Texas lawmakers will enter the legislative session this week with an estimated $112.5 billion available to allocate for general-purpose spending in the next two-year state budget, a number that’s down slightly from the current budget but is significantly higher than what was estimated this summer when the coronavirus began to devastate the economy.

“Comptroller Hegar’s revenue estimate this morning offers both bad and good news. The pandemic and the associated impact on state revenues means Texas faces budget challenges at the very time Texans may need government help more than ever;

Representatives and senators will be on the floor, flanked by staff members. Members of the public and advocates will pack committee rooms waiting to testify. Reporters will be staked out chronicling the news.

When a big political player comes waltzing into Texas spending big money from out of state, it’s usually a good sign that he wants something from lawmakers. So when Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, spent $4.5 million to help Republicans keep control of the Texas House in 2020, heads turned.

Is Texas a serious candidate to join the ranks among legal sports betting states in the U.S.? Hard to say for sure, but Las Vegas Sands billionaire Sheldon Adelson is making a play for expanded legal casino gaming in the state — and sports betting would likely be a part of that.