Lawmakers who had backed the gaming expansion have been replaced by a dozen Republican GOP newcomers, who now oppose it.
Texas’s attempts to increase gambling have been unsuccessful numerous times throughout the state’s history. The campaign for sports betting and casino gambling has accelerated in the past ten years alone, but there is still little prospect that a plan will be approved by the state assembly.
The possible growth with the addition of casino gambling and sports betting was just recently clouded by the huge controversy involving the Texas lottery.
House Lawmakers Oppose Casino Gambling and Betting
Furthermore, the possible growth of gambling is made even more challenging by recent changes to the state’s House. Legislators who had favored gaming expansion were only recently replaced by a dozen Republicans in the Texas House.
According to the Texas Tribune, three politicians who had previously voted in favor of online sports betting recently announced their intention to oppose the expansion of gambling in casinos and betting, joining the dozen new GOP members who pledged to oppose these measures.
The legalization of sports betting and the expansion of gambling through the establishment of casinos, sometimes known as destination resorts, were the two proposals submitted to the state House last month.
However, in a recent letter, Rep. Ken King, the chair of the House State Affairs Committee, pledged to oppose the measures alongside other politicians who oppose gaming. “We are certain that the Texas House will not have the votes required to approve this measure this year.
King wrote at the time, “Given the likelihood that it will fail, I implore you not to waste valuable committee time on an issue that is dead on arrival.”
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Texas’s Gambling Industry’s Future Is Still Up in the Air
Following the findings of a recent survey, we revealed last month that Texans might finally be opening up to online sports betting. According to a survey by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, 60% of participants support the legalization of online sports betting.
However, 73% of respondents, or a resounding majority, were in favor of legalizing destination resort casinos throughout the state.
Without a question, such findings make it abundantly evident to legislators that more people are in favor of Texas’ gambling industry growing by adding casinos and online sports betting. The future of the proposed casino expansion is still unclear, though, particularly in light of the House’s rejection.
Gambling requires a constitutional amendment, in contrast to other laws that need state Senate and House ratification. This implies that a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate is required for gaming legislation to pass.
Texans, who would have the option to vote for or against the idea, would also need to approve it.
In other pertinent Texas news, a legislation that essentially outlawed lottery couriers was recently approved by the Senate. This occurred soon after claims surfaced that a foreign syndicate was allowed to claim a $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot by the Texas lottery.
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