Report: Texas Casino Legalization Faces Long Odds In 2025Senate Opposition Hampers Gambling Legislation Efforts |
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Casino legalization has been a hot topic in Texas of late, but that may not be in the immediate future, according to recent reports. After legislative efforts failed over the last two years, some lawmakers don’t see much hope for the next session in 2025.
The issue saw some movement in the House last year, but faced roadblocks in the Senate. Any action on casino legalization will now have to come from that body, one representative recently told the Dallas Morning News.
“Based on what happened last session, I believe it’s generally understood that unless and until there is real movement and momentum in the Senate next session — meaning the Senate actually taking up and considering the issue — there is likely not going to be any meaningful action on it in the Texas House,” Republican Rep. Jeff Leach said.
Issue Remains A Longshot
The casino issue has received more headlines since Mark Cuban sold controlling interest in the Dallas Mavericks to Miriam Adelson, owner of Las Vegas Sands Corp., and her son Patrick Dumont, who serves as the casino company’s president and chief operating officer.
Cuban has long favored building the Mavericks a new arena complex that includes a casino resort. Making that happen would mean getting two-thirds approval in the House and Senate for a casino legalization plan and then putting the issue before Texas voters.
That may be easier said than done as lawmakers haven’t agreed on a plan and getting support in the Republican-controlled legislature has been difficult. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick®, who heads up the Senate, has consistently said that there wasn’t enough support among his party in the legislative body to see a casino proposal pass.
Sands has spent millions of dollars lobbying for legalization in recent years. That now seems like a longshot. Texas Republicans even recently included an opposition to gambling or even accepting donations from gambling-related groups in their state party platform
Backers of casinos look to now be facing a long waiting game. However, poker clubs continue to flourish in the state. High-stakes poker pro Doug Polk recently purchased a second club in San Antonio and plans to make it the largest in the state.
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