State Senator Johnson Files SJR 82 to Put Destination Gaming Resorts to the Voters

News Release Contact: Brenda Allen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Brenda.Allen@senate.texas.gov
Mar. 17, 2025 972-701-0349
STATE SENATOR JOHNSON FILES SJR 82 TO PUT
DESTINATION GAMING RESORTS TO THE VOTERS
AUSTIN, Texas – On Friday March 14th, Texas State Senator Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas) filed Senate Joint
Resolution 82 (SJR 82) to put to the voters the question of whether destination resorts that include strictly
regulated casino gaming should be authorized in Texas. The resolution would not itself authorize or create
gaming destination resorts; it would only remove the present constitutional ban, and impose strict
parameters around gaming, sports wagering, and the Texas lottery.
“Where there is a disconnect between what the Legislature will do and what the voters want, the issue may
best be decided directly by voters. I filed SJR 82 to give the voters the right to decide this one. I sincerely
hope my colleagues in the Senate feel the same way,” said Senator Johnson. “Polls consistently show that
more than 80% of Texans want the right to vote to decide this issue. It makes sense for the Legislature to
let that happen.”
In related action, Johnson also filed SJR 14 this session, to create a statewide right of initiative and
referendum for Texas voters to bring any issue to the ballot.
If approved by the voters in November, SJR 82 would make it possible for the legislature to authorize and
strictly regulate casino gaming and sports wagering. At a minimum, the law must:
1. Define what constitutes casino gaming and sports wagering.
2. Strictly regulate casino gaming, sports wagering, the state lottery, and bingo through an agency
funded by fees and taxes on the industry.
3. Determine how and where casino gaming and sports wagering may be conducted.
4. Limit the number of casino gaming licenses.
5. Require licenses, application fees, and a gaming revenue tax on operators of casino gaming and
sports wagering.
To clarify his intent, Johnson added, “I’m not promoting casino gaming with this resolution. I’m promoting
the option to have it, along with my belief that – when the Legislature will not act on the issue – Texans
should be able decide whether a constitutional prohibition enacted 150 years ago is relevant today.”
SJR 82 also addresses the serious issues of regulating the troubled Texas Lottery, and regulating and
enforcing the law regarding the rampant, illegal, and predatory gaming market in Texas.

“Should the voters decide to change the constitution, a limited, well-regulated industry of superior
destination resorts – one that operates subject to strict enforcement of the law – will bring billions of
dollars in construction investments and convention and tourism business, tens of thousands of permanent
jobs, and all the dynamic revenue that follows. Oh, and billions of dollars in voluntary tax revenue,” said
Senator Johnson.
Johnson also highlighted the economic relevance of SJR 82. “For several sessions now the Texas Legislature
has been making huge, recurring financial commitments. That’s easy to do in a time of budget surplus. But
budget surpluses are not perpetual, and I believe that legislators are obliged to ensure that our revenue
options in the future will allow us to meet the commitments we’ve made – and even to meet some that we
should have been making. I’m talking about property tax reductions, teacher pay raises and education
funding, water infrastructure, the grid, law enforcement, and more.
While missing out on revenue from destination tourism, Texans spend billions of vacation and tourism
dollars at casinos and resorts in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Nevada. Worse, they also spend
billions on illegal gaming in our own state. “The state of Texas receives no benefit from this economic
activity, nor do we effectively regulate it to protect consumers. I’m putting to the voters whether we should
change that.”
About Senator Nathan Johnson: Senator Nathan Johnson was re-elected in 2024 to serve a third term in
the Texas Senate. He represents almost a million Dallas County residents in the growing and rapidly
diversifying Senate District 16. With eight years of legislative experience, Senator Johnson serves on several
key Senate committees, including Business and Commerce, Jurisprudence (Vice-Chair), Economic
Development, Transportation, and Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs.