Texas lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in the House have recently passed a bill to legalize sports betting on mobile devices throughout the state. However, the motion most likely will not clear the state Senate, according to a Dallas News local report.
The House passed the bill 101 votes, indicating that Republicans within the House have embraced the idea of a regulated sports betting market.
According to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, the votes to regulate sports betting in Texas “are not there.” Patrick noted in a recent social media post that GOP Senators are not interested in supporting additional gambling options within the Lone Star State.
Patrick said in a recent Twitter post: “I’ve said repeatedly there is little to no support for expanding gaming from Senate GOP. I polled members this week. Nothing changed.
“The senate must focus on issues voters expect us to pass. We don’t waste time on bills without overwhelming GOP support.”
Dallas News noted that Patrick is unlikely to comment on the matter because of a lack of support within the Senate.
Sports betting supporters have made it clear they must have Patrick’s support to advance any future attempts to open a regulated market, according to the local report.
Similar efforts toward casino gambling have not advanced past the House. A recent casino gambling bill gained 92 votes, not enough to move to the Senate.
According to Dallas News, both bills “will have momentum going into the 2025 legislative session.”
Since the Supreme Court repealed PASPA in 2018, online gambling is currently available in more than 35 states, with 18 of those allowing for legal online sports wagering.
