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Patrick Svitek of the Texas Tribune gets right to the heart of the problem with the push to legalize gambling and sports wagering in the Lone Start State.
"Given the stiff headwinds to getting any expansion in gambling passed, sports betting and casino advocates may be competing against each other, rather than working in tandem".
While lawmakers are confident they can gain more support, it probably won't be enough.
As reported by Gambling911.com last week, the more conservative state senate is not likely to approve legalization of gambling.
"The senate is very conservative under Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. It's really hard to imagine, either Patrick letting a bill be voted on in the senate, or seeing it pass," Southeast Texas Political Analyst Tom Taschinger stated.
And Svitek expresses the same sentiment in his piece.
"The push is still an uphill battle, however, as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who oversees the Senate, continues to pour cold water on the idea."
One motivating factor: Lobbyists are pouring millions of dollars in campaign contributions.
But even if Patrick were to somehow do an about face, he won't have the final say. The voters will per a constitutional amendment. Two such amendments failed miserably in one of the nation's most liberal states, California, this past November.
In 2021, a Dallas Morning News/University of Texas-Tyler poll showed that only 43% of residents supported legalizing sports betting. Since that time, Texans have been inundated with advertising that's proved to be a turnoff in states where the activity is now legal. Companies like DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM still advertise in Texas via nationally televised games and other broadcast television.
The state's Sports Betting Alliance has hired former Gov. Rick Perry as a spokesperson. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is also on board.
“What’s changed [since 2021], I think, is the continuing education of the general public that this is not an expansion of gambling,” Perry said in an interview, suggesting that Texans already participate in this sort of gambling in other states or illegally. “It’s going on, it’s gonna continue to go on and the state of Texas needs to regulate it and make sure that its citizens’ information is protected.”
Man Shot Dead Outside San Antonio Gambling House
A man in his 30's was shot dead inside a Southwest Side San Antonio home believed to be used for illegal gambling purposes, according to city police.
Officers were called around 10:20 p.m. to the home in the 5500 block of Hayden Drive. Upon arrival, the officers found sevenal eight-liner machines inside. The unidentified shooting victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooter and two others fled the scene in a white Volkswagen Jetta. The driver has since been arrested. The shooter is still on the run.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
