Likely no change in gambling laws in Texas as Senate leader prioritizes re-election campaign
In the Lone Star State, hopes for the liberalization of gambling laws have faced a series of setbacks over the past few years. This is particularly evident in the case of sports betting, a constitutional amendment for which was approved by the Texas House in 2023 but failed to receive a hearing in the Senate.
The current Lieutenant Governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, has been a significant block to any progress in this area due to his refusal to allow bills featuring gambling, pushed by Democrats, to reach the Senate. This stance has been consistent under his leadership, with plans to liberalize Texas's gambling laws petering out with little success.
By 2025, gambling bills failed to even achieve a hearing in the House. The next election for the Lieutenant Governor of Texas is not scheduled for that year, with the last held in 2022. Despite this, any hopes that a change in leadership may present new opportunities for legalized gambling in Texas look set to be dashed by Dan Patrick's reelection bid.
Against any potential Democratic challengers, Dan Patrick would be a heavy favorite to win any election. State Republicans have no plans to launch any bills of their own on gambling, and other incoming senators and representatives are unlikely to back the move for gambling.
However, not everyone has given up on the prospect of meaningful conversations about expanding sports betting. Mike Lavigne, an Austin-based gambling consultant, described the situation as "Groundhog Day," implying no change. Yet, Lavigne also highlighted other roadblocks ahead for gambling legislation beyond the Senate leader.
Karina Kling, a spokesperson for the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, expressed optimism about working with Dan Patrick and a changing Texas Senate on the issue next legislative session. Kling believes that with growing support among Texans, progress can be made.
Despite the current deadlock, it's worth noting that if the Senate had the necessary votes for gambling legislation, Dan Patrick would not be a significant problem. However, with his reelection bid, the status quo seems likely to persist for the foreseeable future.
In the meantime, the deadlock on gambling legislation looks set to continue, with the focus shifting to other legislative matters in Texas and other states like Alabama, where elections in 2025 pertain to legislative chambers, not Texas.
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