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Democratic wins in the Nov. 3 elections have improved the odds that Texas voters will eventually decide whether to legalize online sports betting and casinos. Legalization is still far from guaranteed.
Democrat Vikki Goodwin defeated Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a longtime opponent of gambling expansion. Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseated Gov. Greg Abbott. Democrats also appear to have flipped the Texas House for the first time in more than two decades, according to the Texas Tribune. Republicans kept control of the Senate.
Goodwin ousts Patrick, gambling’s chief opponent
Patrick opposed casinos and sports betting throughout his tenure, and nothing advanced on his watch. The lieutenant governor appoints Senate committees and largely controls which bills reach the floor. Gambling proposals repeatedly stalled there, even after passing the House.
Goodwin supports letting Texans vote on gambling expansion, provided lawmakers set appropriate regulations. But she can’t legalize anything alone. The Tribune reports that Senate Republicans, who appeared to hold a 19-12 majority, are expected to consider rules limiting her powers.
Hinojosa’s gambling stance remains unclear
Hinojosa, a Democratic state representative, is the first Democrat elected Texas governor in more than three decades. She hasn’t outlined a plan for legalizing sports betting or commercial casinos. In 2023, she voted against House Joint Resolution 102, a constitutional amendment authorizing sports wagering. The measure passed the House 101-42 but died in the Senate.
That vote doesn’t necessarily predict her approach to a different proposal. Abbott, who is leaving office, once signaled openness to online sports betting. He later voiced addiction concerns and never made legalization a priority.
Two-thirds rule still looms large
A constitutional amendment needs two-thirds approval in both chambers before voters can weigh in. That means at least 100 of 150 votes in the House and 21 of 31 in the Senate. Governors can’t veto amendments sent to voters, but they can influence negotiations and later legislation. Hinojosa will also be able to designate emergency items early in the session, the Tribune reports.
If current results hold, Democrats would hold 83 House seats to Republicans’ 67. Even if every House Democrat backed an amendment, supporters would need 17 Republicans. In the Senate, they would need at least nine Republican votes, assuming all 12 Democrats supported it.
Gambling hasn’t appeared among House Democrats’ stated early priorities, which include expanding Medicaid and repealing school vouchers. A race for House Speaker is already underway, and the winner will influence which bills advance.
The 2023 effort shows how thin the margins can be. HJR 102 cleared the House with one vote to spare, then stalled in the Senate.
Casino backers eye new attorney general
Democrat Nathan Johnson also won the attorney general’s race. Johnson has supported gambling expansion. The Texas Sands PAC, which has ties to Miriam Adelson, whose family controls Las Vegas Sands, gave his campaign $120,000, according to campaign finance reports.
The attorney general can’t legalize gambling, but the office could shape legal discussions about future regulation.
Industry interest is high because Texas has no legal online sports betting or full-scale commercial casinos. The closest option for online games is social and sweepstakes casinos in Texas.
A 2025 University of Houston poll found 73% support for destination casinos and 60% for online sports betting. Any referendum would still depend on the specific proposal.
2027 session will test new dynamics
The Legislature convenes in January 2027, and lawmakers can begin filing bills as soon as next week, the Tribune reports. The Closing Line notes that Democrats alone don’t guarantee a friendlier climate for legalization, but a new lieutenant governor changes the dynamic. Nebraska voters, meanwhile, rejected online sports betting in the same election.
Whether Texas gets a statewide vote will depend on bipartisan deals over the scope of legalization, regulation, licensing and taxes. Until then, online sports betting and commercial casinos remain unauthorized in Texas.
