Senator's bill would save Texas Lottery, but end Lottery Commission
AUSTIN (Nexstar) – A Texas state senator who previously called for eliminating the Texas Lottery is now proposing legislation that would keep the games going. Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, filed Senate Bill 3070, which calls for transferring lottery operations to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and abolishing the Texas Lottery Commission.
Hall was one of the first lawmakers to call for an investigation into the Texas Lottery Commission over their alleged role in a controversial 2023 Lotto Texas drawing. He previously filed Senate Bill 1988, which would eliminate the lottery.
On Monday, Hall laid out SB 3070 before the Senate State Affairs committee. Hall restated his belief that the Lottery Commission helped rig the 2023 jackpot drawing. He also outlined his belief that the lottery amounts to a regressive tax on poor Texans.
Hall showed fellow senators on the committee charts showing that people in lower income areas in Texas make up the majority of lottery players. High income areas account for significantly fewer lottery ticket purchases.
“When we talk about the revenue raised by the Texas Lottery, we’re talking about revenue raised to the detriment of those in our state who are the most vulnerable and least fortunate,” Hall told committee members.
But Hall also acknowledged an argument made by supporters of the lottery. He noted that the Texas Lottery contributed more than $2 billion to benefit schools and veterans in fiscal year 2023.
“So if there isn’t enough of an appetite to get rid of the lottery outright, then this bill represents the next best thing – moving oversight of a lottery operation to TDLR and dissolving the Lottery Commission,” Hall said.
SB 3070 calls for creating a Lottery Advisory Committee “to provide external expertise on the lottery.” It would also ban ticket sales via phone, internet, or app. The bill also limits the number of lottery tickets that could be sold in a single purchase to 100 tickets.
Senator Hall told committee members that there will likely be amendments to the bill. He outlined plans to include restrictions on where people can buy tickets, age verification requirements, as well as tougher penalties for illegal ticket sales.
The committee left the legislation pending.
