Texas Casino Legislation Faces Uphill Battle in Upcoming Session

Posted on: November 14, 2024, 08:58h. 

Last updated on: November 14, 2024, 09:49h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Texas legislators are unlikely to approve locating commercial casinos in the state, officials said. But there’s a remote chance legislation could generate enough enthusiasm to pass in 2025, experts add.

Dan Patrick
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), pictured above. So far, Texas legislators aren’t approving casino legislation. (Image: Governing Magazine)

In a recent interview with Dallas TV station WFAA, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) wouldn’t rule out that a casino bill could gain traction in the legislature. But currently, there aren’t enough legislators who back a bill to get it approved.

Nor, are legislators hearing a lot of support for the bill from pro-casino constituents, according to Patrick.

“When we finished this last session, no one called and said, ‘Oh, you didn’t pass the casino bill,’” Patrick said during the recent interview. “It’s not on anyone’s top-20 list.”

It doesn’t mean there aren’t people who really want it,” Patrick added. “But like anything else, … it really bubbles up from the ground to tell a House member or a Senator that they want this legislation to pass. And that just has not happened.”

A sign the bill may be gaining momentum would be if legislators start to hear from clergy and others opposed to gambling legislation. That hasn’t happened yet, Patrick said.

But, there have been extensive lobbying efforts by supporters, including Las Vegas Sands (LVS) Corp. which is among the strongest backers of casino legislation.

Experts Weigh In

When asked to comment on Patrick’s statements, Rice University political scientist Mark P. Jones told Casino.org, “I would interpret the lieutenant governor’s statement to mean that, at the present time, he does not envision casino gambling legislation passing during the 2025 legislative session. But, at the same time, he is not categorically ruling out the possibility that it passes out of the legislature and is signed into law by Governor [Greg] Abbott (R])during 2025.”

When Patrick weighs the pros and cons of casino gambling, the scales still lean toward the negative side than the positive side,” Jones added. “There is though always the possibility of that changing, especially if additional revenue is found to be needed during the 2025 legislative session to fund high-priority policy issues for Texas Republicans such as school choice legislation and additional property tax relief.”

Jones noted that in recent years, LVS and others have lobbied for the legislation. In July, it was recommended that Texas should open at least five destination casino resorts, LVS Senior Vice President of Government Relations Andy Abboud, whose company is among those eager to capture a license, said at a roundtable.

Bill at Two-Yard Line

“Casino gambling legislation [is] much better positioned for passage in 2025 than at the start of any prior legislative session,” Jones said. “However, just because the legislation is now at the two-yard line does not mean it will be crossing into the end zone during the Texas Legislature’s upcoming biennial session.  It will pass when the lieutenant governor and his fellow Texas Senate Republicans come to the conclusion that the benefits the legislation provides in terms of jobs and tax revenue outweigh its negative social externalities.”

Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political scientist, agrees that in the Texas Senate, what Patrick says, goes.

If he says the votes aren’t there it means he doesn’t see momentum and doesn’t plan to look for it,” Rottinghaus told Casino.org.

“That said, sometimes issues have a way of taking on their own momentum as the session starts its 140-day sprint.  It’s possible the issue will develop as the legislators arrive and stakeholders have a chance to weigh in.”