After a string of legislative defeats in 2025, a test of the political power of those “pushing to legalize gambling in Texas” fell flat again earlier this month, per a recent article. Republican John Huffman, the former mayor of Southlake, finished in third place behind Democrat Taylor Rehmet and Republican Leigh Wabganss, missing the runoff for the Senate District 9 special election. Huffman received 16% of the vote, according to unofficial results, despite being the race’s best-funded candidate thanks to about $3.5 million in donations and in-kind political spending on Huffman’s behalf by casino tycoon Miriam Adelson and her casino empire, Las Vegas Sands. Huffman’s defeat in the Tarrant County district comes after sports gambling legislation that had managed to receive narrow approval from the Texas House in 2023 failed to advance out of committee earlier this year.
In this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming from the Lone Star State, along with a variety of news and updates you can only check out at SBS.
Noted in the same report, the Texas Lottery Commission was also abolished this year after multiple issues with the lottery came to light. Additionally, some conservative lawmakers are pointing to recent indictments surrounding an NBA gambling scheme as an example of the moral decay caused by gambling. Meanwhile, the Texas Senate, led by vocal gambling opponent Lt. Gov. Patrick remains a seemingly insurmountable obstacle for supporters of legalized gambling.
Despite the political headwinds in Texas, Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands has put enough money into its political action committees to keep gambling on the slate. Texas Sands PAC, a political action committee formed in 2022, had more than $8 million in cash on hand at the end of October, thanks to a $9.1 million donation by Adelson in June. The PAC has spent about $7.5 million in the state since its inception, according to Texas campaign finance reports. Adelson has poured millions more into legislative contests through the Texas Defense PAC, which formed in May 2024 with another $9 million from the casino magnate.
In the 2024 election year alone, those two casino-aligned PACs spent about $7.2 million supporting more than 90 separate legislative campaigns, a sweeping effort to fund the campaigns of those who support its interests. The Texas Defense PAC’s war chest was replenished earlier this year with a $9.1 million contribution from the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, teeing up another offensive in support of pro-gambling candidates in 2026. A spokesperson, though, for the Las Vegas Sands declined to comment.
Despite the big pro-Huffman spending from casino interests, he did not make legalizing gambling a centerpiece of his campaign, and the issue was not a major part of the District 9 race. While he is publicly supportive of allowing the public to vote on a constitutional amendment legalizing gambling, Huffman’s campaign centered around his experience as mayor, lowering the cost of living, addressing rising property taxes, and increasing public safety. Along with support from Adelson, Huffman was endorsed by more moderate figures in the GOP. Huffman’s casino money paid for ads that focused on the candidate as a property tax cutter and accused Wambsganss of being disloyal to Governor Greg Abbott. A spokesperson for Huffman did not respond to requests for comment in this report.
Wambsganss voiced many of the same conservative views as Huffman, though she broke him in opposing casino legalization, aligning herself with Patrick and helping draw his endorsement. Her most direct attack against casino interests came in late October, when her campaign called the Adelson contributions to Huffman an “affront to the very concept of democracy.” Wambsganssss’ endorsements from Patrick and President Donald Trump likely propelled her to success in a low-turnout special election rather than any one particular issue, Brent Boyea, a professor of political science at the University of Texas at Arlington, said.
Legalizing gambling in Texas would require the voters to weigh in on the issue directly. Available public polling in the state shows strong public support for legalizing both casinos and sports gambling, though Republican voters have expressed mixed views. Business interests in the state also support legalization. “The policy is very strong and the public support is very strong,” Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, said. “We are going to continue to work on getting a good measure passed that voters will have the opportunity to make a decision on.”
After you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gaming news and notes coming from Texas, make sure to check out the excellent array of info for you at SBS. Of course, for even more info coming from the locale in this report, the sports betting in Texas guide has you covered with all of the latest updates for the state as it pertains to gambling. Moreover, for those who qualify and are eligible, the BetOnline sportsbook review rundown is a must-read page that goes into detail regarding the outlet and whether it might make sense for you. Finally, for those intrigued by diversifying their deposit and withdrawal options, look no further than the payment methods breakdown. Here you can find more options ranging from traditional banking routes to newer options like cryptocurrencies.
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.
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