Texas lieutenant governor-elect Vikki Goodwin favors gambling referendum
Goodwin also said she would work with senators on prediction market regulation if needed, citing concerns about access and young people.
Key points
- Vikki Goodwin says Texas voters should decide whether to allow gambling.
- Rep. Charlie Green has proposed a constitutional amendment to legalize gambling in Texas.
- Goodwin cited concerns about phone access to prediction markets and their appeal to young people.
- Four people have been charged with organized criminal activity after Texas gambling raids.
Texas lieutenant governor-elect Vikki Goodwin says she favors letting voters decide whether to legalize gambling, while also expressing openness to regulation of prediction markets.
Goodwin described herself as neutral on gambling in an interview with KSAT 12, according to GamblingNews.com. She said she preferred a referendum to legislation but remained open to reviewing proposals from other lawmakers.
I’m not for or against. So, my preference would be to put it up to a vote of Texans.
Her comments come after Rep. Charlie Green proposed a constitutional amendment to legalize gambling in Texas. Goodwin is the first Democrat to preside over the Texas Senate in almost three decades, GamblingNews.com reported.
Goodwin also addressed prediction markets, saying she was not very familiar with the sector but had heard concerns about how widespread and accessible it is. She pointed to phone access and concerns that young people could go overboard.
She said she looked forward to working with senators if regulation was needed. Her remarks did not specify a regulatory proposal.
Separately, local authorities seized eight-liner machines in raids on gambling locations across the City of Galveston, Texas City and La Marque. Officials said four people had been charged with organized criminal activity.
Sources
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