The move by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to pursue another four-year term appears poised to extend the deadlock surrounding casino gambling and sports betting, as Republican leaders indicate a lack of interest in relaxing the state’s stringent gambling regulations.
Patrick, who has the authority to determine which bills are presented in the Senate, has maintained that there isn’t adequate Republican backing for expanding gambling. The GOP-led Senate has consistently opposed such proposals, citing moral concerns and scrutiny over regulation, especially due to previous issues with the state lottery.
“It feels like groundhog day,” remarked Mike Lavigne, a gambling consultant based in Austin. “The circumstance remains the same,” as reported by The Dallas Morning News.
Initiatives to broaden gambling options faced setbacks during the 2025 legislative session. Proposed amendments for casino and sports betting for voter consideration were not even granted hearings, which undermined the progress made in 2023 when the House voted 101-42 in favor of sports betting and showed 92-51 support for a casino measure that fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority.
The Texas Sports Betting Alliance, a group comprising online operators and twelve professional sports teams, conveys cautious hope. “We anticipate collaborating with the Lt. Governor and a transforming Texas Senate regarding this matter in the next legislative session,” spokesperson Karina Kling stated. “Even though he has shared reservations about sports betting previously, we are optimistic that increasing support among Texans will enable productive discussions on this topic to continue.”
However, significant opposition persists. State Rep. Matt Shaheen, a Republican from Prosper, asserted: “We intend to ensure it remains dead, buried six feet under.”
Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, dismissed the notion of gambling expansion with a tearful laughing emoji.
Lavigne opined that Patrick’s influence is overstated. “If I were with the Sands Corporation, I would focus on tallying my Senate votes rather than worrying about Dan Patrick,” he expressed. “Patrick is not as significant a hurdle as the rest of the Senate. If they had the votes, he’d be irrelevant.”
The prospects in the House appear bleak as well. New Speaker Dustin Burrows has shown minimal interest in gambling issues, and most of the 26 Republican newcomers are either against it or preoccupied with different priorities. The Texas GOP platform continues to reject any form of “gambling expansion, including legalized casino gambling.”