After years of trying and, ultimately, failing to legalize Texas sports betting, the gambling outlook in The Lone Star State apparently remains the same. This is to say: Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is still the biggest roadblock to sports wagering legalization.
Anyone who has paid attention to the push for sports betting in Texas will be far from shocked by this not-so-new development. Mr. Patrick has repeatedly neutered sports gambling discussions, spoken out against the industry and claimed state lawmakers do not support its legalization.
Still, his sentiments have largely run counter to numerous polls. Various surveys over the years have shown that a majority of Texans support some form of sports gambling as well as the integration of casino gaming. One of the more recent polls, in fact, even found that ultra-conservative Christians are open to sports betting.
Yet, through it all, Mr. Patrick’s opposition to Texas sports betting remains steadfast. And while his reasons and motives vary, the why behind his stance is starting to take a backseat to the how.
Mainly, how can one person have enough power and influence to drive sports betting sentiment and practices throughout an entire state? And beyond that, how can the push for Texas sports betting overcome its longstanding biggest obstacle?
Explaining How Lieutenant Governor Patrick Has Impeded Texas Sports Betting Hopes
It’s one thing for a prominent figure to be staunchly against Texas sports betting. But how is it that Mr. Patrick is able to actively halt agendas that counter his own? Ryan Chandler recently unpacked this for NBC’s KXAN in Austin:
“There’s one state leader who observers single out when throwing cold water on the prospects: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Patrick, the leader of the Senate and the most powerful legislator in the state, decides what legislation moves or dies. He has repeatedly cast doubt on any sports betting or casino bills…[Last] May, the Texas House passed a sports betting bill on a 82-51 vote. Still, only 35 Republicans voted in favor. Citing a lack of Republican support, Lt. Gov. Patrick did not refer the House’s bill to a Senate committee.”
It really is this simple. Mr. Patrick is in charge of setting the Senate’s agenda. If he doesn’t believe there’s enough traction for a proposal, he can avoid bringing it to the floor. And that’s a right he has exercised on a recurring basis.
For the most part, his influence over the Texas sports betting debate is not outsized relative to consensus. Other state officials seldom gush over the legalization of sports gambling or casino gaming integration.
Still, last year’s events remain especially telltale. The Texas House of Representatives actually, and quite decisively, passed a sports betting bill. Even if Mr. Patrick didn’t see enough support from his fellow Republicans, the decision to backburner a Texas sports betting bill with proven appeal sends quite the message.
Will Texas Ever Meaningfully Consider Legalizing Some Form of Sports Gambling While Mr. Patrick is in Office?
Optimists will hold out hope that Mr. Patrick, among other Republicans, can be sold on the merits of legal sports betting in Texas. We’re not so sure.
Indeed, many have wondered whether Mr. Patrick would be more open to sports gambling if the initiative was driven by Republicans rather than the Democrats. This is a fair sentiment. It’s also already proven faulty. Previous Texas sports betting initiatives have received sponsorship and firm endorsements from key Republican figures, including noted allies of Mr. Patrick. And it hasn’t mattered.
This is why a growing throng of officials and industry insiders are starting to believe Texas sports betting won’t stand a chance until there’s a shift in power. As XLMedia’s gambling regulatory writer Robert Linnehan told KXAN:
“Maybe it’ll happen in 2025. Maybe, as we get closer to the session, the momentum will start building. But from where I sit right now, I just, I don’t see it…Patrick and the Republicans in the Senate have sort of dug in their heels, and there’s not an appetite for it. With Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick in power through 2026, I think casino expansion and sports betting have an extremely difficult hill to climb.”
Of course, this outlook will not stop other parties from attempting to elevate the Texas sports gambling agenda. More gaming operators have recently joined the push for sports betting in Texas, including some industry heavyweights. And as sports betting in the United States becomes more commonplace, many think 2025 could be the year we see Texas Republicans change their tune.
It Could Still be a While Before Sports Betting Comes to Texas
Then again, others aren’t in the business of holding out hope for 2025 legislature sessions. They are resigned to Mr. Patrick and other Republicans stymying any Texas sports betting efforts.
If Linnehan’s assertions prove correct, The Lone Star State would be lucky to get sports betting before the decade is out. As he noted, Mr. Patrick is in office through 2026. Because the Texas legislature only meets in odd-numbered years, the state wouldn’t have the opportunity to amend their gaming laws before then. Assuming Texas sports betting gets approved in 2027, it could take at least one year for it to roll out. And that presumes The Lone Star State allows online sportsbooks in the USA to enter the market. If lawmakers only approve retail sports betting in Texas, the rollout will take longer, because the state will need time to set up a casino infrastructure.
To be sure, none of this is etched in stone. Plenty can change between now and the next round of Texas sports betting legislation. However, it does seem fair to say that any sports gambling initiatives proposed during Mr. Patrick’s tenure will be swiftly, and aggressively, shot down.
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