Texas problem gaming resources received a perhaps unexpected donor recently to help address gambling addiction issues in the state. Per a recent update, Las Vegas Sands seems undeterred by recent electoral setbacks in Texas and is moving forward with efforts to legalize gambling in the Lone Star State. This recently came in the form of a $100,000 donation to the Texas Coalition on Problem Gambling (TCPG). The donation came in April, according to a local outlet, and the money will increase the number of therapists to treat those with gambling issues. Texas is one of only seven states that do not provide funding for treating problem gamblers.
For this report, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming from Texas, along with some other notes and information regarding the state of gaming in Texas.
Noted in the same report, Texas’ gaming resource strategy has evolved in the last couple of decades. For example, when lawmakers legalized a state lottery in 1991, they earmarked $2 million to create a “compulsive gambling” program. However, funding for the program has dwindled through the years and now goes unfunded. The Sands donation is meant to help the TCPG address some of those concerns. Additionally, the donation gives the company a public relations bullet point as it continues lobbying for legalized casinos in the state. “For all those years, thousands and thousands of Texans have been suffering,” TCPG chairwoman Carol Maner told the same outlet.
Along with adding therapists, the funds will be used by the TCPG to start a hotline for Texas gamblers experiencing addiction problems. The effort comes after recent studies have shown that online gaming and sports betting have had a major impact on college students as well as other segments of the population in recent years. “Our kids and our young adults are in a really tough place right now because they just can’t get away from it. It’s nonstop,” Linda Uphoff, a licensed counselor associate who operates a Dallas treatment clinic for minors and young adults, said in the same report.
For Sands, the donation shows some goodwill to legislators while also offering a look at the potential pitfalls of having an unregulated, mostly illegal gambling industry. The donation also highlights that there are no publicly funded treatment options available in Texas. Since purchasing the Dallas Mavericks in 2024, Sands has sought to build a casino in the state. However, commercial casinos are illegal in Texas, and efforts over the last few years to let voters decide the issue have come up short in the Legislature.
Nonetheless, the company helped fund a slate of candidates who might be more open to legalization in this year’s primaries. Most of those candidates lost, and a Sands-backed Republican candidate for the state Senate lost last November. Even with the election losses, Sands remains undeterred. The company has vowed to continue backing candidates who would support gaming interests in the coming years. “Our mission remains unchanged: Trust Texas voters,” Sands Senior Vice President of Government Relations Andy Abboud said after the primary results.
“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.”
In other state gaming news, the NCAA is filing an appeal to challenge a recent ruling that granted Texas Tech University quarterback Brendan Sorsby a temporary injunction against the association after it banned him for violating its gambling policy for student-athletes. The appeal, filed in mid-June, is “accelerated,” meaning the NCAA is hoping to get a ruling from a Texas court before the Red Raiders kick off their season this fall. Sorsby was banned from competition by the NCAA earlier this year after admitting to betting thousands of dollars on various football games, including contests involving Indiana University, a team he played on as a freshman.
Attorneys for the quarterback, who has since completed treatment for gambling addiction, argued before the judge that keeping Sorsby off the field would harm his recovery process and suggested he sit out the first two games of Texas Tech’s season this fall, a pitch the judge in the case, Ken Curry, agreed to. The NCAA and its president, Charlie Baker, blasted the Monday ruling, saying it will have “damaging, far-reaching and broadly destabilizing ramifications … which undermine and corrupt the integrity of sports.” Since then, Sorsby has applied for the NFL Supplemental Draft after leaving the school amidst the gambling scandal.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the newest gambling news and notes coming from the Lone Star State, make sure to peruse the excellent array of information for you at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis on the topic in this article, the Texas betting sites rundown is a must-read page that covers all of the latest gaming updates from the region. On a separate note, for those looking for a new outlet to check out and are eligible, the BetOnline sportsbook review rundown is a fantastic resource. Here, qualified patrons can check out the sportsbook and understand how they can utilize it to their advantage and see what makes the most sense for them. Finally, for those eligible and on the go, the best betting apps breakdown is an excellent resource for those looking to check out mobile betting.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide: