This page contains archived news updates for Texas Casinos from 2022. These items were originally posted on the casino's profile page and have been preserved here as part of the 500 Nations legacy news archive. Major stories from this year may also appear as standalone articles in the main News section.
Mark Cuban would like to build a multibillion-dollar Texas casino and NBA arena complex in Dallas to host his Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team. Cuban would partner with Las Vegas Sands, which continues to push Texas legislators for legalization of casino gambling.
"My goal, and we'd partner with Las Vegas Sands, is when we build a new arena, it'll be in the middle of a resort and casino. That's the mission."
- Mark Cuban told Dallas Morning News
Although gambling legislation in 2021 failed to pass, Texas state Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) has announced plans to introduce similar legislation early in the 2023 session. Her bill would legalize both casino gambling and sports betting.
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has announced his support to legalize sports betting in Texas. Perry is the first major Republican to take that stand. In a video released by the Sports Betting Alliance Perry said:
"Texas is built on the core principle of individual freedom. And we pride ourselves on being an economic powerhouse in the nation. Legalizing mobile sports betting in Texas will finally allow the state to protect consumers from illegal offshore betting sites while keeping the money generated from betting in Texas to benefit Texans."
- Former Gov. Rick Perry
The Sports Betting Alliance was founded last year by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The organization is supported by all 11 major league sports teams in Texas.
More than 300 gambling lobbyists are now registered in Texas according to state records. The largest group is 72 lobbyists working for Las Vegas Sands. There are other casino lobbyists representing Caesars, Boyd Gaming and Landry's Entertainment, as well as sports betting lobbyists for BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings and others.
There has been a recent rush following Gov. Abbott's announcing his willingness to listen to gambling options for Texas. His statement was a major shift from his previous position.
The Texas Republican Party is officially opposed to enacting a new gambling law. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick agrees and can block any legislation from reaching the floor of the State Senate. Gambling lobbyists are trying to improve their chances by giving direct campaign donations to Abbot, Patrick and other leading republicans prior to the 2023 legislative session.
Las Vegas Sands spent $1.8 million through its PAC on political donations in 2022. The funds were issued through 216 donations to 126 Texas politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, in the House and Senate. Abbott received $200,000 and Patrick received $225,000 from the group.
Any gambling legislation passed next year will require an amendment to the Texas Constitution, which requires a referendum for approval by the voters.
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New Texas legislation filed for casinos, sports betting
November 21, 2022
A new legislative effort began last week to legalize Texas casino gambling and sports wagering. State Sen. Carol Alvarado, prefiled a bill, Senate Joint Resolution 17, to create a state commision for regulating commercial gambling.
Senate Joint Resolution 17 proposes a constitutional amendment for:
"creating the Texas Gaming Commission, authorizing and regulating casino gaming at a limited number of destination resorts and facilities licensed by the commission, authorizing sports wagering, requiring occupational licenses to conduct casino gaming, and requiring the imposition of a tax."
- Sen. Carol Alvarado
To become law, a Texas constitutional amendment must first be approved by two-thirds of both legislative houses. Then the amendment would be placed on the Nov. 7, 2023 ballot for approval by a majority of Texas voters.
Gov. Greg Abbott said last week he might look at casino proposals if they offered a "very professional entertainment option for Texans". The governor has been a long-time opponent of casinos in Texas. Why did he make that statement? Is there something changing on the political scene?
WFAA put together this political reporters roundtable to discuss these issues and the realities:
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Political reporters roundtable: Is Texas finally getting closer to having casinos? Courtesy of WFAA, Oct 30, 2022. Available from YouTube
Gov. Abbott softens position against Texas casino legalization
November 1
Gov. Greg Abbott has fought casino legalization for years. However, a statement released last week by his press secretary, Renae Eze, indicates the governor may be willing to reconsider the issue. The statement was released to the Houston Chronicle and included the following:
"We don't want slot machines at every corner store, we don't want Texans to be losing money that they need for everyday expenses, and we don't want any type of crime that could be associated with gaming. But, if there is a way to create a very professional entertainment option for Texans, Gov. Abbott would take a look at it."
- Office of the Texas Governor
Texas casinos are banned by the state constitution. Legalization requires an amendment approved by Texas voters.
Las Vegas Sands has been pursuing legislative support for a statewide referendum to license a limited number of commercial casinos. According to campaign finance documents, Abbot received a $1 million contribution last month from Dr. Miriam Adelson, the majority stockholder of Las Vegas Sands. Several legislators have also received recent campaign contributions.
The US Supreme Court handed a major victory last week supporting Indian gaming in Texas. In a 5-4 decision the court sided with the Alabama-Coushatta and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribes of Texas over the State of Texas.
Since the 1990s Texas has fought the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo over Class II casino gaming allowed by the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) if the type of gaming is not specifically banned by the state. Class II games are sometimes referred to a "electronic bingo" games. Texas allows charitable bingo games.
The ruling states that Texas cannot prevent tribes from operating electronic bingo games since there is no outright ban of bingo in the state. The decision reaffirms tribal autonomy to regulate non-prohibited gaming and strengthened tribal sovereignty on reservation lands.
"In the end ... we find no evidence Congress endowed state law with anything like the power Texas claims.
"None of this is to say that the Tribe may offer gaming on whatever terms it wishes. The Restoration Act provides that a gaming activity prohibited by Texas law is also prohibited on tribal land as a matter of federal law. Other gaming activities are subject to tribal regulation and must conform to the terms and conditions set forth in federal law."
- Justice Neil M. Gorsuch
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has repeatedly sided with Texas; however, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the most recent case. This case will now go back to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals for further action.
Las Vegas Sands funds new PAC to legalize Texas casinos
March 3, 2022
Las Vegas Sands is continuing its "long-term commitment" to Texas by launching a new political action committee, Texas Sands PAC, to pursue the legalization of casinos in Texas. The PAC was created in January with $2.3 million in initial funding from Miriam Adelson, Las Vegas Sands' majority stockholder.
A new political effort will build on last year's unsuccessful attempt to open Texas to casino gambling. Texas has the second largest population in the nation and is considered a highly lucrative market for the casino industry; however, current gaming laws are among the most restrictive in the nation.
Texas Sands PAC contributed over $500,000 to more than 30 incumbent candidates in the March 1 primary elections. Thirty thousand dollars was contributed to Pete Flores, the former Republican senator from Pleasanton, and seventy five thousand was given to Gov. Greg Abbott.
Update: U.S. Supreme Court will hear Texas Indian casino case Feb 22
January 20, 2022
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas on Feb. 22, 2022. The court will decide which one of two federal laws governs the gaming operation of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.
Restoration Act 1987 The Texas Restoration Act was approved by Congress in 1987. Under its terms the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes agreed that casino gaming would comply with Texas law. This law supports the Texas position.
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) 1988 The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed by Congress in 1988. Under its terms the U.S. Department of Interior can authorize federally-recognized tribes to operate Indian gaming on reservation lands.
Three amicus curiae briefs have been filed. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas face a similar gaming restriction and filed the first amicus brief. Additional briefs have been filed by the National Indian Gaming Association and the Solicitor General's office.
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