While there is a hefty wall in front of any sports betting or casino legislation in Texas, a casino magnate is dumping money into the efforts.
The Dallas Morning News reported last week that Las Vegas Sands owner Miriam Adelson donated nearly $14 million to legislators during the first 10 months of 2024. Ahead of the 2023 session, Adelson contributed $3.3 million.
The Texas Legislature meets in odd years, with the 2025 session beginning Jan. 14. A Texas sports betting bill passed the House in 2023, but signs point to a dead end in the Senate once again.
Eyes on Texas sports betting
A recent industry projection estimates Texas could become the largest sports betting market in the US, reaching an estimated handle of $32.1 billion. With that in mind, gambling proponents have concentrated large resources on the Lone Star State.
While a bill could get through the House again, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, has repeatedly said there is no path for such a bill in 2025.
Still, big names, including Mark Cuban and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, support legalizing sports betting and casinos. Adelson, who purchased a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks from Cuban last year, also supports the move.
Adelson ponies up
According to the Texas Ethics Commission, Adelson’s donations largely went to two political action committees: Texas Sands PAC and Texas Defense PAC.
They then distributed the money to candidates and other PACs. More than $8 million of the funds went to Republican lawmakers, including $200,000 to Patrick. More than $1 million went to House Speaker Dade Phelan.
Patrick, though, still remains a staunch opponent. He recently told local media there is not enough support for the issue and that the Republican Party platform opposes gambling expansion.
“You don’t pass major legislation in a red, conservative state with the Democrats controlling the show, particularly on a major bill like that,” Patrick told WFAA in November. “They’ve come in and spent millions and millions of dollars and they just think that magically it happens. It doesn’t.”
Texas sports betting path
Gambling expansion in Texas requires two-thirds of both the House and the Senate because it requires a constitutional amendment.
Then it would need a majority of Texas voters to weigh in at the polls.
A bill to legalize sports betting in 2023 passed the House with the required 100 votes but did not see action in the Senate.
