A battleground state when it comes to sports betting and casinos, it seems that the future of sports wagering in Texas remains murky despite recent progress per sources. Regardless, history was made earlier this month when a Texas sports betting bill advanced out of the State House for the first time ever. However, as alluded to by a handful of outlets, while this is major progress for the sports betting efforts in the Lone Star State, it seems that Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has other plans. He has done so by reaffirming there is no support for the legislation in the State Senate. More specifically, Patrick also assured the measure will not be referred, meaning it will “not even go to a committee to begin the process of having an eventual vote.”
In this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from Texas and also some more notes about Lone Star wagering.
In one article, the Lieutenant Governor was pretty direct about the momentum surrounding sports betting being short-lived. One report noted that not 24 hours after HJR 102 and HB 1942 advanced out of the House did Patrick take to Twitter to dim any hopes of these bills passing the Senate. With the session deadline approaching, it appears there is no time to convince Senate members to change their minds.
In his tweet, Patrick had this to say: “I’ve said repeatedly there is little to no support for expanding gaming from Senate GOP. 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. HB1942 won’t be referred…”
One outlet noted that Patrick stated back in April of this year that the Senate has no votes in favor of sports betting. This sentiment he has maintained even as House legislation progressed. Moreover, the Senate saw both SJR 39 and SB 715 be unsuccessful and these measures were identical to the House bills.
As referenced in another article, Patrick has been transparent about the lack of gaming supporters in the Senate. The Lieutenant Governor said that the members of the Senate “have been clear: they’re not in support today.” He said they do not have any votes in the Senate and “they could not find one Senator who supported it.” Patrick also reiterated his sentiment that he would only support a Texas sports betting bill if it was a Republican majority. The House measures that advanced was backed primarily by Democrats despite being bipartisan bills.
The bills’ main author is also Rep. Jeff Leach of the Republican Party. Despite this, Patrick does not view the measure as a GOP-backed measure. As one article notes, while this is likely the end of the road for betting hopes in 2023, Texas legislators still feel successful in their efforts. The fact that a measure advanced out of the House means there is a shift in perspective for sports betting amongst lawmakers.
After you are all dialed in regarding the latest gaming news coming from Texas, SBS has your back when it comes to a variety of resources to keep you on top of your game. If you are in need of more information regarding the topic at hand, our sports betting in Texas guide has your back when it comes to Lone Star State wagering news. Moreover, for those on the go, the SBS best betting apps rundown covers all kinds of great info related to mobile betting and getting the most out of it. This page will go over the ins and outs of mobile wagering. Finally, if you are uncertain about which deposit and withdrawal options are for you, then our payment methods breakdown is a must-read. On this page, you can find 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 in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. 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.
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