Texas Governor Abbott Reaffirms Hesitation On Casino Gambling

Texas politics rarely slow down, and the Eye on Politics interview in Fort Worth added another layer to the ongoing casino conversation. Governor Greg Abbott sat down with CBS News Texas reporter Jack Fink and delivered a message that left little doubt about where he stands on casino legalization right now.

Good to Know

• Abbott repeated that he does not support a constitutional amendment to allow casino gambling.
• His concerns center on addiction, sports integrity and cultural impact.
• He separated casino debates from property tax reform, treating them as entirely different discussions.

Abbott Reasserts Doubts About Casino Gambling In Texas

Fink pressed Abbott early in the conversation, asking directly if he supports revising the Texas Constitution to allow casino gambling. Abbott answered in a way that left no room for interpretation.

“I’m not there yet. I’m simply not there yet,” he told CBS News Texas.

He did not attach a condition, hint at future reconsideration, or soften the stance. The repetition added weight, showing that he is not ready to endorse what major gaming groups have pushed in recent sessions.

When asked why he continues to hold back support, Abbott pointed to risks that he believes accompany gaming expansion. He said:

“Because we’ve seen increasingly problems that go along with gaming. Whether it be addiction or whether it be things that are happening in sporting events and athletes who are on the take. And so, there have been more red flags raised. That caused us to have to pause, step back, take a look at this and make sure that we wouldn’t do anything that would be harmful, either to the people of the state of Texas, the culture that we have in the state, or to sporting events that we have in the state.”

His answer tied casino growth to three core concerns: addiction among Texans, the integrity of sports, and the broader cultural identity of the state. His reference to “athletes who are on the take” connected the gaming debate with national issues surrounding sports wagering and integrity systems.

The conversation eventually turned to previously discussed resort proposals in Austin, where lawmakers had floated the idea of a limited number of high-end destinations in major metros like Dallas and Houston. Abbott did not dismiss those models outright and acknowledged that legislators may revisit them. He stressed, though, that a constitutional amendment must come first, and he is not prepared to support that fundamental step.

Throughout the interview, Abbott spoke more extensively about property taxes than casinos. He called restructuring of school property taxes a central project and said Texas can reform education funding without increasing other taxes. He never linked casino gambling to revenue generation, even though industry supporters often frame it as part of a broader fiscal package. For Abbott, the two subjects remain unrelated tracks.

His remarks also reflect the challenges casino advocates continue to face. Even as operators and business groups promote resort casinos as tools for employment, tourism and long-term investment, strong conservative factions still object on moral and cultural grounds. Abbott highlighted addiction, sports ethics and the cultural character of Texas, aligning with those who prefer a cautious approach.

The interview showed that casinos are no longer tucked away in small legislative conversations. The topic now appears in prime political interviews next to redistricting, statewide races and school funding. Abbott did not say casinos are inherently incompatible with Texas values, nor did he shut the conversation down. Instead, he returned several times to the idea that Texas must ensure it “wouldn’t do anything that would be harmful” before advancing any gaming proposal.

For the national gaming world, the message is straightforward. Texas remains an enormous potential market, but Abbott highlighted “more red flags,” concerns about addiction and risks in sports. These phrases reflect a high bar that casino proposals must clear before gaining serious traction in Austin.

By the end of the conversation, he repeated the line that shaped the entire interview. He said:

“I’m not there yet. I’m simply not there yet.”

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