Texas sports-betting bill unveiled with new Republican author

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s each day publication that retains readers on top of things on essentially the most important Texas news.

Advocates for legalizing on-line sports activities betting in Texas debuted new payments Monday that take a narrower strategy than they did in 2021 — and have a new author within the state Senate who’s a Republican.

The involvement of Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, who’s carrying the laws, is notable as a result of she is an ally of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who’s seen as the largest hurdle to increasing playing in Texas. The earlier sports-betting bill filed within the final legislative session was carried by Democrat and obtained just about no traction within the GOP-led Senate.

Like it was in 2021, this yr’s laws is backed by the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition of professional sports activities groups within the state, racetracks and betting platforms. Members embrace heavy hitters such because the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Mavericks, the Houston Astros, the San Antonio Spurs, the PGA Tour and DraftKings. Former Gov. Rick Perry can also be working with the alliance on the difficulty this yr.

The laws would ask voters to determine in a November election whether or not they wish to legalize what the alliance calls “mobile sports betting,” or wagering on video games on-line. That is mostly achieved via cellphone functions like DraftKings.

The main distinction from the 2021 payments is that the most recent laws doesn’t legalize in-person sports activities betting, which might permit bets to be taken on the facility the place a group performs. This change was largely anticipated because the alliance ready for this session with branding that emphasised “mobile sports betting” and defending Texans’ knowledge.

“I introduced SB 715 and SJR 39 because Texas needs to bring security and safety into the world of mobile sports betting,” Kolkhorst stated in an announcement. “It makes sense to reign in all of the illegal offshore betting and keep sports wagering funds here in Texas.”

Like the 2021 laws, the most recent sports-betting payments would put a ten% tax on its income.

While Kolkhorst is carrying the laws within the Senate, state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, is authoring it within the House. The 2021 House author, Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, didn’t search reelection. Leach joint-authored Huberty’s proposal.

State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, carried the laws within the Senate final time. He has signed on as a joint author to the newest bill from Kolkhorst.

The Sports Betting Alliance is certainly one of two main camps pushing to increasing playing in Texas this session. The different is a gaggle led by the gaming empire Las Vegas Sands, which needs to legalize casinos along with sports activities betting.

Neither camp made it far on the Capitol throughout its first strive in 2021. The payments obtained committee hearings within the House however didn’t obtain hearings within the Senate. Neither of the payments obtained flooring votes in both chamber.

The Sands group unveiled its House laws Friday, and it additionally tweaked its strategy by making extra of an effort to companion with horse racetracks. The newest Sands-backed proposal doesn’t get particular about sports activities betting aside from to say it could be legalized “only in a place and manner prescribed by general law.” It additionally proposes a “tax on sports wagering revenue” however doesn’t provide a particular determine.

Patrick, the lieutenant governor, is taken into account the largest impediment to increasing gaming in Texas. He stated earlier than this session started that he noticed no “movement” on the difficulty, although he has not commented on particular proposals since then — particularly whether or not he might be amenable to only on-line sports activities betting. His workplace didn’t instantly reply a request for touch upon Kolkhorst’s bill.

Kolkhorst has Patrick’s confidence because the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. She has additionally carried high-profile laws on his behalf earlier than, such because the 2017 “bathroom bill” that may have restricted which public restrooms transgender individuals might use.

Kolkhorst performed golf at Texas Christian University, an athletic background that she cited in explaining her resolution to hold the laws.

“As a former collegiate athlete, I respect the purity of sports and feel SB 715 and SJR 39 will promote integrity through transparent licensing, permitting, and reporting requirements,” Kolkhorst stated within the assertion.

Disclosure: Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Texas Christian University have been monetary supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news group that’s funded partly by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Financial supporters play no position within the Tribune’s journalism. Find a whole list of them here.