Texas is one of the last major U.S. markets without legal sports betting, and the opportunity for change is slipping further out of reach. Despite growing public support and pressure from major sports franchises and national operators, the state’s path to regulation has become defined less by policy debate and more by political rivalry at the top of the Republican Party.
A state with high demand but no clear path forward
Polls consistently show that a majority of Texans would support regulated sports betting. Millions already find ways to bet by crossing into Louisiana and Arkansas, using offshore sportsbooks, or playing daily fantasy leagues that under Texas law, remain legal. With a population of 30 million and one of the largest state economies in the world, lawmakers know the potential tax revenue runs into the billions.
Governor Greg Abbott has signaled openness to online sports betting, acknowledging that Texans already wager on offshore markets and that keeping the activity unregulated serves no one. That shift was welcomed by the state’s professional sports teams and the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, which includes the Cowboys, Astros and Spurs. But Abbott’s support has not changed the political situation within the state.
Dan Patrick remains the immovable barrier
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick holds the authority that ultimately defines the outcome. In Texas, the lieutenant governor controls the Senate agenda, deciding which bills receive hearings and determines which committees work on the legislation.
Patrick has made it clear that gambling expansion will not advance as long as Republican support in the chamber remains weak. His reelection bid for another four-year term reinforces that stance. Even as lobbying efforts intensify, Patrick continues to argue that the votes simply do not exist, and he will not move bills that divide his party.
Patrick’s influence stretches beyond personal ideology. Many newly elected Republican lawmakers oppose gambling legislation, and the state GOP platform explicitly rejects casino or sports betting expansion. In 2025, efforts stalled even earlier than in previous cycles, with bills failing to secure committee hearings in either chamber.
Internal power struggle overshadows policy
The political tension between Abbott and Patrick has grown increasingly visible. Both are expected to compete for influence within the party ahead of next year’s elections. Both maintain strong ties to supporters of President Donald Trump. And both want to shape the future direction of the Republican base.
Sports betting has become a proxy for that struggle. If Abbott supports regulation but Patrick gatekeepers the legislation, the issue turns into a test of internal strength rather than a debate on economic opportunity.
That dynamic resembles earlier fights in California, where tribes and commercial operators clashed over market control. But in Texas the bottleneck is not industry competition, it is a political firewall.
No meaningful change until 2027 at the earliest
Because the Legislature meets only in odd-numbered years, the next realistic window for sports betting legislation is 2027. Even then, nothing will change unless Senate Republicans soften their opposition.
In the meantime, Texans will continue turning to DFS platforms and out-of-state sportsbooks. Billions in potential tax revenue will remain unclaimed. And one of America’s biggest sports markets will remain closed, not because of a lack of interest, but because of a long-running political standoff.
References
- Texas Legislature: Bill History and Session Calendars – https://capitol.texas.gov/
- Office of the Governor of Texas: Public Statements and Press Briefings – https://gov.texas.gov/
- Office of the Lieutenant Governor: Senate Authority and Committee Structure – https://ltgov.texas.gov/
- Texas Republican Party Platform – https://texasgop.org/platform/
- Daily Fantasy Sports Legal Status: National Council on Problem Gambling – https://www.ncpgambling.org/
