Texas Gambling Vote Could Come, Says New Lieutenant Governor

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Author Jon Young | Published at November 14, 2026
Texas gambling could be given a public vote according to the new lieutenant governor.
General view of the downtown Austin skyline and the Texas State Capitol building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

A public vote on legalizing gambling in Texas could be on the horizon, according to the state’s new Lt. Gov-elect, Vikki Goodwin.

Last week, Goodwin became the first Democratic lieutenant governor to preside over the Texas Senate race since 1998. She was quizzed on proposals for the next two years, which could include a public vote on legalizing gambling.

Texas has some of the strictest online gambling laws in the U.S. Repeated attempts to regulate sports betting and online casinos have so far failed. However, with a mass changing of the guard in the midterms, everything is now on the table.

The comments come amidst a new push by lawmakers to shift the narrative on legal gambling in Texas. With the Texas legislature in transition, lawmakers are moving fast on a range of betting-related bills.

Schools First but Gambling an Issue

Vikki Goodwin sat down with local station KSAT this week to chat about her plans once she assumes the lieutenant governor position.

At the top of the priorities pile are more support for schools, Medicaid expansion, and THC regulation.

However, the future of online gambling in Texas could come up during her tenure.

Goodwin, for now, is on the fence, stating she was “not for or against” gambling regulation. Her preference, she added, was “to put it up to a vote of Texans.”

“If we need to put some regulation in place,” Goodwin added, then she “looked forward to working with senators” to get it done.

Texas Gambling: A History of Failed Attempts

Brick-and-Mortar Casinos First?

The future of legalized gambling in Texas could start with brick-and-mortar casinos before anything is decided for online sportsbooks and casinos.

State Rep. Charlie Geren filed House Joint Resolution 52 on Monday. It would permit a constitutional amendment in Texas and allow voters the chance to decide whether online gambling should be legalized.

This isn’t Geren’s first rodeo, of course. He has introduced several bills, all of which were shot down in the Senate — thanks in no small part to the presence of outgoing Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. That obstacle has now gone.

Lawmakers aren’t the only ones speaking out in Texas. As the midterm results trickled in, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came out in support of regulated gambling.

Jones appeared on 105.3 The Fan last week to weigh in on the legal Texas gambling debate. He agreed that “everybody should be on the same page” on regulation. Ultimately, he added, “[we’ll] have sports betting in the state of Texas.”

Dan Patrick Had a Say: Will Goodwin?

Outgoing lieutenant governor Dan Patrick was (in)famously against Texas opening its doors to legalized gambling. That even included interference in how the Texas Lottery operated.

Also leaving is Gov. Greg Abbott, who also resisted calls to legalize casinos in the Lone Star State.

Democrat Gina Hinojosa will come in as governor in January. Like Goodwin, Hinojosa prioritized school improvements in her election pitch. And, like Goodwin, the new Texas governor also supports a public vote on whether gambling should be legalized and regulated.

Though the Democrats did well in Texas, they still have a fight ahead of them to pass any future gambling bills. Goodwin will have some legislative power over the Texas Senate. However, the Republicans still hold the Senate, and gambling law changes must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate.

What we do know is that Texas’s most vehemently anti-gambling obstacle has been ousted. How that plays out in the future is unclear.

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