Could Texas Sports Betting See Boost From Casino PAC?


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Texas sports betting

A new PAC ad campaign could signal positive momentum for Texas sports betting, but a familiar foe is holding strong. 

The Texas Destination Resort Alliance is running ads asking Lone Star State lawmakers to allow voters their say on destination resorts, according to KVUE. The ads come as discussions for casino gambling and online Texas sports betting heat up.

Casino legislation failed in the House in 2023, while online sports betting passed the chamber. The Senate, however, acted as a roadblock, and that roadblock remains in place this year. 

Texas resort PAC

Las Vegas Sands funds the Texas Destination Resort Alliance, a PAC that launched in 2021

Miriam Adelson, the Sands casino magnate, purchased a majority share of the Dallas Mavericks in 2023. Adelson funneled more than $14 million into Texas politics in 2024

Along with Adelson, other Texas billionaires like Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones are eager to see destination resorts in Texas

Texas sports betting outlook

While the billionaires are focused on casino resorts, the sports betting industry focuses on the Lone Star State. A report last year estimated that if legalized, it could be the largest market in the US

This year, the House again looks friendly to the issue. A bipartisan effort in the House could also help sway some Republican senators in the unfriendly upper chamber.

Still, Texans continue to attempt to access legal sportsbooks in other states. GeoComply tracked 333,458 active accounts during the NFL betting season, a 56% year-over-year increase.

Senate remains anti-gambling

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick continues to tout that gambling does not have support in the Senate. He runs the chamber, deciding what gets brought to the floor. 

Patrick told media in November that gambling was not on the top-20 list for any senator. He also said the strong Democratic support for gambling bills will not play in a “red, conservative state.”

Patrick is also critical of the casino money coming into the state, telling KVUE’s Y’all-itics that casino backers have not worked the vote beyond dumping money into the state. 

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