Texas Senate has "zero support" to legalize sports betting and casino gambling, says Lt. Governor

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick stated efforts to legalize casino gambling and sports betting might have met a dead end in the Legislature. Speaking on The Mark Davis Show on Tuesday, Patrick said the Senate has “zero support” for both legislative proposals.

“Our members have been clear: they’re not in support today. We don’t have any votes in the Senate. Couldn’t find one Senator who supported it,” the Lt. Governor assured. However, one of his top allies, Senator Lois Kolkhorst, is sponsoring SJR 39, a constitutional amendment that would allow Texans to wager on sports, if they were to approve it on a November ballot. 

Patrick also noted he refuses to pass a bill that has a majority of Democrats — but not Republicans — in support of the legislation. “Unless I have 15 to 16 Republicans, meaning it’s a Republican-driven bill because we’re a Republican-driven state, I’m not bringing a bill to the floor,” he said. “I need Republican consensus otherwise, it’s a Democrat bill.”

Patrick, who is president of the Texas Senate, criticized his predecessor, former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, for allowing Democratic Party-led legislation to get through the Senate. “If we don’t get consensus in our caucus, it means what we’re really doing is letting Democrats control the agenda. I’m not going to let that happen," he stated.

Legislation that would allow casino gambling also appears unlikely to be approved in this legislative session. A bill authored by Rep. Jeff Leach would let voters decide whether to allow some destination-style casinos in parts of Texas including Dallas. 

Still, proponents of expanded gaming options are not backing down, with many arguing Texans are already crossing state lines to gamble in casinos or betting in sports. According to the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, more than 73,000 sports betting attempts from Texas were blocked during the opening week of March Madness.

Rep. Jeff Leach.

The Alliance is the one leading the push for the legalization of sports betting gambling and casinos in the state. It projects that Texas could earn $250 million annually from tax revenue, but some caution lawmakers that the revenue projection may not bear out as the bill would give Texas among the lowest tax rates on gambling revenue in the country, according to an analysis by The Dallas Morning News. 

Whatever the revenue that could come from betting, if there is not enough backing in the Senate for the bill and Patrick is against the proposal, a referendum will not get to voters, and the movement will have to be revived during the next legislative session. 

Supporters are hoping to get mobile sports betting approved in the state’s House, and then make a renewed push in the Senate. Then the intention is to convince Patrick and others to support sports betting legislation, particularly since some big-name business leaders and sports executives are behind it.