SEN. KOLKHORST FILES ONLINE SPORTS BETTING LEGISLATION
speaks on the Senate floor in
2021.
(courtesy Office of Lois Kolkhorst)
State Senator Lois Kolkhorst has filed legislation for the legalization and regulation of online sports betting in Texas.
In a press release from the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, Kolkhorst said Senate Bill 715 and Senate Joint Resolution 39 “will promote integrity through transparent licensing, permitting, and reporting requirements” while stopping “underage offshore betting” and keeping sports wagering funds in Texas.
If passed, the legislation would prompt a constitutional amendment election in November, where voters would choose whether to legalize wagering on games online. It would not allow bets to be made in person at sporting events. The bills would also create a 10 percent tax for the adjusted gross wagering revenue.
Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) has signed on as a joint author to Kolkhorst’s SB 715, while Representative Jeff Leach (R-Plano) has filed HB 1942 for consideration in the House chamber.
Legislation to allow sports betting failed in 2021’s legislative session.
Former Governor Rick Perry, who is a spokesperson for the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, said “a smart, efficient legal framework will keep [mobile sports betting] revenue here to go towards much-needed property tax relief.”
It’s a slippery slope!
It didn’t help my home state one bit when they passed something like this—just like the lottery didn’t help the school system like they said. I like Kolkhorst, but I’m not with her on this one.
This reminds me to the Texas Lottery lie that profits would go to help the school system. What we DON’T need is people gambling their savings away. They are already loosing their car titles to high interest loan companies on every corner.
So this is a defund the Bookie Bill ? So whose is the Bookie now? Texas? How does this lower property tax? I like to see issues like lower costs for heath insurance and car insurance not really helping those just making it check to check with the price of eggs whose got money for wagering on ball games? People with a full stomachs have very short memories.