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Texas HJR 52 Would Allow 10 Casinos but Offers Little for Online Poker
Key Details
- Rep. Charlie Geren filed HJR 52 on November 9, 2026, proposing up to 10 Texas casinos limited to on-site play.
- HJR 52 restricts casino gaming to licensed physical locations and does not authorize regulated online poker.
- Mobile sports betting remains possible, because the resolution lets lawmakers decide where bets can be placed.
- Texas poker clubs stay in a legal gray area, since HJR 52 does not address them on its face.
Texas Rep. Charlie Geren introduced HJR 52 on November 9, 2026. The proposal would let Texas lawmakers authorize up to 10 casinos, with casino games limited to licensed locations. Online poker would not be included.
The proposal also does nothing to clear up the legal status of Texas poker clubs. Sports betting is different, though. Lawmakers could decide to allow people to place sports bets on their phones.
What HJR 52 Would Add to the Texas Constitution
HJR 52 would change the Texas Constitution to allow casino gambling. Before voters can decide, at least two-thirds of lawmakers in both the House and Senate must approve the proposal.
The plan would allow up to 10 casinos, with the first licenses lasting at least 40 years. It would also require Texas to set up a process for negotiating gambling agreements with the state’s three federally recognized tribes.
The proposal would limit taxes on casino and sports betting revenue to 15%. It would also restrict extra taxes or fees aimed specifically at gambling revenue.
Why HJR 52 Leaves Online Poker Out
For poker players, the important word is “on-site.” HJR 52 would only allow casino games at licensed locations, meaning online poker would not be included. If the proposal passes and lawmakers approve casino poker rooms, Texans could have more places to play live poker. However, it would not create a legal, state-regulated online poker market.
Sports betting is different. The proposal would let lawmakers decide whether Texans could place sports bets on their phones. That means mobile sports betting could become legal, even though online poker would remain excluded. For the current rules on where Texans can and can’t play, see our guide to Texas online poker laws.
Texas Poker Clubs Remain in a Legal Gray Area
Texas poker clubs still operate in a legal gray area, and HJR 52 does nothing to change that. The proposal focuses on casinos and sports betting, not the rules for existing poker clubs.
Even if the amendment passes, poker clubs would still face the same legal questions. Players might get more places to play live poker, but the state would still need to clear up its rules for poker clubs. We’ve previously explained why Texas needs to clarify its poker laws, and HJR 52 doesn’t solve that problem.
Alvarado’s SJR 11 Adds a Gaming Regulator
Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) introduced SJR 11, a similar proposal that would also create a state agency to oversee gambling in Texas. Unlike HJR 52, her proposal includes plans for a gaming commission with the power to investigate operators and enforce gambling laws.
The agency would be funded by lottery money, casino and sports betting taxes, and license fees. It would oversee licensed gambling businesses and make sure they follow state rules.
For poker players, the commission could provide clearer oversight of licensed casino poker rooms if gambling expansion moves forward. However, SJR 11 does not directly settle the legal questions surrounding Texas’s existing poker clubs or create a regulated online poker market.
The Political Math Behind HJR 52
Texas lawmakers have tried to expand gambling before. A similar proposal passed the House in 2023 but failed in the Senate, where Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick opposed gambling expansion. Geren was also involved in the 2023 push for more gambling laws.
Things didn’t improve in 2025. Geren introduced HJR 137 on February 12, but it stalled in committee. A similar proposal from Sen. Carol Alvarado also failed. Around a dozen House Republicans said they would oppose gambling legislation.
The November 3, 2026 election changed things. Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, Vikki Goodwin won the lieutenant governor’s race, and Democrats took control of the House for the first time in more than 20 years. Republicans still hold a 19-12 majority in the Senate.
That’s where HJR 52 faces its biggest challenge. The proposal needs at least 100 votes in the House and 21 in the Senate before Texans can vote on it. Even if all 12 Democratic senators support it, at least nine Republicans would also need to vote yes.
Goodwin supported the 2023 gambling proposal when she served in the House. She has said Texans should have a chance to vote on the issue and has pointed to the potential tax revenue. However, Senate Republicans may try to limit her powers as lieutenant governor, which could make it harder for her to move gambling legislation forward.
What Happens Next for HJR 52
Neither HJR 52 nor SJR 11 had been assigned to a committee when they were first reported. HJR 52 is expected to be sent to a committee after Texas lawmakers return on January 12, 2027.
The proposal needs support from two-thirds of both the House and Senate before Texans can vote on it on November 2, 2027. The Republican-controlled Senate remains the biggest challenge, with support needed from both parties.
If voters approve the amendment and lawmakers authorize casinos, Texans could eventually have more places to play live poker. However, HJR 52 would not authorize regulated online poker or clear up the rules for existing poker clubs. Geren has suggested that if voters reject the proposal, it could end the latest effort to expand gambling in Texas.
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