the same article and also noted in this space before, as it now stands, Class III (commercial casino) gambling is prohibited in Texas. So too are online sports gambling and in-person sports gambling at sportsbooks. During the Texas Legislature’s 2023 session, a bill that eventually died would have paved the way for a constitutional amendment on the construction and operation of several destination resort casinos. Legislation to permit online sports gambling in Texas narrowly passed in the Texas House but died in the state Senate. If ever approved by the legislature, the measures still would require support by voters during a referendum.
Earlier this year, Las Vegas Sands filed a new petition to bring casino gaming to Texas. Many lobbyists have been working on the issue in the state and new legislative proposals are likely in upcoming sessions. Expanded gaming is in the future per the same article, the only question is when, University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus recently told one outlet. He explained that casino gaming is a big change and will take a few legislative sessions to pass.
While some state leadership is bearish on the future of gambling and casinos in the Lone State State, a new survey of state residents shows otherwise. Per another article, a new survey from the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation shows voters support some types of legalized gambling. There is speculation that legislation to legalize casino-style gaming could be introduced this session. Mark Jones, who is a political science professor at Rice University in Houston co-directed a survey from the Foundation that looked at how voters feel about expanding gambling in the state.
Per the same article, the poll shows 47% of likely voters support legislation to legalize online sports gaming and 56% of likely voters support legislation to authorize the construction and operation of destination resort casinos in Texas. “One of the most interesting things we found with the destination and casino legislation is the majority support for it across all cross-sections of Texas,” said Jones. Opponents of gambling in Texas say the real polls will be during the election, but gambling isn’t the top issue among voters.
“In the Texas House races the people who are going to come to Austin aren’t walking around their district telling everybody that if you send me to Austin I’m going to vote for casinos,” Rob Kohler with the Christian Life Commission said. Even though casino gambling is not legal, advocates are betting on it. Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban has said he wants a destination-style resort in Dallas with the Mavericks playing there. He sold the Mavericks to the Adelson and Dumont families, who also own Las Vegas Sands Corp., with the hope their lobbyists can make the case for casinos.
After you are all squared away regarding the latest gaming notes and updates coming from the Lone Star State, make sure to check out the awesome array of information from SBS. Of course, for even more information on the topic at hand, the sports betting in Texas guide has you covered with all of the latest gaming updates from the state. Moreover, for those on the go, the best betting apps rundown has your back with all of the nuances regarding mobile betting and staying on top of the action. Finally, if you are interested in diversifying your deposit and withdrawal options, make sure to peruse the payment methods breakdown which goes over a wide variety of options from cryptocurrencies to more traditional banking routes.
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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