Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2070 Compare Versions

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11 By: Huberty H.B. No. 2070
22
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44 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
55 AN ACT
66 relating to the regulation of sports wagering; requiring an
77 occupational permit; authorizing a fee; imposing a tax; creating
88 criminal offenses; decriminalizing wagering on sports events.
99 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1010 SECTION 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The Legislature finds the
1111 following:
1212 (1) Consistent with a 2018 United States Supreme Court
1313 decision authorizing states to exercise their lawful prerogative to
1414 license and regulate sports wagering activity, it is in this
1515 state's interest to authorize a strict regulatory model for sports
1616 wagering.
1717 (2) A legal, regulated sports wagering market will
1818 help to deter unlawful sports wagering and provide for more
1919 regulatory and law enforcement oversight over sports wagering,
2020 while generating revenue to this state;
2121 (3) Any sports wagering enforcement and regulatory
2222 structure must begin from the bedrock premise that participation in
2323 a lawful and licensed sports-wagering industry is a privilege and
2424 not a right and that strict regulatory oversight is intended to
2525 safeguard the integrity of wagering on sporting events and to
2626 ensure accountability and the public trust;
2727 (4) The most expeditious way to legalize sports
2828 wagering in this state and to strictly regulate this activity is to
2929 utilize the resources of the Texas Department of Licensing and
3030 Regulation, which has experience regulating business activities in
3131 this state; and
3232 (5) Sports wagering within this state will be vested
3333 in sports wagering operators acting under authority of state law
3434 and will promote trust and integrity in all sports wagering
3535 operations.
3636 SECTION 2. Subtitle A, Tile 13, Occupations Code, is
3737 amended by adding Chapter 2005 to read as follows:
3838 CHAPTER 2005. SPORTS WAGERING
3939 SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
4040 Sec. 2005.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as
4141 the Texas Sports and Entertainment Recovery Act.
4242 Sec. 2005.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
4343 (1) "Adjusted gross revenue" means gross wagering
4444 revenue received by a sports wagering operator from all sports
4545 wagers authorized under this chapter, minus:
4646 (A) all cash or cash equivalents paid out as
4747 winnings to players;
4848 (B) the actual cost paid by a sports wagering
4949 operator for any personal property distributed to a player as a
5050 result of a sports wager authorized under this chapter;
5151 (C) the cash value of any bonuses or promotional
5252 credits provided to players that are then returned to a sports
5353 wagering operator;
5454 (D) Uncollectible receivables, not to exceed
5555 four percent of gross revenue, except that the commission may
5656 increase that percentage upon a showing of that a higher amount is
5757 reasonable and warranted; and
5858 (E) excise tax payments on sports wagers remitted
5959 to the federal government.
6060 (F) Amounts returned to an authorized
6161 participant:
6262 (i) because of game, platform, or system
6363 malfunction; or
6464 (ii) because the sports bet must be voided
6565 due to concerns regarding the integrity of the wager or game.
6666 (2) "Authorized sports entity" means:
6767 (A) a sports team or a sports team designee;
6868 (B) a Class 1 racetrack, as defined by Section
6969 2026.102; or
7070 (C) a greyhound racetrack, as described by
7171 Subchapter D, Chapter 2025
7272 (3) "Cash equivalent" means an asset that is
7373 convertible to cash and approved for use in connection with
7474 authorized sports wagering. Approved cash equivalents include:
7575 (A) travelers checks;
7676 (B) foreign currency and coin;
7777 (C) certified checks, cashier's checks, and
7878 money orders;
7979 (D) personal checks and drafts;
8080 (E) digital, crypto, and virtual currencies;
8181 (F) online and mobile payment systems that
8282 support online money transfers;
8383 (G) credit cards and debit cards;
8484 (H) prepaid access instruments; and
8585 (I) any other form approved by the commission.
8686 (4) "College sport" means an athletic or sporting
8787 event in which at least one participant is a team or contestant
8888 competing on behalf or under the sponsorship of a public or private
8989 institution of higher education, regardless of where the
9090 institution is located.
9191 (5) "Commission" means the Texas Commission of
9292 Licensing and Regulation.
9393 (6) "Comptroller" means the Comptroller of Public
9494 Accounts of the State of Texas.
9595 (7) "Covered service" means the operation,
9696 management, or control of wagers authorized by this chapter,
9797 including the development or operation of sports wagering platforms
9898 and the provision of odds lines and risk management information.
9999 The term excludes:
100100 (A) payment processing and similar financial
101101 services;
102102 (B) customer identity, age verification, and
103103 geolocation services;
104104 (C) streaming or other video and data that do not
105105 include odds or line information;
106106 (D) telecommunications, internet service
107107 providers, and other similar services not specifically designed for
108108 use in connection with sports wagering;
109109 (E) other goods or services designed to support
110110 the operation, management, or control of a sports wagering
111111 platform; and
112112 (F) other goods or services not specifically
113113 designed for use in connection with sports wagering.
114114 (8) "Department" means the Texas Department of
115115 Licensing and Regulation.
116116 (9) "Executive director" means the executive director
117117 of the department.
118118 (10) "Interactive sports wagering" means engaging in
119119 sports wagering via the internet, on a mobile device, or any other
120120 telecommunications service.
121121 (11) "Interactive sports wagering permit" means a
122122 permit issued by the commission that authorizes the operation of
123123 interactive sports wagering under this chapter;
124124 (12) "Interactive sports wagering operator" means the
125125 holder of an interactive sports wagering permit.
126126 (13) "Key person" means an officer or director of a
127127 sports wagering operator who:
128128 (A) is directly involved in the operation,
129129 management, or control of the conduct of sports wagering under this
130130 chapter; and
131131 (B) exercises substantial influence or control
132132 over the sports wagering operator's sports wagering activities.
133133 (14) "Official league data" means statistics,
134134 results, outcomes, and other data relating to a sporting event
135135 obtained for determining the outcome of tier two sports wagers
136136 under an agreement wager between a sports wagering operator and:
137137 (A) the relevant sports governing body that
138138 authorizes the use of the data for determining the outcome of tier
139139 two sports wagers; or
140140 (B) an entity expressly authorized by the sports
141141 governing body to provide the information described by this
142142 subdivision to sports wagering operators.
143143 (15) "Permit holder" means a person who holds a permit
144144 issued under this chapter.
145145 (16) "Professional sports" means an athletic or
146146 sporting event at which two or more competitors participate and one
147147 or more competitors receive compensation.
148148 (17) "Retail permit" means a permit issued by the
149149 commission to an entity included in Section 2005.103 that
150150 authorizes the operation of sports wagering at a location
151151 authorized by the commission, but with the operation limited to
152152 accepting in-person sports wagering only from individuals who are
153153 physically present in the location.
154154 (18) "Retail permit holder" means the holder of a
155155 retail permit.
156156 (19) "Retail sports wagering" means engaging in sports
157157 wagering at authorized locations in person.
158158 (20) "Service provider" means the holder of a service
159159 provider permit.
160160 (21) "Service provider permit" means a permit issued
161161 by the commission that authorizes the provision of covered
162162 services.
163163 (22) "Sporting event" or "sports event" means
164164 professional sports and athletic events, college sports and
165165 athletic events, amateur sports and athletic events, motor race
166166 events, electronic sports events, competitive video game events, or
167167 any other event approved by the commission.
168168 (23) "Sports wagering brand" means the names, logos,
169169 and brands by which a sports wagering operator advertises,
170170 promotes, or otherwise holds out to the public its sports wagering
171171 platform or retail sports wagering operations.
172172 (24) "Sports wagering operator" means:
173173 (A) an interactive sports wagering permit
174174 holder;
175175 (B) a service provider permit holder operating
176176 sports wagering on behalf of an interactive sports wagering permit
177177 holder;
178178 (C) a retail permit holder; or
179179 (D) a service provider permit holder operating
180180 sports wagering on behalf of a retail permit holder.
181181 (25) "Sports wagering platform" means a website,
182182 mobile application, or other interactive platform accessible via
183183 the internet or mobile, wireless, or similar communications
184184 technology that players may use to place sports wagers authorized
185185 under this chapter.
186186 (26) "Sports entertainment district" means a public
187187 entertainment facility, as that term is defined in Section
188188 108.73(2), Alcoholic Beverages Code that is related infrastructure
189189 to an approved venue project, as those terms are defined in Section
190190 334.001, Local Government Code.
191191 (27) "Sports facility" means:
192192 (A) a facility that is the primary host of a Major
193193 League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National
194194 Football League, Major League Soccer, or National Hockey League,
195195 professional sports franchise in this state and that has a seating
196196 capacity of at least 5,000 people; or
197197 (B) a Class 1 racetrack as defined by Section
198198 2026.102.
199199 (28) "Sports governing body" means the organization
200200 that prescribes final rules and enforces codes of conduct with
201201 respect to a professional sporting event and participants in the
202202 professional sporting event and whose corporate headquarters is
203203 located in the United States.
204204 (29) "Sports wagering" means accepting wagers on
205205 sporting events or portions of sporting events, or on the
206206 individual performance statistics of participants in a sporting
207207 event or combination of sporting events, by any system or method of
208208 wagering, including in-person or over the internet through a
209209 website or on mobile devices. The term includes but is not limited
210210 to single-game wagers, teaser wagers, parlays, over-unders,
211211 moneylines, pools, exchange wagering, in-game wagering, in-play
212212 wagers, proposition wagers, and straight wagers. The term does not
213213 include:
214214 (A) fantasy or simulated games or contests as
215215 that term is defined in Section 47.01(2-a), Penal Code ; or
216216 (B) greyhound racing or horse racing regulated
217217 under Subtitle A-1 (Texas Racing Act).
218218 (30) "Sports team" means a Major League Baseball,
219219 National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major
220220 League Soccer, or National Hockey League professional sports
221221 franchise located in this state that leases, subleases, or
222222 exclusively or by a joint venture with another sports team operates
223223 a sports facility.
224224 (31) "Sports team designee" means any person
225225 designated by a sports team as being authorized to receive an
226226 interactive sports wagering license in lieu of the sports team.
227227 (32) "Tier one sports wager" means a sports wager that
228228 is not a tier two sports wager.
229229 (33) "Tier two sports wager" means a sports wager that
230230 is placed after the event it concerns has started.
231231 (34) "Youth sports" means an athletic or sporting
232232 event in which the majority of participants are under the age of 18
233233 or are competing on behalf or under the sponsorship of one or more
234234 public or private preschools or elementary, middle, or secondary
235235 schools. The term does not include professional sports or events
236236 that occur under the sponsorship or oversight of national or
237237 international athletic bodies that are not educational
238238 institutions and that include participants both over and under the
239239 age of 18.
240240 Sec. 2005.002. COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAW. (a)
241241 All sports wagering authorized under this chapter must be
242242 initiated, received, and otherwise made within this state unless
243243 otherwise determined by the commission in accordance with
244244 applicable federal and state laws.
245245 (b) Consistent with the intent of the United States Congress
246246 in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (31
247247 U.S.C. ยง 5361, et seq.), the intermediate routing of electronic
248248 data relating to internet sports wagering authorized under this
249249 chapter, including routing across state lines, does not determine
250250 the location in which such wagers are initiated, received, or
251251 otherwise made.
252252 Sec. 2005.003. REVIEW OF AGENCY ACTIONS. Except as
253253 otherwise provided by this chapter, all actions of the commission
254254 or department are subject to review under the Administrative
255255 Procedure Act.
256256 SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES
257257 Sec. 2005.051. SPORTS WAGERING PROGRAM. (a) Subject to the
258258 requirements set forth in this chapter, the commission shall
259259 authorize an authorized sports entity to become an interactive
260260 sports wagering operator for the purpose of offering and accepting
261261 sports wagers to and from players on sporting events.
262262 (b) The department under the direction of the commission and
263263 executive director shall administer this chapter.
264264 (c) The commission may not authorize sports wagers
265265 involving youth sports.
266266 (d) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to apply to
267267 pari-mutuel wagering on horse-racing or greyhound racing as
268268 authorized by Subtitle A-1 or fantasy or simulated games or
269269 contests.
270270 Sec. 2005.052. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules for
271271 the administration of this chapter and to regulate sports wagering
272272 in this state.
273273 Sec. 2005.053. CERTIFICATION OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES. The
274274 commission shall:
275275 (1) certify monthly to the comptroller a full and
276276 complete statement of sports wagering revenues and expenses for the
277277 previous month; and
278278 (2) within thirty days of the end of the fiscal year,
279279 provide to the comptroller a full and complete statement of sports
280280 wagering revenues and expenses for that fiscal year, along with any
281281 recommendations for changes to this chapter that may be warranted
282282 and prudent to protect the public interest.
283283 Sec. 2005.054. AUDITS. (a) To ensure a proper accounting
284284 of all revenues due to the state, the commission and the comptroller
285285 each independently shall have the right to audit the books and
286286 records of a sports wagering operator that are related to sports
287287 wagering activities conducted in this state and authorized under
288288 the chapter. The commission and the comptroller shall coordinate
289289 to ensure that such requests are not duplicative or overly
290290 burdensome on the sports wagering operator.
291291 (b) The comptroller may perform audits of any taxes or fees
292292 paid under this chapter.
293293 Sec. 2005.055. VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION PROGRAM. (a) The
294294 commission shall adopt rules to establish and implement a statewide
295295 voluntary exclusion program administered by the commission.
296296 (b) The rules must include:
297297 (1) a requirement that the commission will establish
298298 and administer a statewide self-exclusion list, hosting a website
299299 that sport wagering operators may link to in order to allow
300300 individuals to register for self-exclusion, and that the commission
301301 shall regularly distribute such list to sport wagering operators;
302302 (2) a requirement that each sports wagering operator
303303 implement a procedure by which individuals may access the
304304 commission's website form to ask to be excluded from participation
305305 in sports wagering and under which the sports wagering operator
306306 will bar individuals on the self-exclusion list from any further
307307 participation in sports wagering for the period that they are
308308 self-excluded;
309309 (3) except as otherwise provided by commission rule, a
310310 requirement that an individual who participates in the voluntary
311311 exclusion program agrees to refrain from participating in sports
312312 wagering for the period of time specified at self-exclusion;
313313 (3) except as otherwise provided by commission rule, a
314314 requirement that a person who participates in the voluntary
315315 exclusion program may not petition the commission for removal from
316316 the program; and
317317 (4) a requirement that the sports wagering operator
318318 must make all commercially reasonable attempts and cause its sales
319319 agents and others operating on its behalf to make commercially
320320 reasonable efforts to cease all direct marketing efforts to persons
321321 participating in the program.
322322 (c) The voluntary exclusion program may not preclude a
323323 sports wagering operator and its agents and others operating on
324324 their behalf from seeking the payment of a debt accrued by a person
325325 before entering the program.
326326 Sec. 2005.056. RISK MANAGEMENT. The commission shall adopt
327327 rules permitting sports wagering operators to use systems that
328328 offset loss or manage or lay off risk in the operation of sports
329329 wagering under this chapter, including through liquidity pools,
330330 exchanges, or similar mechanisms in other approved jurisdiction in
331331 which the sports wagering operator or an affiliate of either or
332332 other third party also holds a license or the equivalent.
333333 (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the rules adopted under
334334 this section must require that at all times adequate protections
335335 are maintained to ensure sufficient funds are available to pay all
336336 players.
337337 Sec. 2005.057. PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMODATION. (a) Except
338338 as provided by Subsection (b), and other than an authorized retail
339339 sports wagering location, the commission may not authorize or allow
340340 a person to:
341341 (1) operate or to allow the operation of a place of
342342 public accommodation, a club (including a club or association
343343 limited to dues-paying members or similar restricted groups), or a
344344 similar establishment in which computer terminals or similar access
345345 devices are intended or are made available to be used principally
346346 for the purpose of accessing a sports wagering platform; or
347347 (2) otherwise advertise to the general public that the
348348 place of public accommodation, club, or similar establishment is
349349 available to engage in sports wagering.
350350 (b) The commission may authorize:
351351 (1) an interactive sports wagering operator or a
352352 service provider operating sports wagering on behalf of an
353353 interactive sports wagering permit holder to establish a place of
354354 public accommodation for the purpose of accessing a sports wagering
355355 platform if it is located within an interactive sports wagering
356356 operator's sports facility or sports entertainment district; and
357357 (2) the advertisement of an activity described by
358358 Subsection (b)(1) at the location.
359359 (c) The commission shall adopt rules governing the
360360 establishment of a sports wagering public accommodation at a sports
361361 facility or sports entertainment district.
362362 (d) Places of public accommodation, clubs, or similar
363363 establishments that are allowed under this section are subject to
364364 all applicable state, local, criminal, zoning, or other regulatory
365365 powers that are not intended to be limited in any way by this
366366 chapter.
367367 (e) This section does not apply to operations and
368368 advertisement conducted by a retail permit holder or a service
369369 provider operating sports wagering on behalf of a retail permit
370370 holder.
371371 SUBCHAPTER C. SPORTS WAGERING PERMITS
372372 Sec. 2005.101. INTERACTIVE SPORTS WAGERING PERMIT. (a)
373373 The commission shall issue an interactive sports wagering permit to
374374 a qualified authorized sports entity under this chapter if the
375375 applicant:
376376 (1) submits a completed application to the commission
377377 on a form prescribed by the commission, containing the information
378378 required by this section; and
379379 (2) pays to the commission a permitting fee of
380380 $500,000, which must be refunded in the event the applicant's
381381 application is denied, after deduction of the commission's expenses
382382 in considering the application.
383383 (b) The commission may only award an interactive sports
384384 wagering permit to an authorized sports entity as defined by this
385385 chapter. The interactive sports wagering operator or a service
386386 provider on behalf of an interactive sports wagering operator may:
387387 (1) offer retail sports wagering in a place of public
388388 accommodation located at its sports facility or the sports
389389 entertainment district created in connection with the sports
390390 facility;
391391 (2) conduct state-wide interactive sports wagering;
392392 and
393393 (3) operate kiosks for interactive sports wagering.
394394 (c) The commission may only award an interactive sports
395395 wagering permit to an authorized sports entity that is based in the
396396 United States.
397397 (d) The commission shall only award one interactive sports
398398 wagering permit per authorized sports entity, except that if a
399399 person owns more than one authorized sports entity, that person may
400400 only obtain one interactive sports wagering permit.
401401 (e) The interactive sports wagering operator shall only be
402402 permitted to hold out its sports wagering platform to the public
403403 under one brand.
404404 (f) The commission shall evaluate and then grant or deny
405405 each application submitted under this section in its discretion in
406406 the same manner and based on the same considerations that it uses to
407407 consider applications for service provider permits. The
408408 commission's decision is final and not appealable, except as
409409 otherwise may be required under state law.
410410 (g) The commission shall prescribe an application form for
411411 an interactive sports wagering permit that includes:
412412 (1) the applicant's proposed initial business plan,
413413 which must include the range of contemplated types and modes of
414414 sports wagering;
415415 (2) the applicant's proposed measures to address age
416416 and identity verification and geolocation requirements;
417417 (3) the applicant's proposed internal controls,
418418 including controls to ensure that no ineligible person will be able
419419 to participate in sports wagering;
420420 (4) the applicant's history of working to prevent
421421 compulsive gambling, including training programs for its
422422 employees;
423423 (5) the applicant's written information security
424424 program, including information security governance and the
425425 designation of a chief security officer of equivalent (which
426426 designation shall be a requirement for issuance of a license);
427427 (6) the sports wagering brand (which shall be limited
428428 to a maximum of one brand and may be different from the brand
429429 offered by a retail permit holder) under which an interactive
430430 sports wagering operator plans to hold out its sports wagering
431431 platform to the public;
432432 (7) any personal information the commission may
433433 determine by rule should be required concerning the applicant's key
434434 persons; and
435435 (8) any other information the commission considers
436436 necessary.
437437 (h) The commission may accept permitting or authorization
438438 to operate by another jurisdiction that is specifically determined
439439 by the commission to have similar permitting requirements, as
440440 evidence that the applicant meets the interactive sports wagering
441441 operator requirements. The commission may accept another
442442 jurisdiction's or an approved third party's testing of the
443443 interactive sports wagering platform as evidence that the platform
444444 meets any requirements mandated by commission rule.
445445 (i) Notwithstanding any other law, the information an
446446 applicant submits under this section shall be considered
447447 confidential and exempt from public disclosure.
448448 (j) An authorized applicant may elect to assign its
449449 interactive sports wagering permit to a third-party designee to
450450 handle all of the applicant's sports wagering management and
451451 operations. If the applicant makes this election, the application
452452 and disclosure requirements described by this section should be
453453 made by the designee rather than the applicant, in accordance with
454454 procedures determined by the commission.
455455 Sec. 2005.102. SERVICE PROVIDER PERMIT. (a) An applicant
456456 for a service provider permit shall:
457457 (1) submit an application to the commission on a form
458458 prescribed by the commission, containing the information required
459459 under this section; and
460460 (2) pay to the commission an application fee of
461461 $25,000.
462462 (b) An application submitted under this section must
463463 include:
464464 (1) the applicant's background in sports wagering or
465465 the covered service;
466466 (2) the applicant's experience in connection with
467467 sports wagering or other wagering activities in other
468468 jurisdictions, including the applicant's history and reputation of
469469 integrity and compliance, as well as a list of all active or lapsed
470470 permits or licenses for sports wagering or other wagering
471471 activities (including the reason for any lapse);
472472 (3) the applicant's written information security
473473 program, including information concerning information security
474474 governance and the designation of a chief security officer or
475475 equivalent (which designation shall be a requirement for issuance
476476 of a permit);
477477 (4) any personal information the commission
478478 determines by rule should be required concerning the applicant's
479479 key persons; and
480480 (5) any other information the commission considers
481481 necessary.
482482 (c) The commission shall conduct a background investigation
483483 on the applicant and key persons as considered necessary by the
484484 commission. The background investigation must include a credit
485485 history check, a tax record check, and a criminal history records
486486 check.
487487 (d) The commission shall grant or deny a service provider
488488 permit within 90 days of receipt of a completed application. The
489489 commission's decision is final and not appealable, except as
490490 otherwise may be required under state law.
491491 (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
492492 information an applicant submits under this section is considered
493493 confidential and exempt from public disclosure.
494494 (f) The following shall constitute the sole grounds for
495495 denial of a service provider permit:
496496 (1) the commission reasonably believes the applicant
497497 will be unable to satisfy the duties of a permittee described by
498498 this chapter;
499499 (2) the commission reasonably believes that the
500500 applicant or any of its key persons are not of good character,
501501 honesty, or integrity;
502502 (3) the commission reasonably believes that the
503503 applicant's or any of its key person's prior activities, criminal
504504 record, reputation, or associations are likely to:
505505 (A) pose a threat to the public interest;
506506 (B) impede the regulation of sports wagering; or
507507 (C) promote unfair or illegal activities in the
508508 conduct of sports wagering;
509509 (4) the applicant or a key person knowingly fails to
510510 comply with the provisions of this chapter or any of the
511511 commission's requirements;
512512 (5) the applicant or a key person knowingly fails to
513513 comply with the provisions of this chapter or any of the
514514 commission's requirements;
515515 (6) the applicant or a key person was convicted of a
516516 felony, a crime of moral turpitude, or any criminal offense
517517 involving dishonesty or breach of trust within the 10 years before
518518 the submission date of the application;
519519 (7) the applicant's or a key person's license,
520520 registration, or permit to conduct sports wagering, other forms of
521521 gambling activity, or a covered service issued by any other state
522522 has been revoked; or
523523 (8) the applicant defaults in payment of any
524524 obligation or debt due to the state.
525525 Sec. 2005.103. RETAIL PERMIT. (a) The commission may award
526526 a retail permit to:
527527 (1) an authorized sports entity;
528528 (2) a sports facility that is the primary host of a
529529 Minor League Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, or Soccer professional
530530 sports franchise in this state that is affiliated with a sports team
531531 or a related sports entertainment district;
532532 (3) a racetrack that is not a Class 1 racetrack as
533533 defined by Section 2026.102;
534534 (4) a motorsports racetrack that has a seating
535535 capacity of at least 5,000 people; or
536536 (5) a facility operated by the PGA TOUR that is the
537537 primary host of a PGA TOUR professional golf tournament.
538538 (b) A person eligible to receive a retail permit under
539539 Subsection (a) may only hold a retail permit for offering retail
540540 sports wagering at any approved location by the Commission,
541541 including:
542542 (1) the sports facility that the sports team or its
543543 affiliate leases, subleases, or exclusively or by a joint venture
544544 with another sports team operates;
545545 (2) the sports entertainment district related to the
546546 sports facility;
547547 (3) a facility owned or exclusively leased by an
548548 authorized sports entity and approved by the commission; or
549549 (4) in the case of a facility described by Subsection
550550 (a)(5), the golf facility or entertainment or resort complex
551551 related to the golf facility.
552552 (c) A retail permit holder that is not also an interactive
553553 sports wagering operator may only conduct sports wagering with
554554 individuals who are physically present at the location authorized
555555 by the commission for retail sports wagering. A retail permit
556556 holder may operate kiosks for sports wagering at locations approved
557557 by the commission.
558558 (d) The retail permit holder shall only be permitted to hold
559559 out its sports wagering platform to the public under one brand. If
560560 an interactive sports wagering operator permit holder also holds a
561561 retail permit, the brand offered under the retail permit may be
562562 different from the brand offered under the interactive sports
563563 wagering operator permit.
564564 (e) An applicant for a retail permit shall:
565565 (1) submit an application to the commission on a form
566566 prescribed by the commission, containing the information required
567567 under this section; and
568568 (2) pay to the commission an application fee of
569569 $50,000.
570570 (f) An application submitted under this section must
571571 include:
572572 (1) the applicant's background in sports wagering or
573573 the covered service;
574574 (2) the applicant's experience in connection with
575575 sports wagering or other wagering activities in other
576576 jurisdictions, including the applicant's history and reputation of
577577 integrity and compliance, as well as a list of all active or lapsed
578578 permits or licenses for sports wagering or other wagering
579579 activities (including the reason for any lapse);
580580 (3) the applicant's written information security
581581 program, including information concerning information security
582582 governance and the designation of a chief security officer or
583583 equivalent (which designation shall be a requirement for issuance
584584 of a permit);
585585 (4) the sports wagering brand (maximum of one) under
586586 which the retail permit holders plans to offer retail sports
587587 wagering to the public;
588588 (5) any personal information the commission
589589 determines by rule should be required concerning the applicant's
590590 key persons; and
591591 (6) any other information the commission considers
592592 necessary.
593593 (f) The commission shall conduct a background investigation
594594 on the applicant and key persons as considered necessary by the
595595 commission. The background investigation must include a credit
596596 history check, a tax record check, and a criminal history records
597597 check.
598598 (g) The commission shall grant or deny a service provider
599599 permit within 90 days of receipt of a completed application. The
600600 commission's decision is final and not appealable, except as
601601 otherwise may be required under state law.
602602 (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
603603 information an applicant submits under this section is considered
604604 confidential and exempt from public disclosure.
605605 (i) The following shall constitute the sole grounds for
606606 denial of a retail permit:
607607 (1) the commission reasonably believes the applicant
608608 will be unable to satisfy the duties of a permittee described by
609609 this chapter;
610610 (2) the commission reasonably believes that the
611611 applicant or any of its key persons are not of good character,
612612 honesty, or integrity;
613613 (3) the commission reasonably believes that the
614614 applicant's or any of its key person's prior activities, criminal
615615 record, reputation, or associations are likely to:
616616 (A) pose a threat to the public interest;
617617 (B) impede the regulation of sports wagering; or
618618 (C) promote unfair or illegal activities in the
619619 conduct of sports wagering;
620620 (4) the applicant or a key person knowingly fails to
621621 comply with the provisions of this chapter or any of the
622622 commission's requirements;
623623 (5) the applicant or a key person was convicted of a
624624 felony, a crime of moral turpitude, or any criminal offense
625625 involving dishonesty or breach of trust within the 10 years before
626626 the submission date of the application;
627627 (6) the applicant's or a key person's license,
628628 registration, or permit to conduct sports wagering, other forms of
629629 gambling activity, or a covered service issued by any other state
630630 has been revoked; or
631631 (7) the applicant defaults in payment of any
632632 obligation or debt due to the state.
633633 (j) An authorized applicant may elect to assign its retail
634634 permit to a third-party designee to handle all of the applicant's
635635 sports wagering management and operations. If the applicant makes
636636 this election, the application and disclosure requirements
637637 described by this section should be made by the designee rather than
638638 the applicant, in accordance with procedures determined by the
639639 commission.
640640 Sec. 2005.104. PERMIT RENEWAL. (a) A permit issued under
641641 this chapter shall be valid for:
642642 (1) if the permit application is submitted by a Class 1
643643 Racetrack, as defined by Section 2026.102, a sports team or
644644 affiliate of the sports team, three years after the date of
645645 issuance; or
646646 (2) if the permit application is submitted by a
647647 designee of the sports team or the sports team's affiliate, the
648648 earlier of:
649649 (A) three years after the date of issuance; or
650650 (B) the date of the expiration of any contract
651651 wager between the sports teams or an affiliate of the sports team
652652 and the designee of the sports team or affiliate authorizing the
653653 designee to handle the sports team's or affiliate's sports wagering
654654 management and operations.
655655 (b) At least 60 days before the expiration of a permit, the
656656 permit holder shall submit a renewal application on a form
657657 prescribed by the commission. The permit holder must include a
658658 renewal fee of:
659659 (1) $100,000 for renewal of an interactive sports
660660 wagering permit;
661661 (2) $25,000 for renewal of a retail permit; and
662662 (3) $10,000 for renewal of a service provider permit.
663663 (c) The commission may deny an application for permit
664664 renewal if the commission finds grounds for denial set forth in
665665 Section 2005.101 for an interactive sports wagering permit, Section
666666 2005.102 for a service provider permit, or Section 2005.103 for a
667667 retail permit holder.
668668 SUBCHAPTER D. REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMIT HOLDERS AND OPERATORS
669669 Sec. 2005.151. DUTIES OF SPORTS WAGERING OPERATORS. (a) A
670670 sports wagering operator shall ensure that it implement reasonable
671671 measures:
672672 (1) to ensure that only persons physically located in
673673 the state or as otherwise may be authorized by the commission are
674674 able to place a wager through its sports wagering platform;
675675 (2) to protect the confidential information of players
676676 using its sports wagering platform;
677677 (3) to prevent wagering on prohibited events as set
678678 forth in this chapter or as otherwise determined by the commission;
679679 (4) to prevent persons from placing wagers as agents
680680 or proxies for others;
681681 (5) to allow persons to restrict themselves from
682682 placing wagers through its sports wagering platform as set forth in
683683 this chapter, including sharing, at the person's request, that
684684 person's request for self-exclusion with the commission for the
685685 sole purpose of disseminating the request to other sports wagering
686686 operators;
687687 (6) to establish procedures to detect suspicious or
688688 illegal wagering activity, including measures to report suspicious
689689 or illegal activity to the commission; and
690690 (7) to provide for the withholding or reporting of
691691 income tax of players where required by applicable state or federal
692692 law.
693693 (b) For three years after a sporting event occurs,
694694 interactive sports wagering operators must maintain records on:
695695 (1) all wagers, including the identity of the player,
696696 the amount and type of wager, the time and location of the wager
697697 (including IP address if available), and the outcome of the wager;
698698 and
699699 (2) suspicious or illegal wagering activity.
700700 (c) An interactive sports wagering operator must disclose
701701 the records described in Subsection (b) to the commission upon
702702 request.
703703 (d) If a sports governing body has notified the commission
704704 that real-time information sharing for wagers placed on its
705705 sporting events is necessary and desirable, sports wagering
706706 operators must share with that sports governing body or its
707707 designee in real time, at the account level:
708708 (1) anonymized information regarding a wager;
709709 (2) the amount and type of wager;
710710 (3) the time the wager was place;
711711 (4) the location of the wager, including the IP
712712 address if applicable;
713713 (5) the outcome of the wager; and
714714 (6) records of abnormal wagering activity.
715715 (e) A sports governing body may use the information
716716 described by Subsection (d) solely for integrity purposes. For
717717 purposes of Subsection (d), "real time" means on a commercially
718718 reasonable periodic interval, but in any event not less than once
719719 every 72 hours.
720720 (f) In advertising its sports wagering operation, a sports
721721 wagering operator must ensure that its advertisements:
722722 (1) do not target persons under the age of 21;
723723 (2) disclose the identity of the sports wagering
724724 operator;
725725 (3) provide information about or links to resources
726726 related to gambling addiction and prevention; and
727727 (4) are not misleading to a reasonable person.
728728 Sec. 2005.152. ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERACTIVE ACCOUNTS. (a)
729729 The sports wagering operator is responsible for verifying the
730730 identity of a player and ensuring that the player is at least 21
731731 years of age. This section does not mean that a patron is required
732732 to have an account to wager with a retail permit holder at the
733733 retail permit holder's facility.
734734 (b) A player may not have more than one account with each
735735 sports wagering operator.
736736 (c) The following persons are prohibited from the placement
737737 of sports wagers:
738738 (1) any person under the age of 21;
739739 (2) any person who has requested and not revoked
740740 exclusion from sports wagering under this chapter or who otherwise
741741 has been adjudicated by law as prohibited from engaging in sports
742742 wagering;
743743 (3) any member, officer, or employee of the department
744744 or the commission;
745745 (4) any employee or key person of a permit holder, only
746746 as to the affiliated permittee's sports wagering platform; and
747747 (5) any participant, including athlete, coach,
748748 trainer, referee, or other official, and any employee or other
749749 staff of a participant, in a competition that is the subject of
750750 sports wagering under this chapter (but only as to the league with
751751 which the individual is affiliated);
752752 (6) any employee or other staff of a governing or
753753 authorizing league or similar sponsoring organization for a
754754 competition that is the subject of sports wagering under this
755755 chapter (but only as to the league with which the individual is
756756 affiliated).
757757 (d) A sports wagering operator may not be charged with
758758 violation of Subsection (c)(5) or (6) absent notice or actual
759759 knowledge that a player is within the scope of those provisions.
760760 (d) In determining which persons are excluded from placing
761761 wagers under Subsection (c)(5) or (6), a sports wagering operator
762762 shall use any list of persons that is provided by the commission.
763763 (e) A sports wagering account:
764764 (1) must be established in the name or on behalf of the
765765 player who is a natural person and may not be in the name of any
766766 beneficiary, custodian, joint trust, corporation, partnership, or
767767 any other entity;
768768 (2) must be established through the sports wagering
769769 operator's sports wagering platform or a specialized website or
770770 interface established for that purpose;
771771 (3) must include terms that:
772772 (A) prohibit the transfer or sale of an account
773773 or account balance to another registered player;
774774 (B) prohibit the use of any virtual private
775775 network or other technology that may obscure or falsify the
776776 players' physical location;
777777 (C) prohibit any form of collusion, cheating, or
778778 other unlawful activity;
779779 (D) affirm that the player meets all eligibility
780780 requirements for registration; and
781781 (E) authorize the provision of notices and other
782782 required communications either through a designated mobile or other
783783 interface or to an electronic mail address designated by the
784784 player.
785785 (f) The sports wagering operator may allow for the
786786 establishment of sports wagering accounts remotely, provided that
787787 it has in place measures sufficient to verify the age and identity
788788 of the player.
789789 (g) A sports wagering operator may suspend or terminate a
790790 sports wagering account if:
791791 (1) it is determined that the player has provided any
792792 false or misleading information in connection with the opening of
793793 the account or has engaged in cheating or other unlawful conduct;
794794 (2) the player is or has been barred from placing
795795 wagers in this state;
796796 (3) the player is or otherwise becomes ineligible
797797 under this chapter;
798798 (4) the sports wagering operator determines that it
799799 lacks sufficient information to verify the age and eligibility of
800800 the player; or
801801 (5) for any other reason at the sole discretion of the
802802 sports wagering operator, provided that it is not on the basis of a
803803 player's actual or believed sex, gender identity, race, religion,
804804 national origin, sexual orientation, or other lawfully protected
805805 characteristic.
806806 (h) In the event of termination for any reason other than
807807 set forth in Subsection (g)(1), the player shall be provided a
808808 timely ability to access and withdraw any funds remaining in the
809809 sports wagering account.
810810 Sec. 2005.152. "LAYOFF" WAGERING. Nothing in this
811811 subchapter is intended to prohibit sports wagering operators from
812812 engaging in risk management measures commonly known as "layoff"
813813 wagering in the ordinary course of business.
814814 SUBCHAPTER E. COMPETITION INTEGRITY; PROHIBITED EVENTS
815815 Sec. 2005.201. PROHIBITION ON YOUTH SPORTS WAGERING. No
816816 person shall place or accept a wager on youth sports.
817817 Sec. 2005.202. MONITORING PROGRAM. Before the commencement
818818 of sports wagering under this chapter, the commission shall adopt
819819 rules and a monitoring program sufficient to protect the integrity
820820 of all sports wagering under this chapter and that provides for a
821821 sharing of suspicious activities on wagering with sports wagering
822822 operators and regulators in other states.
823823 Sec. 2005.203. AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND WAGERING. The
824824 commission, as necessary to protect the integrity of a competition
825825 or its participants or as set forth in Section 2005.204, shall have
826826 the authority to suspend wagering on any competition, category or
827827 type of competition, any other aspect of a competition.
828828 Sec. 2005.204. LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN SPORTS WAGERING FOR
829829 GOOD CAUSE. (a) If a sports governing body believes that the type,
830830 form, or category of sports wagering on that sports governing
831831 body's sporting events has the potential to undermine the integrity
832832 or perceived integrity of the sports governing body or its sporting
833833 events, the sports governing body may submit to the commission in
834834 writing a request to restrict, limit, or exclude a certain type,
835835 form, or category of sports wagering for that sports governing
836836 body's sporting events. The sports governing body shall provide the
837837 request in a form and manner as the commission may reasonably
838838 require.
839839 (b) The commission may request comment from sports wagering
840840 operators on all requests described by Subsection (a) before
841841 granting the request.
842842 (c) After giving due consideration to all comments received
843843 under Subsection (b), the commission shall, upon a demonstration of
844844 good cause from the requestor that the type, form, or category of
845845 sports wagering is likely to undermine the perceived integrity or
846846 the integrity of sports governing body or its sporting events,
847847 grant the request.
848848 (d) If feasible, the commission must respond to a request
849849 under Subsection (a) concerning a particular event before the start
850850 of the event. If it is not feasible to respond before the start of
851851 the event, the commission must respond no later than seven days
852852 after the request is made.
853853 (e) If the commission determines that the requestor under
854854 Subsection (a) is more likely than not to prevail in successfully
855855 demonstrating good cause for its request, the commission may
856856 provisionally grant the request until the commission makes a final
857857 determination as to whether the requestor has demonstrated good
858858 cause. Absent a provisional grant by the commission, a sports
859859 wagering operator may continue to offer sports wagering on sporting
860860 events that are the subject of a request under this section during
861861 the pendency of the commission's consideration of the request.
862862 Sec. 2005.205. COOPERATION WITH INVESTIGATIONS. The
863863 commission and sports wagering operators shall cooperate with
864864 investigations conducted by sports governing bodies or law
865865 enforcement agencies, including by providing or facilitating the
866866 provision of account-level wagering information and audio or video
867867 files relating to persons placing wagers.
868868 Sec. 2005.206. PROMPT REPORTING TO COMMISSION. (a) A
869869 sports wagering operator must promptly report to the commission any
870870 information relating to:
871871 (1) criminal or disciplinary proceedings commenced
872872 against the sports wagering operator in connection with its
873873 operations;
874874 (2) abnormal wagering activity or patterns that may
875875 indicate a concern with the integrity of a sporting event;
876876 (3) any potential breach of the relevant sports
877877 governing body's internal rules and codes of conduct pertaining to
878878 sports wagering;
879879 (4) any other conduct that corrupts a wagering outcome
880880 of a sporting event for purposes of financial gain, including match
881881 fixing; and
882882 (5) suspicious or illegal wagering activities,
883883 including use of funds derived from illegal activity, wagers to
884884 conceal or launder funds derived from illegal activity, using
885885 agents to place wagers, and using false identification.
886886 (b) Sports wagering operators must promptly report
887887 information relating to conduct described in Subsections (a)(2),
888888 (3), and (4) to the relevant sports governing body.
889889 Sec. 2005.207. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION. (a) A
890890 sports wagering operator must maintain the confidentiality of
891891 information provided by a sports governing body to the operator,
892892 unless disclosure is required by this chapter, the commission,
893893 other law, or court order.
894894 (b) The commission, and sports wagering operators must
895895 maintain the confidentiality of all information relating to conduct
896896 described in Section 2005.206(a)(2), (3), and (4), unless
897897 disclosure is required by this chapter, other law, or court order,
898898 or as authorized by the relevant sports governing body.
899899 (c) Nothing in this chapter prohibits the commission or a
900900 sports wagering operator from making a confidential disclosure to
901901 another sports wagering operator, a sports governing body, a sports
902902 wagering regulating entity, a law enforcement entity, or other
903903 party for the purpose of preventing or investigating conduct that
904904 corrupts or could corrupt the outcome of a sporting event,
905905 including match fixing.
906906 Sec. 2005.208. DATA SOURCES. (a) Except as provided by
907907 Subsection (c), a sports wagering operator may use any data source
908908 to determine the results of sports wagers, provided that the data is
909909 not obtained directly or indirectly from live event attendees who
910910 collect the data in violation of the terms of admittance to an event
911911 or through automated computer programs that compile data from the
912912 internet in violation of the terms of service of the relevant
913913 website or other internet platform.
914914 (b) A sports wagering operator may use any data source for
915915 determining the result of a tier one sports wager.
916916 (c) A sports governing body may notify the commission that
917917 it desires sports wagering operators to use official league data to
918918 settle tier two sports wagers. A notification under this subsection
919919 must be made in accordance with forms and procedures prescribed by
920920 the commission. The commission shall notify each sports wagering
921921 operator of the sports governing body's notification not later than
922922 the fifth day after the department's receipt of the notification.
923923 If a sports governing body does not notify the commission of its
924924 desire to supply official league data, a sports wagering operator
925925 may use any data source for determining the result of a tier two
926926 sports wager on a professional sporting event of the league
927927 governed by the sports governing body subject to the limitations of
928928 Subsection (a).
929929 (d) Not later than the sixtieth day after the commission
930930 notifies each sports wagering operator as required by Subsection
931931 (c), a sports wagering operator must use only official league data
932932 to determine the results of tier two sports wagers on professional
933933 sports events of the league governed by the sports governing body,
934934 unless any of the following apply:
935935 (1) the sports governing body or its applicable
936936 designee is unable to provide a feed, on commercially reasonable
937937 terms, of official league data to determine the results of a tier
938938 two sports wager, in which case sports wagering operators may use
939939 any data source for determining the results of tier two sports
940940 wagers until the data feed becomes available on commercial
941941 reasonable terms; or
942942 (2) a sports wagering operator demonstrates to the
943943 commission that the sports governing body has not provided or
944944 offered to provide a feed of official league data to the sports
945945 wagering operator on commercially reasonable terms, according to
946946 criteria described in Subsection (e).
947947 (e) The commission may consider the following information
948948 in determining whether a sports governing body has provided or
949949 offered to provide a feed of official league data on commercially
950950 reasonable terms, provided that no single factor on its own will be
951951 deemed conclusive evidence that official league data is being
952952 offered on terms that are not commercially reasonable:
953953 (1) the availability of a sports governing body's
954954 official league data for tier two sports wagers from one or more
955955 authorized source;
956956 (2) market information regarding the purchase, in
957957 Texas and in other states, by sports wagering operators of data for
958958 all sports from all authorized sources;
959959 (3) the nature and quantity of the data, including the
960960 quality and complexity of the process used for collecting the data;
961961 and
962962 (4) any other information the commission considers
963963 relevant.
964964 (f) During any time period in which the commission is
965965 determining whether official league data is available on
966966 commercially reasonable terms under Subsections (d) and (e), a
967967 sports wagering operator may use any data source for determining
968968 the results of any tier two sports wagers subject to the limitations
969969 of Subsection (a). The commissioner shall make a determination
970970 under Subsections (d) and (e) not later than the 60th day after a
971971 sports wagering operator notifies the commission that it desires to
972972 demonstrate that a sports governing body has not provided or
973973 offered to provide a feed of official league data to the sports
974974 wagering operator on commercially reasonable terms. If the
975975 commission determines that the requestor is more likely than not to
976976 fail in successfully making the demonstration under this
977977 subsection, the commission may provisionally deny the request until
978978 the commission makes a final determination as to whether the
979979 requestor has made the demonstration.
980980 Sec. 2005.209. COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS. Any sports governing
981981 body may enter into a commercial agreement with a sports wagering
982982 operator under which the sports governing body may share in the
983983 amount wager or revenues derived from sports wagering on the sports
984984 governing body's sporting events. A sports governing body is not
985985 required to obtain a permit or other approval from the commission to
986986 lawfully accept these amounts or revenues.
987987 SUBCHAPTER F. TAXES
988988 Sec. 2005.251. IMPOSITION OF TAX. (a) A sports wagering
989989 operator shall pay a tax of ten percent on the sports wagering
990990 operator's adjusted gross revenue.
991991 (b) The tax imposed under this section is due monthly to the
992992 comptroller and shall be remitted on or before the 20th day of the
993993 next succeeding calendar month. If the sports wagering operator's
994994 account necessitates corrections to a previously remitted tax, it
995995 shall document the corrections when it pays the following month's
996996 taxes.
997997 (c) If the sports wagering operator's adjusted gross
998998 revenue for a month is a negative amount, the sports wagering
999999 operator may carry over the negative amount to a return filed for a
10001000 subsequent month and deduct this amount from its tax liability for
10011001 the subsequent month, provided that the amount may not be carried
10021002 over and deducted against tax liability in any month that is more
10031003 than 12 months after the month in which the amount was accrued.
10041004 (d) Any taxes collected under this section and any fees
10051005 collected by the commission under this chapter that are in excess of
10061006 what the department and commission need to implement this chapter
10071007 shall be dedicated to providing special education and related
10081008 services to eligible students in addition to and as a supplement to
10091009 the funding provided under the Texas Education Code, Section
10101010 48.102. The special education allotment advisory committee
10111011 established under the Texas Education Code, Section 48.1021, shall
10121012 make recommendations for the use of these supplemental fees, and
10131013 the commissioner by rule shall determine the use of these
10141014 supplemental funds based on the advisory committee's
10151015 recommendation.
10161016 Sec. 2005.252. NO OTHER TAXATION PERMITTED. A sports
10171017 wagering operator may not be subjected to an excise tax, license
10181018 tax, permit tax, privilege tax, amusement tax, sales tax, or
10191019 occupation tax that is imposed upon licensees by the state or any
10201020 political subdivision of the state, except as provided by this
10211021 chapter.
10221022 SUBCHAPTER G. PENALTIES
10231023 Sec. 2005.301. CRIMINAL PENALTIES. (a) A person commits an
10241024 offense if the person knowingly offers or engages in sports
10251025 wagering in violation of this chapter. An offense under this
10261026 subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.
10271027 (b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
10281028 attempts to suborn, collude, or otherwise conspire to impermissibly
10291029 influence the outcome of any competition or aspect of any
10301030 competition that is the subject of sports wagering under this
10311031 chapter. An offense under this subsection is a state jail felony.
10321032 (c) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or
10331033 willfully falsifies, conceals, or misrepresents a material fact or
10341034 knowingly or willfully makes a false, fictitious, or fraudulent
10351035 statement or representation in any application under Section
10361036 2005.101 or Section 2005.102. An offense under this section is a
10371037 state jail felony.
10381038 Sec. 2005.302. CIVIL PENALTIES. If the commission
10391039 determines that a permit holder has intentionally violated any
10401040 material provision of this chapter or a rule adopted by the
10411041 commission under this chapter, the commission, after providing at
10421042 least 15 days notice and a hearing, may:
10431043 (1) suspend or revoke the permit holder's permit; and
10441044 (2) impose a monetary penalty not to exceed $10,000
10451045 for each violation.
10461046 SECTION 3. Section 47.01, Penal Code, is amended by
10471047 amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as
10481048 follows:
10491049 (1) "Bet" means an agreement to win or lose something
10501050 of value solely or partially by chance. A bet does not include:
10511051 (A) contracts of indemnity or guaranty, or life,
10521052 health, property, or accident insurance;
10531053 (B) an offer of a prize, award, or compensation
10541054 to the actual contestants or participants in a bona fide contest for
10551055 the determination of skill, speed, strength, or endurance or to the
10561056 owners of animals, vehicles, watercraft, or aircraft entered in a
10571057 contest; [or]
10581058 (C) an offer of merchandise, with a value not
10591059 greater than $25, made by the proprietor of a bona fide carnival
10601060 contest conducted at a carnival sponsored by a nonprofit religious,
10611061 fraternal, school, law enforcement, youth, agricultural, or civic
10621062 group, including any nonprofit agricultural or civic group
10631063 incorporated by the state before 1955, if the person to receive the
10641064 merchandise from the proprietor is the person who performs the
10651065 carnival contest; or
10661066 (D) an offer of a prize, award, or compensation
10671067 to the participants in a fantasy or simulated sports game or
10681068 contest.
10691069 (2-a) "Fantasy or simulated sports game or contest"
10701070 means a bona fide contest, reflecting the knowledge and skill of the
10711071 participants, in which:
10721072 (A) participants assemble a fictional sports
10731073 team composed of actual professional or amateur athletes to compete
10741074 against other fictional sports teams assembled by other
10751075 participants for a prize, award, or compensation;
10761076 (B) the value of any prize, award, or
10771077 compensation is established in advance of the beginning of the game
10781078 or contest;
10791079 (C) the outcome of the game or contest is
10801080 determined by the accumulated statistical performances of the
10811081 individual athletes on a participant's fictional sports team; and
10821082 (D) the outcome of the game or contest is not
10831083 based solely on the score, point spread, or performance of a single
10841084 professional or amateur team or athlete.
10851085 SECTION 4. Section 47.02(c), Penal Code, is amended to read
10861086 as follows:
10871087 (c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
10881088 the actor reasonably believed that the conduct:
10891089 (1) was permitted under Chapter 2001, Occupations
10901090 Code;
10911091 (2) was permitted under Chapter 2002, Occupations
10921092 Code;
10931093 (3) was permitted under Chapter 2004, Occupations
10941094 Code;
10951095 (4) was permitted under Chapter 2005, Occupations
10961096 Code;
10971097 (5) consisted entirely of participation in the state
10981098 lottery authorized by the State Lottery Act (Chapter 466,
10991099 Government Code);
11001100 (6) [(5)] was permitted under Subtitle A-1, Title 13,
11011101 Occupations Code (Texas Racing Act); or
11021102 (7) [(6)] consisted entirely of participation in a
11031103 drawing for the opportunity to participate in a hunting, fishing,
11041104 or other recreational event conducted by the Parks and Wildlife
11051105 Department.
11061106 SECTION 5. Section 47.09(a), Penal Code, is amended to read
11071107 as follows:
11081108 (a) It is a defense to prosecution under this chapter that
11091109 the conduct:
11101110 (1) was authorized under:
11111111 (A) Chapter 2001, Occupations Code;
11121112 (B) Chapter 2002, Occupations Code;
11131113 (C) Chapter 2004, Occupations Code;
11141114 (D) Chapter 2005, Occupations Code;
11151115 (E) Subtitle A-1, Title 13, Occupations Code
11161116 (Texas Racing Act); or
11171117 (F) [(E)] Chapter 280, Finance Code;
11181118 (2) consisted entirely of participation in the state
11191119 lottery authorized by Chapter 466, Government Code; or
11201120 (3) was a necessary incident to the operation of the
11211121 state lottery and was directly or indirectly authorized by:
11221122 (A) Chapter 466, Government Code;
11231123 (B) the lottery division of the Texas Lottery
11241124 Commission;
11251125 (C) the Texas Lottery Commission; or
11261126 (D) the director of the lottery division of the
11271127 Texas Lottery Commission.
11281128 SECTION 6. Not later than the 90th day after the effective
11291129 date of this Act, the Texas Commission on Licensing and Regulation
11301130 shall publish applications and adopt rules allowing for the
11311131 submission of applications for interactive sports wagering
11321132 permits, service provider permits, and retail permits. The initial
11331133 application period shall close 45 days after the publication of the
11341134 application and adoption of rules. The commission shall complete
11351135 the review of all applications received and award interactive
11361136 sports wagering permits, service provider permits, and retail
11371137 permits not later than the 30th day after the close of the initial
11381138 application period. Additional available permits may be issued on a
11391139 rolling basis thereafter.
11401140 SECTION 7. The change in law made by this Act applies only
11411141 to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
11421142 An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
11431143 governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
11441144 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
11451145 purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
11461146 effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
11471147 before that date.
11481148 SECTION 8. This Act takes effect January 1, 2022, but only
11491149 if the constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to
11501150 legalize sports wagering in this state is approved by the voters. If
11511151 that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no
11521152 effect.