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For the past few years, several Texas lawmakers have been doing everything in their power to pass a constitutional amendment that would see gambling legalized. This would have included the construction of casinos and casino-style resorts. However, their efforts have been in vain, with the Texas House missing the cut-off by less than ten votes. Last week, state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen stated that the Senate will need to take charge of moving forward with the proposal. As it now stands, legalizing gambling in Texas seems far off, with a positive outcome in the upcoming legislative season facing significant hurdles. 

Considering the notable barriers in the way of legalized gambling in Texas, playing in a virtual casino will likely remain the most viable option for the foreseeable future. While you won’t be able to visit a physical casino in Texas for the next few years, staking bets at one of the top poker sites remains a convenient and feasible option for Texans. 

According to Editor-in-Chief for Gambling at Techopedia, Sam Barnard, US players who turn to offshore sites value factors like bonuses, security, and the sophistication of the software used to determine which sites are the best to play at. However, while online gambling is more popular in Texas than ever before, allowing casinos to be constructed within the state’s boundaries is not supported by the majority of the Senate. 

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently stated that despite enthusiasm for online gambling in Texas being sky-high, the lack of support from the Texas Republican Party platform has so far prevented the building of casinos and the expansion of gambling overall. Speaking to CBS News, Patrick said, “My experience and my knowledge is that we aren’t even close to having 15 or 16 votes for casinos”. Currently, there are simply not enough votes within the Texas House or Senate to successfully support local casino legislation despite incredibly intense lobbying and investments from locals and gambling conglomerates alike. 

It is important to note that amending the Texas constitution requires a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House. This must be immediately followed by the majority of voter support. All things considered, passing the constitutional amendment is currently a long shot. The significant hurdles faced by local lawmakers have not stopped major gambling companies such as Las Vegas Sands from attempting to sway voting opinion through enormous lobbying efforts. 

Recently, the Las Vegas Sands company has increased its attempts by implementing a number of direct lobbyists and industry experts. They have also expertly combined this with significant financial campaign contributions. However, the significant GOP and Texas Senate opposition does not seem to be going anywhere. This is highlighted by the 2023 bill sponsored by Leach and his team of advisors. The bill aimed to legalize all forms of virtual sports betting in the state. Surprisingly, it easily passed through the House, but again fell short in the Senate by a vote of 101 to 42. 

“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,” Leach said. Similar undertakings by GOP Rep. John Kuempel and  Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, for several casinos and resort-themed casinos, didn’t make it further than the first hurdle. 

While all three bills had substantial financial backing, voter support, and a legal basis, in-house opposition from mainly Republican party members is a clear indication of the stiff challenges facing any attempts to legalize gambling state-wide. At the same time, many Texas Republican party members remain steadfast in their long-held position against the expansion of all forms of gambling. This currently includes the establishment of any locally based real money online casino platforms. 

Last week, Lt. Gov. Patrick further emphasized that any gambling bill must have substantial Republican support to pass. Republicans currently hold a 19-12 majority in the Senate, and Patrick stated that he would not pass a bill supported predominantly by Democrats. This intriguing political landscape underscores the difficulties in advancing casino legalization in Texas, making it a long shot for the 2025 session.  While many Texans remain hopeful, the path to legalization is still fraught with obstacles and will require a strategic and concerted effort to sway both public opinion and legislative support.