It doesn't look like pro-gambling legislation will make it out of the Texas House this session.
12 GOP freshmen have already said they would oppose “any attempt to expand gambling.” Three returning lawmakers who voted to allow online sports betting last session also said they would be against such legislation this time around.
Earlier this week, lawmakers sent a letter to Rep. Ken King, chair of the House State Affairs Committee, basically telling him not to spend time on the latest proposals to legalize casinos and sports betting.
“We are confident this legislation does not have the votes necessary to pass the Texas House this session,” part of the letter reads. “Given the certainty of its failure, I urge you not to waste valuable committee time on an issue that is dead on arrival.”
Two years ago, there was a measure that passed the 150-member House with 101 votes, barely clearing the two-thirds threshold needed. However, a constitutional amendment to authorize “destination resort” casinos received 92 votes in the House, falling short of the two-thirds mark.
Now, any such proposal looks likely to get rejected, pushing back the possibility of legalized casinos and sports betting in the state off Texas yet again.
Derek Cohen, Chief Research Officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said legalizing sports betting and casinos in Texas isn't high enough on the priority list for Texas lawmakers and doesn't have enough energy behind it from Texas voters.
"I don't think it's a top priority for anyone at all to be honest with you," said Cohen. "That is so far down the list from the economy to the border, education, crime, fiscal matters, all that stuff takes priority over this."
The new House seems to be more aligned with the view that the Senate has on legalized gambling in Texas. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has said repeatedly that the are not enough votes in the Senate to pass such legislation.
"It seems that the new members seem to be more reflective of the Senate's view on the policy matter, rather than the old House's," Cohen said.
Gov. Greg Abbott has previously stated that he would support legalized gambling legislation if it makes it to his desk.
The issue isn't likely to go away though, if not approved by lawmakers this session. Cohen said there are still plenty of lobbyists for legalized sports betting and casinos positioned in the capital city.
"The Sands corporation has retained a lot of lobbyists in the city of Austin supposedly to do this so I don't think they're going to cut bait on that anytime soon," he added, referring to the Las Vegas Sands Corp., an American casino and resort company headquartered in Las Vegas.
Proponents to the matter said the revenue generated from this in Texas would be astounding. In a study conducted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Cohen said they estimated that the state would bring in $800 million of additional revenue.
But, there are definitely opponents to legalized Texas gambling too.
"There could be a very significant increase in gambling addictions, associated crime, and these are things that have been seen in other states as well," Cohen said.