Much has been made over the last few months about the possibility of Texas lawmakers legalizing sports betting and casino gaming, but many signs point to this not being the year the nation’s second-biggest state is ready to do so.
So far, this session has been one in which lawmakers get educated and begin to crystalize a firm idea of what they want legal gambling to look like. During a hearing last month, lawmakers discussed tax rate, fees, retail vs. digital, and responsible and problem gambling plans.
The tenor of the hearing was such that lawmakers were still in learning mode, while also clearly sharing that they believe that as a massive state, Texas should command top dollar from wagering and casino operators. There also was no sense of urgency.
“It won’t pass this session because there’s not a budget deficit,” Brant Martin, a partner at Wick Phillips, said during a panel on the future of Oklahoma and Texas gaming at the annual Indian Gaming Association conference in San Diego. “That tells you a lot about politics.”