Texas isn’t likely to OK sports betting soon
GOP-dominated Legislature no fan of gambling
The U.S. Supreme Court may be clearing the way for states to legalize betting on sporting events, but don't expect the Texas Legislature to make such a move anytime soon.
AUSTIN — The U.S. Supreme Court is clearing the way for states to legalize betting on sporting events but don’t expect the Texas Legislature to make such a move anytime soon.
Expanding gambling in Texas has been a nonstarter for years the Legislature, even as demands for new and additional revenue sources continue to grow. Religious leaders, conservative groups and Republican legislative leaders have all worked to keep the lid on expansion.
“We’re more likely to see tofu replacing chili as the state’s official dish before we see a major gaming expansion in Texas, assuming the Republicans still control state government,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston.
Democrat supportive
Monday’s Supreme Court decision strikes down the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act that outlaws betting on football, basketball and other sports in most states, with Nevada as the notable exception.
Texas doesn’t even have legalized casino gambling, except on select Indian reservations. Pari-mutuel wagering at licensed horse and dog race tracks is legal. Lawmakers and legislative watchers have long believed that the next expansion of gambling in Texas will come at those tracks.
The most recent proposal to expand gambling came from Democratic gubernatorial runoff candidate Andrew White, a Houston investor. He recently proposed an ambitious $9 billion package of education improvements, including a teacher pay raise, that would be funded largely by allowing slots and possibly table games at the race tracks.
Ultimately, White said he’d be open to also allowing casinos at destination resort areas like Kemah on the Texas Gulf Coast. The Stockyards in Fort Worth also has been mentioned as a potential location.
Expanding gambling could generate an additional $3 billion for each two-year budget cycle, White said.
In wake of Monday’s ruling, White said in a statement that “betting on sports is a gamble, but betting on a kid’s education is a sure win. We must invest in our schools, and if betting on sports helps create additional funds for schools, I’m for it.”
White’s Democratic runoff opponent, former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, said she’s pleased the court gave the states power to chart their own course on sports betting.
“My first priority is looking out for everyday Texans to make sure they have the good government they deserve,” Valdez said. “I believe decisions about whether or not to have gambling in our communities should be left up to Texans. This could include lifting the state ban on sports betting and helping find ways for local communities to decide their own laws and policies. Any revenue from gambling in Texas should go towards education and public services that help working Texans and not as a way to pay for handouts to big corporations.”
But Republicans still rule the Legislature and all statewide office in Texas, and they’re unlikely to budge.
“The political risks for Republicans to back expansion are high,” Rottinghaus noted. “Leadership typically doesn’t prioritize this expansion of gaming and it would take an epic budget crisis to scramble most legislators to find money in gambling in any significant form.”
Faces a double hurdle
Plus, he added, any major expansion would have to go before voters. Even if changes come, they’re likely to be incremental.
“Two-thirds of legislators would have to approve of the expansion of full scale gambling, along with a majority of the voters to amend the constitution. This double hurdle makes it unlikely in a conservative-leaning state. We might see gaming expanded at the margins, like some specific games or in set regions, but any change will be ... slow,” Rottinghaus said.
He also noted that conservatives still have concerns that allowing more gambling could in turn boost crime in the state.
“The possible revenue to the state would be substantial but most conservatives worry about ancillary crimes that gambling might bring like prostitution or organized crime,” Rottinghaus said.
Gov. Greg Abbott offered no public reaction to Monday’s ruling, but his staff made clear he hasn’t changed his views since writing a letter to Texas Lottery officials in 2015, making it clear he doesn’t support any expansion of gambling.