Bill Text: TX HB1121 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the regulation of sports betting; requiring an occupational permit; authorizing a fee; imposing a tax; creating criminal offenses; providing a civil penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-04 - Referred to State Affairs [HB1121 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB1121-Introduced.html

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87R3463 ADM-D
By: Dutton H.B. No. 1121

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the regulation of sports betting; requiring an
occupational permit; authorizing a fee; imposing a tax; creating
criminal offenses; providing a civil penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 13, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 2005 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2005. SPORTS BETTING
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 2005.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "College sport" means an athletic event:
(A) in which at least one participant is a team
from a public or private institution of higher education,
regardless of the location of the institution; and
(B) that is not a Texas college sport.
(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission of
Licensing and Regulation.
(3) "Department" means the Texas Department of
Licensing and Regulation.
(4) "Executive director" means the executive director
of the department.
(5) "Professional sport" means an athletic event
involving at least two human competitors who receive compensation,
in excess of their expenses, for participating in the event. The
term does not include greyhound racing or horse racing regulated
under Subtitle A-1 (Texas Racing Act).
(6) "Sports betting" means placing a wager on a
professional sport or college sport competition. The term does not
include wagering on greyhound racing or horse racing regulated
under Subtitle A-1 (Texas Racing Act).
(7) "Sports betting platform" means an Internet
website, an application for a wireless telecommunication device, or
any other similar technology that allows sports bettors to engage
in sports betting.
(8) "Sports bettor" means an individual physically
located in this state who participates in sports betting.
(9) "Texas college sport" means an athletic event in
which at least one participant is a team from a Texas public or
private institution of higher education.
(10) "Youth sport" means an athletic event:
(A) involving a participant who is 17 years of
age or younger; or
(B) in which at least one participant is a team
from a public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school,
regardless of the location of the school.
SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 2005.051. SPORTS BETTING PROGRAM. (a) The commission
shall operate a sports betting program under the direction of the
executive director that allows applicants to apply for sports
betting operation permits to engage in sports betting operations in
this state.
(b) The commission may establish a sports betting program
directed by the executive director that authorizes the department
to operate a sports betting platform. Any revenue received from a
sports betting platform operated by the department that exceeds the
expenses necessary to operate the platform shall be deposited to
the credit of the foundation school fund.
(c) The executive director may:
(1) require bond or other surety satisfactory to the
executive director from sports betting operation permit holders in
the amount provided by rules adopted under this chapter;
(2) suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a sports
betting operation permit issued under this chapter; and
(3) enter into contracts for the operation of the
sports betting program established under this section and enter
into contracts related to sports betting with other states,
provided that any contract entered into by the executive director
contains a provision prohibiting assignment of the contract except
with specific approval of the executive director.
Sec. 2005.052. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules
necessary to protect the public health and safety, administer this
chapter, and regulate a sports betting program established under
this chapter.
Sec. 2005.053. REPORTS. (a) The executive director shall
provide to the commission, the comptroller, the governor, and the
chairs of the standing committees of the senate and house of
representatives with jurisdiction over state finances and
appropriations a monthly statement of the sports betting revenues
received by the department and the expenses incurred by the
department in regulating sports betting for the preceding month.
(b) The executive director shall submit to the governor and
the legislature an annual report that includes:
(1) a statement of the sports betting revenues
received by the department and the expenses incurred by the
department in regulating sports betting for the preceding state
fiscal year; and
(2) any recommendations, including statutory
amendments, of the executive director or commission related to
regulating sports betting.
(c) The executive director shall immediately report to the
governor and the legislature any matter that requires an immediate
change in state law to prevent abuse and circumvention of this
chapter or rules adopted under this chapter or to rectify
undesirable conditions in connection with the administration or
operation of a sports betting program.
SUBCHAPTER C. SPORTS BETTING REGULATION
Sec. 2005.101. SPORTS BETTING OPERATION PERMIT REQUIRED. A
person may not conduct a sports betting operation in this state
unless the person holds a sports betting operation permit issued
under this chapter.
Sec. 2005.102. APPLICATION AND FEE FOR SPORTS BETTING
OPERATION PERMIT; OFFENSE. (a) An applicant for a sports betting
operation permit shall submit to the department:
(1) an application on a form prescribed by the
executive director, containing the information prescribed in
Subsection (b); and
(2) a fee of $250,000.
(b) An application for a sports betting operation permit
must include the following information:
(1) the applicant's experience in sports betting;
(2) the applicant's experience in wagering activities
in this state and other jurisdictions, including the applicant's
history and reputation of operational integrity and regulatory
compliance;
(3) the applicant's proposed internal controls,
including controls to ensure that an individual who is excluded
from participating in sports betting does not participate in sports
betting;
(4) the applicant's history of preventing compulsive
gambling, including employee training programs; and
(5) any other information the executive director
considers necessary.
(c) The department shall conduct a background investigation
on each applicant for a sports betting operation permit. The
background investigation must include a credit history check, a tax
record check, and a criminal history record check.
(d) The executive director may not issue permits for more
than five sports betting operations to operate at any time. If more
applicants submit applications for permits than the permits
available, the executive director shall issue the number of
available permits to the applicants the executive director
determines will best:
(1) perform the duties of a sports betting operation
permit holder; and
(2) maximize revenue to this state.
(e) A sports betting operation permit that is revoked or
expired is not counted for purposes of the maximum number of permits
authorized by Subsection (d).
(f) The executive director shall approve an application and
grant a sports betting operation permit not later than the 60th day
after the date the application is received unless the executive
director:
(1) is prohibited from issuing additional permits
under Subsection (d); or
(2) finds an applicable ground for denial under
Section 2005.103.
(g) The executive director's decision under Subsection (f)
is final unless appealed in accordance with this chapter.
Sec. 2005.103. DENIAL OF SPORTS BETTING OPERATION PERMIT
ISSUANCE OR RENEWAL. The executive director may deny issuance or
renewal of a sports betting operation permit if:
(1) the executive director reasonably believes:
(A) the applicant is unable to satisfy the duties
of a permit holder imposed under Section 2005.107;
(B) the applicant or any officer or director of
the applicant lacks good character, honesty, or integrity; or
(C) the applicant's, officer's, or director's
prior activities, criminal history, reputation, or associations
are likely to:
(i) pose a threat to the public interest;
(ii) impede the regulation of sports
betting; or
(iii) promote unfair or illegal activities
in the conduct of sports betting;
(2) the applicant, officer, or director knowingly
makes a false statement of material fact or deliberately fails to
disclose information requested by the executive director;
(3) the applicant, officer, or director knowingly
fails to comply with this chapter, rules adopted under this
chapter, or any requirements of the executive director;
(4) the applicant, officer, or director was convicted
of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude, or any criminal offense
involving dishonesty or breach of trust in the 10 years preceding
the date the permit application is submitted;
(5) the applicant's license, registration, or permit
to conduct a sports betting operation issued by any other
jurisdiction has been suspended or revoked;
(6) the applicant defaults in payment of any
obligation or debt due to this state; or
(7) the applicant's application is incomplete.
Sec. 2005.104. BOND REQUIRED. Before issuance of a sports
betting operation permit, each permit holder must execute a bond
cosigned by a surety company authorized to conduct business in this
state in the amount required by commission rule.
Sec. 2005.105. RENEWAL OF SPORTS BETTING OPERATION PERMIT.
(a) A sports betting operation permit issued under this subchapter
expires on the third anniversary of the date the permit is issued.
(b) Not later than the 60th day before the date a sports
betting operation permit expires, a permit holder wishing to renew
the permit shall submit to the department:
(1) a renewal application on a form prescribed by the
executive director; and
(2) a renewal fee of $200,000.
(c) The executive director may deny a sports betting
operation permit renewal if the executive director finds a ground
for denial under Section 2005.103.
(d) The executive director's action is final unless
appealed in accordance with this chapter.
Sec. 2005.106. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) Any person who
knowingly falsifies, conceals, or misrepresents a material fact or
knowingly makes a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or
representation in any application for a sports betting operation
permit under this subchapter commits an offense.
(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class A
misdemeanor.
Sec. 2005.107. DUTIES OF SPORTS BETTING OPERATION PERMIT
HOLDERS. (a) A sports betting operation permit holder shall ensure
that the permit holder's sports betting operation takes reasonable
measures to:
(1) allow only individuals physically located in this
state to place bets through the permit holder's sports betting
platform;
(2) protect the confidential information of sports
bettors using the permit holder's sports betting platform;
(3) prevent betting that is prohibited under this
chapter or other state law;
(4) allow an individual to restrict the individual's
access to placing a bet with the permit holder's sports betting
operation, including sharing with the department on the
individual's request the restriction for the sole purpose of the
department disseminating the request to other permit holders;
(5) establish procedures to detect suspicious or
illegal betting activity, including measures to immediately report
the activity to the department; and
(6) provide for the appropriate withholding of the
applicable amount of state tax as required by Section 2005.108 and
any federal income tax required under other laws or by rule for
persons who receive income from sports betting.
(b) A sports betting operation permit holder shall maintain
records on:
(1) all sports betting placed with the permit holder,
including records of:
(A) a sports bettor's personal information;
(B) the amount and type of bet;
(C) the time and location of the bet; and
(D) the outcome of the bet; and
(2) suspicious or illegal sports betting activity.
(c) A sports betting operation permit holder shall disclose
the records described in Subsection (b) to the department on
request and shall maintain the records until at least the third
anniversary of the date the related sports event occurs.
(d) A sports betting operation permit holder shall ensure
that advertisements for its sports betting operations:
(1) disclose the identity of the permit holder;
(2) provide information about or links to resources
related to gambling addiction;
(3) are not misleading to a reasonable person; and
(4) do not target persons under the age of 21.
(e) A sports betting operation permit holder may not
sublicense, convey, concede, or otherwise transfer a permit to a
third party.
(f) A sports betting operation permit holder is prohibited
from holding itself out to the public as a sports betting operation
under more than two brands.
(g) A sports betting operation permit holder shall
conspicuously display the permit holder's identity to sports
bettors on any sports betting platform operated by the permit
holder.
Sec. 2005.108. TAX; USE OF TAX REVENUE. (a) A tax of 6.25
percent is imposed on each bet placed by a sports bettor under this
chapter. The tax is to be collected by the sports betting operation
permit holder at the time the bet is placed.
(b) The tax collected under this section is payable monthly
to the department, and the sports betting operation permit holder
shall remit the collected taxes on or before the 20th day of the
next calendar month.
(c) If the sports betting operation permit holder's
accounting necessitates corrections to a previously remitted tax,
the permit holder shall document the corrections when the following
month's taxes are paid.
(d) The department shall deposit tax revenue collected
under this section to the credit of the foundation school fund.
Sec. 2005.109. LIQUIDITY POOLS. (a) The commission may
adopt rules authorizing sports betting operation permit holders to
offset loss and manage risk, directly or with a third party approved
by the department, through the use of a liquidity pool in this state
or another jurisdiction provided that the permit holder, or an
affiliate of the permit holder, is licensed or otherwise authorized
by that jurisdiction to operate a sports betting business.
(b) A sports betting operation permit holder's use of a
liquidity pool does not eliminate the permit holder's duty to
ensure that sufficient funds are available to pay bettors.
Sec. 2005.110. INTERMEDIATE ROUTING OF ELECTRONIC DATA.
(a) Sports betting offered to a sports bettor in this state must be
initiated and received within this state unless otherwise
authorized by federal law.
(b) The intermediate routing of electronic data relating to
sports betting authorized under this chapter does not determine the
location where a bet is initiated and received for purposes of
determining compliance with this chapter.
SUBCHAPTER D. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AND PENALTIES
Sec. 2005.151. CIVIL PENALTIES; SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION
OF SPORTS BETTING OPERATION PERMIT. (a) If the executive director
determines a sports betting operation permit holder has violated
this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter, the executive
director in accordance with Chapter 51 may:
(1) suspend or revoke the permit holder's permit; and
(2) impose a monetary penalty not to exceed $1,000 for
each violation of this chapter.
(b) An action taken by the executive director under this
section is final unless appealed in accordance with Sec. 2005.152.
Sec. 2005.152. APPEAL. (a) The commission shall hear and
decide an appeal of any denial of a sports betting operation permit
by the executive director or suspension or revocation of a permit
under this chapter.
(b) The action of the commission in granting or denying a
sports betting operation permit or suspending or revoking a permit
under this chapter may be referred to the State Office of
Administrative Hearings for a contested case hearing.
Sec. 2005.153. PROHIBITED BETTING; OFFENSES. (a) A person
commits an offense if the person places or accepts a bet on Texas
college sports or youth sports.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
accepts or redeems or offers to accept or redeem a sports bet made
by or on behalf of a person under 21 years of age.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(d) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
section also constitutes an offense under another law, the actor
may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
Sec. 2005.154. PERSONS PROHIBITED FROM BETTING; OFFENSE.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person places a sports bet
and the person is:
(1) a member, officer, or employee of the commission
or the department;
(2) a sports betting operation permit holder or an
officer, director, or employee of a permit holder;
(3) an officer, director, or employee of any entity
working directly on a contract relating to sports betting with the
department; or
(4) a competitor, coach, trainer, employee, or owner
of a team in a sports event, or any referee for a sports event, and
the actor places the sports bet on that event.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
section also constitutes an offense under another law, the actor
may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
Sec. 2005.155. OPERATION AND ADVERTISING OF UNPERMITTED
FACILITY PROHIBITED; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person may not make the
person's premises available for placing wagers on sports betting
using the Internet or advertise that the person's premises may be
used for that purpose unless the person holds a sports betting
operation permit issued under this chapter.
(b) The executive director may impose a monetary penalty for
each violation of this section. For a person determined to have
made the person's premises available for placing wagers on sports
betting using the Internet, the penalty may not exceed $1,000 per
day per individual who places a bet. For a person determined to have
advertised that the person's premises may be used for that purpose,
the penalty may not exceed $10,000 per violation.
SECTION 2. Section 47.02(c), Penal Code, is amended to read
as follows:
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
the actor reasonably believed that the conduct:
(1) was permitted under Chapter 2001, Occupations
Code;
(2) was permitted under Chapter 2002, Occupations
Code;
(3) was permitted under Chapter 2004, Occupations
Code;
(4) was permitted under Chapter 2005, Occupations
Code;
(5) consisted entirely of participation in the state
lottery authorized by the State Lottery Act (Chapter 466,
Government Code);
(6) [(5)] was permitted under Subtitle A-1, Title 13,
Occupations Code (Texas Racing Act); or
(7) [(6)] consisted entirely of participation in a
drawing for the opportunity to participate in a hunting, fishing,
or other recreational event conducted by the Parks and Wildlife
Department.
SECTION 3. Section 47.09(a), Penal Code, is amended to read
as follows:
(a) It is a defense to prosecution under this chapter that
the conduct:
(1) was authorized under:
(A) Chapter 2001, Occupations Code;
(B) Chapter 2002, Occupations Code;
(C) Chapter 2004, Occupations Code;
(D) Chapter 2005, Occupations Code;
(E) Subtitle A-1, Title 13, Occupations Code
(Texas Racing Act); or
(F) [(E)] Chapter 280, Finance Code;
(2) consisted entirely of participation in the state
lottery authorized by Chapter 466, Government Code; or
(3) was a necessary incident to the operation of the
state lottery and was directly or indirectly authorized by:
(A) Chapter 466, Government Code;
(B) the lottery division of the Texas Lottery
Commission;
(C) the Texas Lottery Commission; or
(D) the director of the lottery division of the
Texas Lottery Commission.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect January 1, 2022, but only
if the constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to
legalize wagering on professional and collegiate sporting events in
this state is approved by the voters. If that amendment is not
approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.