And last month, House Speaker
And last month, House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, told reporters that he’s open to bringing resort-style casinos to Texas. Phelan explained that he doesn’t want to see slot machines inside convenience stores. The biggest roadblock is still Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate and could single-handedly quash any attempts to pass gambling. Geren, in a phone interview , said he has not spoken with Patrick about gambling. In December, Patrick told Austin’s KXAN-TV that he didn’t “see any movement on it.” Patrick’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.