As Texas lawmakers began Tuesday to educate themselves about prediction markets — in particular, sports and election contracts — it was clear what at least one senator thinks of allowing them in Texas.
“That’s kind of like we’re going to give you some drugs so when we cut your throat, it won’t hurt so much,” Sen. Bob Hall said during a hearing held by the Senate State Affairs Committee. “Our job is to protect the consumer, this is not anti-business in any way at all, it’s an evil business that hurts people and … our job is to protect the people from predators, and the gambling industry across the board is a predator.
