I’ve covered the Texas Legislature’s tortured relationship with gambling for years, and I can tell you that the 2027 session, which begins in January, will feel different. For the first time in a decade, the man who served as the legislative graveyard for every casino and sports betting bill is gone.
The biggest story out of Tuesday’s election isn’t just that Democrats swept statewide offices. It’s that Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the Senate’s staunchest gambling opponent, lost his seat to Democrat Vikki Goodwin. As lieutenant governor, Patrick controlled what reached the Senate floor. He personally blocked sports betting measures that had already passed the House in 2023. His departure removes the 500-foot razor-wire fence that pro-gaming forces could never clear.
Here are the key highlights:
- The Patrick Factor: Goodwin supports letting Texans vote on gambling. She replaces a lieutenant governor who refused to bring bills up for a vote.
- The Math Problem Remains: Democrats flipped the House, but Republicans still hold the Senate. A constitutional amendment requires two-thirds approval in both chambers (21 Senate votes) plus a statewide vote.
- The Money Is Still Circling: Las Vegas Sands, owned by Miriam Adelson, has spent millions trying to build a Dallas casino. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also endorsed legalized sports betting this week, saying “it is a plus in my mind”.
I’m not popping champagne yet. Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa voted against a gambling amendment in 2023, and Senate Republicans could rewrite rules to strip Goodwin’s power over committee assignments. But the single greatest bottleneck is gone. When the 2027 session opens, a pro-gaming bill will get a fair hearing for the first time. That alone is a seismic shift.
