Texas Casino Legalization Still Stalled After Primary Results

Casino gambling proposals in Texas continue to face resistance in the state Legislature after the latest election cycle. Several Republican lawmakers who oppose gambling secured primary victories, limiting momentum for casino legalization efforts backed by Las Vegas Sands.

Good to Know

• Texas casino legalization efforts remain stalled after primary election results.
• Candidates backed by Las Vegas Sands failed to defeat several anti gambling lawmakers.
• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick continues to oppose gambling legislation in the Senate.

Primary elections kept several gambling opponents in office. Republican state representatives David Lowe, Terri Leo Wilson, Mark Dorazio, and Andy Hopper all defeated challengers supported by Las Vegas Sands.

Cheryl Bean, an anti gambling activist, also won the Republican nomination in the House District 94 race in Tarrant County. Her opponents received backing from Texas Sands PAC and Texas Defense PAC, groups financed by the casino company.

Political resistance inside the Legislature has slowed gambling reform for several years. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick continues to oppose legalization and has said the Senate would not consider gambling legislation during recent sessions.

A sports betting bill cleared the Texas House during 2023 but stalled in the Senate. During the 2025 session, neither sports betting nor casino legislation advanced.

Patrick secured the Republican nomination for another term as lieutenant governor, reinforcing expectations that the current legislative gridlock will continue.

“If the prize is destination resort casinos in Texas, Las Vegas Sands is now further away from it in 2026 than they were in 2023,” said Mark Jones, a political science fellow at Rice University.

Las Vegas Sands has invested heavily in Texas politics while pursuing casino approval. Miriam Adelson donated $9 million to Texas Sands PAC and another $9 million to Texas Defense PAC last year.

Despite that spending, several candidates supported by the PACs lost their races.

Kyle Morris received $140,000 from Texas Sands PAC while challenging Lowe but lost by more than 27 percentage points. Nathan Watkins, who ran against Leo Wilson, received $110,000 from the PAC and lost by roughly 25 points.

Even with setbacks, Sands officials say the company will continue supporting candidates who favor legalization.

“The long game matters,” read a statement from Texas Sands PAC. “And Texas Sands PAC is playing to win.”

“Our mission remains unchanged: trust Texas voters,” Andy Abboud, senior vice president of government relations for Sands, said in a statement. “We have and will continue to support candidates who are committed to a business-friendly environment that keeps the Texas economy strong, competitive, and growing.”

Political analysts say the potential value of casino gambling in Texas continues to attract investment from the industry.

“There’s enough to gain that they’ll continue to spend,” said Matthew Wilson, an associate professor of political science at Southern Methodist University. “If Texas does at some point open up to casino gambling, there will be an enormous amount of money to be made here in the state.”

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