Texas Plans New Laws on Crypto, Betting and AI

Texas Lieutenant Governor Sets Legislative Agenda Focused on Emerging Tech and Betting Loopholes

Prediction Markets & Gambling
The lieutenant governor has forwarded a list of topics to Senate committees for the upcoming session.
He urges lawmakers to examine how prediction markets—online platforms where people bet on future events—could be exploited for gambling that sidesteps Texas’s strict betting laws.
Currently, Texas permits casino gambling only on Native American reservations and operates a state lottery. The governor wants to close loopholes that allow unregulated betting.
Digital Currency & Blockchain Regulation
A key priority is the oversight of digital currencies and blockchain technology.
The governor requests a review of Texas’s alignment with federal crypto guidelines and the proliferation of cryptocurrency kiosks statewide.
This follows recent legislation establishing a Bitcoin reserve in Texas.

Artificial Intelligence & Workforce Impact
The agenda includes an examination of AI’s effects on the state’s labor market.
This comes after a major tech company announced plans to build a multi‑billion dollar data center in Texas for an AI startup.
The move signals a shift among U.S. mining firms toward high‑performance computing as cryptocurrency profits wane.
Session Timing & Political Context
Texas’s legislature convenes biennially; the next session is scheduled for January 2027.
The proposed charges aim to align new regulations with the state’s conservative majority while addressing emerging technology challenges.