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Texas Casino, Sports Betting Interests Consider Pushing For One Ballot Measure

Proponents say they are in a good position entering the 2025 Texas legislative session after the progress made in 2023

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Matthew Kredell Avatar
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Texas casino and online sports betting interests have aligned their lobbying efforts ahead of the 2025 legislative session.

Speaking to PlayUSA after a panel at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas last week, Las Vegas Sands Senior Vice President of Government Relations Andy Abboud said the alignment could result in one constitutional amendment resolution filed to put a single ballot measure before voters allowing for casinos and sports betting.

“There is a distinct possibility that there could just be one bill this session,” Abboud said. “I think we’re all working to see if there’s a consideration to make it one bill, a simpler bill that just removes the prohibition against gambling.”

Abboud was joined on the panel forecasting Texas gaming legislation for 2025 by Cesar Fernandez, head of US state government relations at FanDuel, and Rick Limardo, SVP of government affairs at MGM. Each spoke of unity between those wanting to build casinos and sports betting operators regarding future Texas legalization efforts.

The Texas legislature only meets in odd years, so the gaming industry has spent this year preparing for its effort in 2025.

“We all believe that a unified front is best,” Abboud said. “Now, whether there will be one or two (resolutions) will be determined, but either way, it’s a unified front.”

Casinos more sold on one effort than sports betting operators

Last year, the Texas House passed a sports betting constitutional amendment by a 101-42 vote. Passing a constitutional amendment requires two-thirds of members or 100 votes.

A constitutional amendment to create eight resort casinos received 92 votes.

So it’s understandable that Texas sports teams and sports betting operators would be more hesitant to combine efforts with casinos. Abboud described it as an ongoing negotiation:

“We’re just trying to get people on board and comfortable with it that this is the right way to go. To make sure that nobody gets left behind, that’s the easiest way for it to happen.”

Las Vegas Sands already made a move for unity last year when owner Miriam Adelson bought a majority share of the Dallas Mavericks.

It makes sense for both efforts to move together. If one moved first, this cross-industry unity could quickly fall apart, leading to an opposition campaign once it gets to the ballot.

“I think the challenge they have is that online gaming just does not do well with voters,” Abboud told PlayUSA. “So I think that’s a challenge that they need to deal with, and really having one measure that provides the safety net of regulation overwhelmingly is good.”

And while casinos have proven to be a more difficult sell with legislators, Abboud pointed out during the panel that casinos have strong grassroots support from the local level.

“Local municipalities will be the greatest beneficiary of destination resort casinos and county government workers have become the biggest advocates at the grassroots level. It has incredibly strong appeal in the 60 percentile, and 80% of Texans want the right to vote on it. That goes across every demographic and every religion, including Baptists. It goes across political persuasions and across every geographic area of the state.”

Lt. Governor not seen as Texas gaming expansion roadblock

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Senate, has been seen as the biggest impediment to gaming expansion in Texas. When the House passed the sports betting bill last session, Patrick immediately shut down any chance of the Senate taking it up.

However, Abboud said he doesn’t believe Patrick will stand in the way of passage if the Senate Republican caucus wants to expand gaming in Texas. That’s what he has heard from Patrick is that if there are enough Republican votes, he will call it for a vote.

“We meet with him regularly ,” Abboud said. “We’re friendly with him. … The lieutenant governor has been very clear, despite what other people say. He is not opposed. He is not morally opposed. When we have the proper amount of votes, he will call the vote. It’s that simple.”

Gaming industry stakeholders aren’t asking legislators to vote for gambling. They are merely asking them to allow their constituents to decide whether they want more regulated gambling opportunities in the state.

“This isn’t a question of whether we want to allow sports betting or not,” Fernandez said. “It’s whether we want to put consumer protections in place, capture tax revenue and lead into responsible gaming that offshore books are not.”

Texas gaming expansion efforts will start in Senate

Rep. Jeff Leach, the sponsor who got sports betting legislation passed in the House last year, told the Dallas Morning News in June that gaming legislation, at least on casinos, needs to start in the Senate:

“Based on what happened last session, I believe it’s generally understood that unless and until there is real movement and momentum in the Senate next session — meaning the Senate actually taking up and considering the issue — there is likely not going to be any meaningful action on it in the Texas House.”

Abboud agreed it would start in the Senate. He said casinos are working on getting a Senate bill sponsor for 2025. In 2023, sports betting proponents had Sen. Lois Kolkhorst as a sponsor.

“We’re going to focus on the Senate for now because that’s where we need to work on our votes,” Abboud said. “We know where the House stands. I think if it gets through the Senate, then it could get through the House.”

Limardo pointed out that the November election could significantly impact the makeup of the Texas legislature. Thirty new members will join the House and two in the Senate. There’s also an effort to change the House Speaker, where Rep. Dade Phelan supported the gaming efforts in 2023.

“We know what we have to do,” Limardo said. “We have to show that this is viable in the Senate and get the votes there. And we have to educate in the House those new members and really build up our support in the Senate.”

Key industry representatives optimistic on 2025 Texas prospects

The panelists said they feel like they are in a good position entering the 2025 Texas legislative session after the progress made in 2023.

“Sports betting passed the House of Representatives two years ago,” Fernandez said. “You have a lot of senators that are already ready to vote for it and a few that need to listen to their constituents. That’s a very good foundation to start a legislative session that you don’t see in a lot of states.”

Abboud was the most confident in the chances to expand gambling in Texas next year. If the legislature approved the constitutional amendment, it could go before voters in November 2025.

“I think that people will be surprised by the progress this is going to make,” Abboud said. “I think there’s a 50%, maybe a better than 50% chance, that we can get this done. We’re down to just a handful of votes that we need to sway. We have tremendous voter support. We have tremendous community support. So I’m very optimistic.”

Limardo wasn’t willing to make any predictions, but he does think there will be continued progress.

“I think we’re going to look back on the session and see, one way or another, we’ve made significant progress,” Limardo said. “And hopefully that progress is that we’re headed toward the ballot initiative. I’m not ready to predict that, but I do think we’re going to make more progress.”

Whether it happens in 2025 or 2027, Abboud promised that gambling expansion is coming to Texas.

“It is inevitable. It may happen in ’25, a very good chance. It probably happens after that, but it is going to happen. It is inevitable and we’re here for the long hall. It is going to happen in Texas.”

Any gambling expansion in the state, whether it be casinos or online sports betting, might eventually lead to the legalization of Texas online casinos.

Matthew Kredell Avatar
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Matthew Kredell serves as senior lead writer of legislative affairs involving online gambling at PlayUSA. He began covering efforts to legalize and regulate online gambling in 2007 and has interviewed more than 300 state lawmakers around the country.

View all posts by Matthew Kredell

Matthew Kredell serves as senior lead writer of legislative affairs involving online gambling at PlayUSA. He began covering efforts to legalize and regulate online gambling in 2007 and has interviewed more than 300 state lawmakers around the country.

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