Any hopes that legal sports betting in Texas is a possibility this year were all but killed Saturday when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who also serves as president of the Senate, tweeted that there is no appetite in that chamber for the gambling expansion.
https://twitter.com/LtGovTX/status/1657442546535079938
“We don’t waste time on bills without overwhelming GOP support. HB1942 won’t be referred,” he posted. His message came two days after HJR 102, which would send the decision on legal wagering to the voters, and its enabling legislation were passed out of the House.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently endorsed legalizing online Texas sports betting
Patrick has long said he doesn’t support an expansion of gambling in the Lone Star State, but stakeholders are pleased that at least some progress was made this session. Sports betting passed through the House, though casino legislation that would have allowed for eight “destination resorts” did not.
While both legal sports betting and casino gambling measures had support in the House, Patrick has consistently said that there is not enough support among Senate Republicans for him to consider entertaining either issue. Nineteen of the 31 Senate seats are filled by Republicans, and 21 votes would be needed to pass the bills. The wagering legislation that made it through the House was sponsored by Republicans and had bipartisan support.
