Texas Gambling Legalization Faces Uphill Fight After Political Setbacks
The prospect of expanded gambling in Texas currently faces significant obstacles, despite massive financial investment by pro-gambling interests. Recent legislative and electoral defeats signal that proponents are struggling to gain a foothold against entrenched political opposition, particularly in the State Senate. Texas maintains some of the nation’s most restrictive gambling laws.
Political Failures Undercut Financial Power
The pro-gambling movement suffered its latest defeat in the special election for Senate District 9 (SD 9). Republican candidate John Huffman failed to advance to the runoff, securing only 16% of the vote and placing third. Huffman, the former mayor of Southlake, was the most heavily funded candidate in the race.
This loss follows a legislative failure earlier in the 2025 session. A sports betting bill, which had gained narrow approval in the Texas House of Representatives in 2023, could not pass out of committee this year.
The primary obstacle remains the Texas Senate, led by the openly anti-gambling Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. The SD 9 special election winner, Leigh Wambsganss, opposed casino legalization, a stance that aligned with Patrick and earned his political support. This suggests the Senate remains an almost impenetrable barrier for legalization advocates.
Las Vegas Sands’ Massive Financial Push
Casino interests, spearheaded by powerful donor Miriam Adelson and the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, continue to deploy vast sums of money across Texas races.
Huffman received approximately $3.5 million in direct and in-kind political spending from Adelson and Las Vegas Sands. Despite this massive investment, Huffman focused his campaign on issues like property tax relief and public safety, not gambling legalization.
Casino-aligned Political Action Committees (PACs) retain substantial reserves for future contests:
- Texas Sands PAC ended October 2025 with over $8 million in cash, following a $9.1 million donation from Adelson in June.
- Texas Defense PAC, formed in May 2024, received a fresh injection of $9.1 million from Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
In the 2024 election cycle alone, these two casino PACs spent roughly $7.2 million, supporting over 90 legislative campaigns in a wide-ranging effort to elect sympathetic lawmakers. The continued funding prepares for another offensive to back pro-gambling candidates in 2026.
Moral Opposition and Legal Requirements
Beyond political resistance, conservative lawmakers are leveraging moral arguments against expansion. They have cited recent indictments related to an NBA gambling scheme as evidence of the moral decay caused by gambling. Furthermore, the Texas Lottery Commission was dissolved earlier this year due to internal issues, adding to the regulatory concerns.
Despite the political hurdles, legalization proponents cite strong support elsewhere. Legalizing gambling would require a constitutional amendment, which necessitates a direct voter referendum. Public polling indicates strong popular support for both casino and sports betting legalization. Business interests, including the Texas Association of Business (TAB), also support the effort. Glenn Hamer, president of TAB, confirmed the organization will continue working, stating, “the politics are very strong, and public support is very strong.”
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