Texas: State legislators to consider sports betting and casino expansion bills
The House State Affairs Committee will hear the proposals later this week.
Texas lawmakers will consider several proposals that could place the topics of sports betting and casinos on the general election ballot, according to a local report in The Texan. The state’s House State Affairs Committee is scheduled to hear a series of bills and resolutions on March 22.
The push to create a constitutional amendment to license select casinos throughout the Lone Star State has gained bipartisan momentum, according to The Texan.
Bills up for discussion include a proposal submitted by Representative Charlie Geren of Fort Worth and Represenative John Kuempel of Seguin. Both bills concern additional casinos throughout the state.
House Joint Resolution 155, written by Geren, seeks to allow casinos in large metropolitan areas like Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and McAllen. Senator Carol Alvarado has also filed a similar bill in the Senate.
Kuempel drafted House Bill 2843 with a more specific focus. HB 2843 proposes the creation of a state gaming commission that would include the horseracing industry. With regard to Texas casinos, the bill aims to license commercial casinos by a newly created Texas Gaming Commission.
In addition to casino concerns, HB 2843 pushes for legalized sports betting and for the state’s three federally recognized tribes to have control over their gambling operations. If passed, the bill would allow the tribes to offer their own casino gambling.
Senator Lois Kolkhorst and Representative Jeff Leach wrote a bill to put the topic of statewide sports betting on the ballet for the next election. The legislation includes setting a program that would license sports wagering operations.
The Texan reported that House State Affairs will hear both the enabling bill and the constitutional amendment bill.
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