Texas Elections Clear a Path for Gambling Legislation

In Texas's midterm elections, Democrat Vikki Goodwin surprisingly defeated Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who had long held the post. Patrick had blocked many efforts to expand gambling on moral and social grounds. Goodwin, for her part, has clearly stated that she supports leaving the issue to a public vote.

There was also a surprise in the governor's race. Incoming governor Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott, who had been in office for a long time. Hinojosa voted against gambling proposals in 2023. The Legislature still needs wide bipartisan support to put gambling to a public referendum.

Las Vegas Sands has spent tens of millions of dollars over the years trying to bring a casino resort to Texas. Several candidates backed by company-linked political committees lost in the primaries earlier this year. Even so, the change in leadership could mean a more favorable picture for the company.

In the past, Patrick's opposition made it nearly impossible for gambling legislation to advance in the Senate. The House approved a constitutional amendment on sports betting in 2023, but a separate casino proposal failed to secure the necessary votes. Neither proposal advanced in the Senate, and an attempt in 2025 also went nowhere. Patrick argued that there was no Republican support in the Senate and that, since Republicans were in the minority, no bill would pass the Senate. In an interview with FOX 7 Austin in September 2025, however, he said that Texans should be able to vote on casino and online sports betting.