Texas Gambling Hopes Take Potential Hit After Hinojosa Elected to Senate

Bringing commercial casinos or sportsbooks to Texas could be more difficult after another Republican was elected to the state Senate.

Ryan Butler - Senior News Analyst at Covers.com
Ryan Butler • Senior News Analyst
Nov 6, 2024 • 12:38 ET • 4 min read
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Texas voters elected Republican Adam Hinojosa to the state Senate in a potential blow to the state’s casino gambling and sports betting legalization prospects.

Hinojosa’s election means 20 GOP senators will take office in next year’s legislative session compared to 11 Democrats. The increased Republican majority could make passing the state’s first-ever commercial casino gaming legislation more difficult.

Hinojosa defeated incumbent Democrat Morgan LaMantia, winning with 49.4% of the vote to LaMantia's 48.3%. Another 2.3% voted for third party candidates. It was the only competitive race among the 15 Senate seats on the ballot in this year’s election cycle.

Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who in his position controls day-to-day Senate dealings, has blocked gambling legislation from reaching a vote on the Senate floor. He has said that he wouldn’t consider bringing up such a bill unless he has majority support from the Republican Senate caucus.

Hinojosa’s election means the number of GOP supporters required to meet Patrick’s demands has increased from 10 to 11.

Hinojosa has not announced publicly a stance on gambling but has campaigned on traditional family and conservative values. A business owner, Hinojosa has never held elective office but his campaign positions make it seem unlikely he will back gambling legalization.

Casino backers, led by Las Vegas Sands, remain bullish they can flip GOP senators, vowing to keep trying until they get support. Democrats in the Senate as well as the House have been more inclined to back gambling, making Republican opposition the largest stumbling block.

The House backed a bipartisan gambling expansion proposal in Texas’ most recent legislative session only to see it stalled in the Senate.

A Sands-backed study shows Texans overwhelmingly back a proposal to put casino gambling legalization on an upcoming ballot. Texans are estimated to spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year at casinos in bordering states, including Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Trump win could prove indirect boost

The presidential race could, inadvertently, boost gambling’s legalization odds.

Donald Trump’s win could lead to Patrick leaving his office. Though Trump has made few specific public statements about potential cabinet or other high-level federal officials, Patrick has been one of his most prominent outspoken supporters. Trump has said loyalty will be the determining factor for staffing positions, something Patrick offers no shortage of.

Incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott has shown little indication he will leave his position or seek higher office. This could further incentivize Patrick to take a federal position.

With Patrick out of the Lt. Gov.’s seat, the single-biggest political block to casino gambling legislation would be gone. The lieutenant governor’s office and state Senate would remain in GOP control, but Republicans in the lower chamber have proved there is support in Austin, even among conservatives, for putting a gambling measure on the ballot.

If Patrick leaves office, Senate President Pro Tempore would lead the chamber until the 2026 gubernatorial elections. Current President Pro Tempore Charles Schwertner has also publicly opposed Texas sports betting and casino gambling. 

Still, the potential exists he could be more amenable to at least bringing such a bill up for a vote, especially if he has GOP support.

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Ryan Butler - Covers
Senior News Analyst

Ryan is a Senior Editor at Covers reporting on gaming industry legislative, regulatory, corporate, and financial news. He has reported on gaming since the Supreme Court struck down the federal sports wagering ban in 2018. His work has been cited by the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, and dozens of other publications. He is a frequent guest on podcasts, radio programs, and television shows across the US. Based in Tampa, Ryan graduated from the University of Florida with a major in Journalism and a minor in Sport Management. The Associated Press Sports Editors Association recognized him for his coverage of the 2019 Colorado sports betting ballot referendum as well as his contributions to a first-anniversary retrospective on the aftermath of the federal wagering ban repeal. Before reporting on gaming, Ryan was a sports and political journalist in Florida and Virginia. He covered Vice Presidential nominee Tim Kaine and the rest of the Virginia Congressional delegation during the 2016 election cycle. He also worked as Sports Editor of the Chiefland (Fla.) Citizen and Digital Editor for the Sarasota (Fla.) Observer.

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