Texas Sports Betting Hopes Dealt Major Blow

Many are hoping that Texas sports betting legalization efforts will make serious headway once Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, one of gambling’s staunchest opponents, is out of office. Initially, some believed this could happen after his current term ended.

So much for that.

Patrick has served as Lieutenant Governor of The Lone Star State since 2014. He is currently finishing out his third term at the helm. During his time, he has repeatedly opposed legislation aimed at legalizing sports betting in Texas. His justifications vary, though they predominantly follow some variation of “Sports betting must be a Republican-led initiative if it’s going to happen.”

Most recently, though, he confirmed that he will be seeking election for a fourth term. Experts almost universally agree this isn’t good news for Texas sports betting chances. However, they are split on how much it ultimately matters.

After all, Patrick may be among the biggest roadblocks to sports gambling legalization in The Lone Star State. But he is far from the only one.

General Senate Opinion is a Major Hold-Up in Texas Sports Betting Legalization Attempts

To date, a lack of support among Texas Senate members imposes the biggest barrier to sports betting legislation. In fact, a bill that would have approved Texas sports betting has previously made it through the House of Representatives. So, clearly, all eyes must be on the Senate in the future.

While many attribute the lack of traction on the floor to Patrick, they are only partially right. Patrick does have plenty of sway over the Senate. As Pat Evans writes for iGaming Business, though, the opposition to Texas sports betting goes beyond just him:

“Patrick, who presides over the Texas Senate, has repeatedly blocked sports betting and casino bills in recent sessions. He has said measures need majority Republican support in the Senate before he will allow them to be heard. While the gambling industry has considered Patrick to be the major foil to gambling issues, he has offered little public commentary on his personal or political stance toward gambling. But the Dallas Morning News recently reported it may be a mistake to view Patrick as the sole obstacle. ‘If I was the Sands Corporation, I’d be trying to count my Senate votes and quit worrying about Dan Patrick,” Austin-based consultant Mike Lavigne told the newspaper. ‘Patrick is not as big a problem as the rest of the Senate is. And if they had the votes in the Senate, Patrick wouldn’t be a problem.’”

This idea that Texas sports betting legislation could get past the Senate without Patrick’s blessing is an interesting one. Truthfully, it seems to skew too far into idealism. Senate members will be reluctant to vote in favor of such a huge policy change that does not have the support of the person presiding over the majority.

Senate Republicans Have Shown an Iota of Support for Sports Betting in the Past

The extent to which Patrick stands in the way of Texas sports betting has been on full display in the past. At least one of the previous initiatives included bi-partisan collaboration. The thought was that having certain Republicans involved would make the measure more appealing to Patrick.

Suffice it to say, the proposal never got off the ground. Heck, it never even received a vote on the Senate floor. Patrick has repeatedly claimed the Senate doesn’t have the support necessary to even hold an exploratory vote. Though he’s hinted his stance will change if the sentiment shifts first, it’s tough to say how any altered views become apparent without a vote.

Complicated still, the dearth of Patrick explicitly laying out his own views of Texas sports betting do not help matters. Is he against sports gambling in general? Or does he just refuse to consider any legislation with even traces of Democratic collaboration?

Knowing the roots of his opposition is important. If he’s so bent on chafing at Democratic policies, the House then knows sports betting bills must be almost entirely Republican-driven. On the flip side, if he holds a larger opposition to sports betting in the United States, it is important for supporters to know and understand why. This way, they can try to address those concerns during the next round of discussions.

Don’t Expect Texas to Green Light Sports Betting Anytime Soon

Whether you believe Texas sports betting stalls out primarily because of Patrick himself or the Republican party writ large, this announcement from the Lieutenant Governor is a setback for the overall push. As long as Patrick remains in office, there will be more hurdles for policy change to clear.

Spoiler alert: Patrick is going to remain in office.

As the Republican incumbent, he is almost assuredly going to run unopposed in the primary. And nobody expects the historically conservative Texas to elect a Democratic Lieutenant Governor. Ergo, this news may all but ensure Texas sports betting legalization remains a long shot through the end of the decade. And beyond.

To what degree that can change is debatable. Perhaps the recent launch of a Texas sports betting alternative will be the catalyst that has lawmakers seeking to regulate the market in any way possible. Or maybe Patrick’s stance on policy proposals softens.

Whatever the case, something substantial must change for Texas sports betting to become more than it is now: a pipe dream.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: