| The ban on gambling is enshrined in the Texas Constitution and dates back to 1856. Changing it would require a two-thirds vote of both the state House and Senate, and then majority support in a referendum put to voters. An army of lobbyists has flooded the Captiol this session to push for casino and sports betting legalization. Many states across the country have reconsidered laws against sports gambling after the Supreme Court cleared the path for them to do so several years back, and it has flooded the gambling industry with cash — including big money to Gov. Greg Abbott's re-election campaign last year. "I want to see destination-style casinos that are high-quality and that create jobs, and that improve the lifestyles of those communities," Phelan said Thursday. "This is about what the voters want, and I think the average voter would approve." Abbott had signaled last fall that he, too, would be supportive of an expansion of gaming in the state, but Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has stood firm in his stated opposition to the policy. Read the full story here. | 
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