A Texas House committee advanced the two main proposals to expand gambling in the state Monday, giving them a burst of momentum even as they continue to face long odds in the Senate.

The movement represents more progress than the proposals made last legislative session, when they got hearings in committee but were never voted out. Gaming advocates, including the casino empire Las Vegas Sands, have been targeting Texas as their next frontier for two sessions in a row now.

Without discussion, the House State Affairs Committee approved legislation Monday afternoon that would let voters decide whether to legalize casinos and online sports betting in Texas.