Texas casino push hits wall after primary results
- Four anti-gambling Republicans defeat Sands-backed challengers in March primary elections.
- Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick secures nomination for another term, cementing Senate opposition.
- Las Vegas Sands vows to continue campaign despite $9 million in donations failing to shift the political landscape.
Casino legalisation efforts in Texas remain deadlocked following the March primary elections, where several Republican lawmakers who oppose gambling expansion defeated candidates backed by Las Vegas Sands.
Four Republican state representatives who oppose gambling secured primary victories over challengers funded by Miriam Adelson’s casino empire. David Lowe, Terri Leo-Wilson, Mark Dorazio and Andy Hopper all retained their seats despite opposition from Texas Sands PAC and Texas Defense PAC.
Cheryl Bean, an anti-gambling activist, also won the Republican nomination in House District 94 in Tarrant County after defeating opponents supported by the Sands-funded groups.
Political gridlock persists
The results leave casino proponents further from their goal of legalising destination resorts in the state. Political resistance continues to block gambling reform despite multiple legislative attempts in recent years.
Dan Patrick, who leads the Texas Senate, secured the Republican nomination for another term as lieutenant governor. Patrick has consistently opposed gambling legislation and stated during both the 2023 and 2025 sessions that the Senate would not vote on pro-gambling bills.
In 2023, sports betting legislation passed the Texas House but died in the Senate. Neither casino nor sports gambling proposals gained traction during the 2025 session.
Mark Jones, a political science fellow at Rice University, said:
“If the prize is destination resort casinos in Texas, Las Vegas Sands is now further away from it in 2026 than they were in 2023.”
Spending falls short
Las Vegas Sands invested heavily in the primary races through two political action committees. Adelson donated $9 million to Texas Sands PAC and another $9 million to Texas Defense PAC last year.
Kyle Morris received $140,000 from Texas Sands PAC while challenging Lowe but lost by more than 27 percentage points. Nathan Watkins, who ran against Leo-Wilson, received $110,000 from the PAC and lost by roughly 25 points.
Despite the setbacks, Sands officials confirmed the company will continue supporting pro-gambling candidates. In a statement, Texas Sands PAC said:
“The long game matters. And Texas Sands PAC is playing to win.”
Andy Abboud, senior vice president of government relations for Sands, said in a statement:
“Our mission remains unchanged: trust Texas voters. We have and will continue to support candidates who are committed to a business-friendly environment that keeps the Texas economy strong, competitive, and growing.”
Industry remains committed
Political analysts say the potential economic value of legalising casino gambling in Texas justifies continued investment from the industry despite repeated defeats.
Matthew Wilson, an associate professor of political science at Southern Methodist University, said:
“There’s enough to gain that they’ll continue to spend. If Texas does at some point open up to casino gambling, there will be an enormous amount of money to be made here in the state.”
The company gave direct donations to more than 40 incumbents in the House and Senate ahead of the primary election. However, protecting friendly incumbents does not advance the core legalisation agenda, according to Wilson.
Any casino legalisation in Texas would require voters to approve an amendment to the state constitution. Public polling shows support for legalising casinos and sports gambling, though Republican voters remain divided.
With Patrick retaining control of the Senate agenda and anti-gambling incumbents winning their primary races, the legislative path forward remains blocked. Observers expect Sands to continue political spending in future election cycles while opponents control key offices.
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