Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's Exit Could Open Texas Sports Betting

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Texas Election Results Could Open the Door to Gambling Legislation

Texas election results could have major implications for gambling legislation following Dan Patrick’s defeat. Democrats swept the lieutenant governor, governor, attorney general, and U.S. Senate races.

The lieutenant governor plays an important role in determining what receives a vote in the Texas Legislature. Patrick consistently opposed votes on legalizing casinos, sports gambling, and daily fantasy sports. His departure creates a possibility that lawmakers could now consider those issues.

Texas residents already travel to neighboring Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico to gamble. Dallas-area residents often cross into Oklahoma, while people in Houston can drive to Louisiana. Significant gambling also takes place within Texas through poker rooms and an underground market.

The change could also affect plans involving the Adelson family and the Dallas Mavericks. The family has been a major Republican donor and owns the Mavericks after purchasing the team from Mark Cuban. There has long been speculation about a Sands-owned casino connected to a new Mavericks arena and practice facility in Dallas.

Patrick was viewed as the primary obstacle to those plans. There were also rumors that the Mavericks could move to Las Vegas if Texas failed to approve casinos or facilitate a new building. Another rumor suggested the NBA had delayed officially awarding a Las Vegas expansion team while waiting to see what happened in the Texas election.

Under that scenario, Patrick’s defeat could allow the Adelson family to push casino gambling onto the legislative docket. If voters and lawmakers approved it, the ownership group could pursue a new facility with an attached casino and potentially keep more gambling money in Dallas rather than losing it to Oklahoma.

Patrick’s replacement, Vicky Goodwin, has said she would leave the gambling decision to voters. That could mean placing the issue on the ballot and allowing Texans to decide whether to legalize it, although it remains uncertain whether that will happen.