Texas remains one of the most restrictive states in the U.S. when it comes to gambling. Aside from the state lottery, charitable bingo and raffles, pari-mutuel wagers at horse and greyhound tracks and a handful of tribal casinos, all other forms of gambling are illegal. The Texas Constitution explicitly forbids commercial casinos and online sports betting. Changing that requires a constitutional amendment, something that must pass both the House and Senate by a two-thirds margin and then be approved by voters in a referendum.
As of June 2025, sports betting remains illegal in Texas. While public discourse has recently focused more heavily on sports betting, especially retail sportsbooks connected to professional sports teams, online casinos remain largely off the legislative radar. Those who do want to partake in gambling may be able to do so with Valuewalk, which provides information on the best online casinos and where people can play a range of games and win real money. With people still being able to find a way to gamble online and engage in sports betting of teams in any sport, Texas lawmakers have avoided introducing any serious bills to regulate the legalization of online casino gaming. This silence reflects a broader skepticism toward digital gambling platforms, which are seen by many lawmakers as flakier than in-person, destination-style resort casinos. As a result, most legalization proposals center on traditional establishments and controlled sports betting venues, with online gambling particularly virtual slots and casino games viewed as a more distant issue.
In early February, State Rep. Sam Harless introduced House Joint Resolutions 134 and 137 proposing constitutional amendments to authorize limited sports betting and destination resort casinos. HJR134 would permit retail but not online sportsbooks operated by eligible professionals, Class 1 racetracks, or pre-2025 sports teams and professional golf bodies. HJR137 would allow up to ten destination resort casinos licensed through compacts with tribal entities.
In parallel, Sen. Carol Alvarado introduced Senate Joint Resolution 16 to legalize both sports betting and resort casinos, alongside creating a Texas Gaming Commission for regulation. The filings signal a serious push for legalization, though still requiring two-thirds legislative support and a public referendum (likely November 2025) with implementation realistically not before 2027.
Support from public opinion and leadership is climbing. A University of Houston poll (February 2025) showed a strong support: about 60% of Texans favor online sports betting and 73% support destination resort casinos. Such numbers come as no surprise for a state with an active and thriving sports scene. Governor Greg Abbott has also voiced openness to legalization, especially for sports betting, citing the reality that many Texans already gamble offshore.
But the main barrier continues to be the Texas Senate led by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Patrick has consistently opposed gambling expansion, stating even a few supportive GOP senators “isn’t enough” to move forward. Without strong Senate support, bills remain bottled up in committee.
Additionally, new criminal legislation is in progress. Senate Bill517, passed by the Senate in May and enacted by the House, would broaden definitions of gambling devices, especially “eight-liners” and increase penalties for illegal gambling with the law taking effect September 1, 2025.
On the advocacy side, well-organized industry coalitions remain active. Casinos like Las Vegas Sands and wagering giants such as FanDuel and DraftKings, along with professional sports teams, have formed alliances such as the Texas Sports Betting Alliance and lobby heavily. Regional bodies like the North Texas Commission continue to study gambling’s economic and regulatory implications, laying groundwork for potential future expansion.
In sum, June 2025 leaves Texas positioned in familiar territory: strong public support and vocal advocates, yet entrenched political opposition and daunting constitutional thresholds ensure that legal gambling, particularly sports betting or casinos remains more theoretical than likely, at least in the near term.
