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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the licensing and regulation of sports betting web |
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sites, providing penalties; requiring a license; allowing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 2502, Occupations Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 2502.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "License" means a license, certificate, registration, |
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permit, or other authorization that: |
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(A) is issued by a licensing authority; and |
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(B) a person or entity must obtain to practice or |
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engage in a particular business, occupation, or profession. |
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(2) "Department" means the Texas Department of Licensing |
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and Regulation. |
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(3) "Sports betting website" means an internet website that |
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allows a user to make through use of the website a bet on the outcome |
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of a sporting event or participation in a competition based on the |
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performance of the players in a sporting event or series of sporting |
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events. |
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Sec. 2502.002. OPERATING SPORTS BETTING WEBSITE; LICENSE |
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REQUIRED. (a) A person or entity must obtain a license issued by |
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the department annually, if the person or entity operates a sports |
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betting website. |
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(b) The department shall adopt rules for the licensing of |
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sports betting websites including charging a license fee. |
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2502.003. OPERATING SPORTS BETTING WEBSITE WITHOUT A |
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LICENSE; OFFENSE. (a) Unless licensed under Section 2502.002, a |
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person or entity commits an offense under Section 47.02(a)(1), |
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Penal Code. |
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(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class A |
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misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |