Texas lawmakers are back at the drawing board, trying to legalize gambling in the Lone Star State with House Joint Resolution 134, tabled by Representative Sam Harless.
Texans are largely in favor of legalizing gambling, with a recent University of Houston survey showing 73% of Texans are in favor of "destination resort Casinos" while 60% are in favor of sports gambling.
In 2023, lawmakers came as close as they've ever come to legalizing gambling with HJR 102, which passed in the House with a 100-43 vote but died on the steps of the Senate.
With another kick at the can, lawmakers hope this year will be successful, but I'm not so sure. Not only does HJR 134 face the same hurdle faced by 2023's HJR 102 in the Senate, but this most recent attempt might struggle getting out of the House.
Dan Patrick Still Stands In The Way
Texas's last attempt to legalize gambling died thanks to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. In 2023, the senior Republican bared HJR102 from being heard in the Texas's second chamber, stating that his GOP caucus didn't support the motion.
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. HB1942 won’t be referred.…
— Office of the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (@LtGovTX) May 13, 2023
Sure, Texas's Republican Governor Greg Abbott has since stated he isn't opposed to the state opening its doors to legal gambling, but his lukewarm indifference is far from full-throated support, and won't move Patrick out of his seat and allow the Senate to at least debate the topic.
Patrick's Republican caucus in the Senate has grown slightly since 2023, holding a 20-11 majority compared to 19-12 two years ago. And there's no indication that members within the GOP caucus have changed their minds on legalized gambling. In fact, if the House GOP is any barometer for the Senate GOP's appetite, we can conclude it's shrunk.
Changing Tides in the Texas GOP
Like the Senate, the GOP has seen its power rise in the House with an 88-62 majority, up from 86-64 in 2023. Not to mention that a portion of Republican lawmakers who voted in favor of gambling in 2023 have since changed their opinion on the matter.
According to the Texas Tribune, at least 12 GOP members in the House would no longer support legislation to legalize gambling. If every other vote on HJR 102 from 2023 remains the same, that 100-43 vote would fall to 88-55, below the two-thirds threshold needed for a constitutional amendment to pass in the House.
To make matters worse, fourteen representatives sent a letter to the Chair of the House State Affairs Committee, Ken King, making it clear the House shouldn't waste its time on such legislation.
Gambling enthusiasts and the pro-gambling lobby might have thought 2025 was their year after the inroads made in 2023, but they might have to wait another two years.
