Proposing a constitutional amendment, to be submitted to the voters of Texas for approval, authorizing the legislature to strictly regulate and authorize casino gaming and sports wagering by general law and establishing certain requirements for such law, including establishment of a state agency with powers to regulate all lotteries and gift enterprises, imposition of a tax on casino gaming and sports wagering revenue, requiring licensing of casino gaming and sports wagering operators, and requiring license application fees.

The text as introduced · 636 words

By: Alvarado
S.J.R. No. 11

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment, to be submitted to the voters

of Texas for approval, authorizing the legislature to strictly

regulate and authorize casino gaming and sports wagering by general

law and establishing certain requirements for such law, including

establishment of a state agency with powers to regulate all

lotteries and gift enterprises, imposition of a tax on casino

gaming and sports wagering revenue, requiring licensing of casino

gaming and sports wagering operators, and requiring license

application fees.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 47, Article III, Texas Constitution, is

amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (f) to

read as follows:

(a) The Legislature shall pass laws prohibiting lotteries

and gift enterprises in this State other than those authorized by

Subsections (b), (d), (d-1), [ and ] (e) , and (f) of this section.

(f) The Legislature by general law may authorize and

strictly regulate casino gaming and sports wagering conducted in

this state. Such law must:

(1) define the activities that constitute casino

gaming and sports wagering;

(2) require licenses and license application fees for

casino gaming and sports wagering operators;

(3) establish a commission as a state agency, directly

funded by state lottery proceeds and tax revenue and license

application fees from casino gaming and sports wagering, that shall

have law enforcement powers, including investigative, enforcement,

and audit authority, to determine whether a lottery or gift

enterprise is authorized by law, strictly regulate all lotteries

and gift enterprises authorized by law, and enforce prohibitions of

lotteries and gift enterprises that are not licensed or authorized

by law;

(4) direct the commission to determine where licensed

casino facilities may be located, where sports wagering may be

conducted, and establish and administer the license application

process;

(5) restrict the conduct of casino gaming, as defined

by the Legislature, to onsite casino gaming at a licensed casino

gaming operator's physical premises in this state;

(6) limit the total number of casino gaming licenses

and locations to no more than 10 licensed facilities in this state,

and provide license terms of at least 40 years;

(7) establish a tax on casino gaming and sports

wagering revenue of not more than 15 percent;

(8) prohibit the imposition of any additional tax or

fee by the state or political subdivision of the state on casino

gaming revenue or sports wagering revenue, or on the

non-casino-gaming revenue or non-sports-wagering revenue of a

license holder's operations, other than a tax or fee generally

applicable to a business operating in this state; and

(9) establish a process for this state to negotiate in

good faith and execute in a timely manner, a Tribal-State gaming

compact with any of the three existing federally recognized Indian

tribes with Indian lands in this state to conduct Class III Indian

gaming on a Tribe's existing lands, and as prescribed by the Indian

Gaming Regulatory Act (Pub. L. 100-479), consistent with the

provisions in 25 U.S.C. Section 2710(d), and upon the request of the

tribe.

SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2027.

The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the

proposition: "The constitutional amendment to permit the

Legislature, by general law, to authorize and strictly regulate

casino gaming and sports wagering at a limited number of locations

in this state, require licenses and license application fees for

casino gaming and sports wagering operators, establish a gaming

revenue tax on casino gaming and sports wagering operators of not

more than 15 percent, and establish a state agency, funded by state

lottery proceeds and the fees and taxes paid by casino gaming and

sports wagering operators, to regulate all lotteries, casino

gaming, and sports wagering."