Former Gov. Rick Perry: Texans deserve chance to vote on sports betting

Speaking through the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, Perry said common sense regulation is needed to protect Texans from the illegal sports betting market.

“We know that Texans want the freedom and liberty that our great state is known for, to participate in sports betting legally and safely. We listened to the people and put forth legislations that would combat the $6 billion illegal market with common sense regulation and protect Texans without growing the size and scope of government,” Perry said in the Texas Sports Betting Alliance release.

“Texans deserve the chance to vote on legalizing sports betting and we will continue working to put this initiative on the ballot in 2025.”

Texas sports betting fails in Senate

Despite the Texas House of Representatives approving a referendum and online sports betting bill to put the issue to a vote in the upcoming November election, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) killed the bill before it ever had a chance to reach the Senate floor.

The Texas House of Representatives approved Rep. Jeff Leach’s (R-67) referendum, HJR 102, on third reading in early May by a vote of 101-42. It received the necessary 100 votes for a referendum and was sent over to the Senate.

The House also voted in favor of Leach’s online sports betting bill, HB 1942, by a vote of 82-51.

It was the first time sports betting legislation had been approved in the Texas House of Representatives.

“We are thankful for and encouraged by the months of thoughtful policy discussion on both sides of the aisle, in both chambers this legislative session to bring a legal mobile sports betting market to Texans. Because of the tireless work of our bill authors, Representative Leach and Senator Lois Kolkhorst, Texas made history when mobile sports betting legislations was overwhelmingly approved in a House vote of 101-42,” Perry said.

Despite sports betting legislation moving farther in the Lone Star state than ever before, Patrick put an end to any discussion about it possibly squeaking through the Texas Senate.

Patrick said he would not bring the sports betting bill to the Senate floor for a possible vote as it did not have majority GOP support. Patrick said throughout the legislative session that there were no votes in the Senate for a casino bill or a sports betting bill. Unless 15 or 16 Republican Senators are in favor of the bill, Patrick said he would not bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.

Next step for Texas sports betting

Barring any sort of miracle in the Senate, Texas sports betting hopes are now dead for 2023. Adding to the difficulty of the Senate’s decision to not hear the bill, discussions on sports betting in the Lone Star state will not able to continue until 2025.

Texas only holds its legislative sessions once every two years, with the next scheduled for 2025. If a sports betting bill and referendum successfully moves through the Senate and House in 2025 and a ballot question is held during the 2025 general election, sports betting likely wouldn’t launch until 2026 at the earliest.

Patrick’s current term runs through 2026 and he has indicated he will run for reelection as well.