Anti-Gambling Advocate Patrick To Seek Another Term As Texas Lieutenant-Governor

Bob Duff

TwitterLinkedIn

Author

Publish Date: 09/03/2025

Fact checked by: Collin

Key Points

Dan Patrick has announced he'll seek another term as Lieutenant-Governor of Texas
Patrick has long been a staunch opponent of the legalization of gambling in the state
Texas doesn't offer any legal form of casino gambling or sports betting

While public opinion polls suggest that Texans would like some form of legalized gambling in the Lone Star State, Dan Patrick continues to insist that they don't.

As Lieutenant-Governor of the state, Patrick is the second-most powerful government official in Texas. He's remained steadfast in his staunch opposition to the legalization of gambling in the state. And it would appear that he isn't going anywhere.

Patrick is planning to run for another term as Texas Lieutenant-Governor in the 2026 election. In Texas, the Lieutenant-Governor serves a four-year term. That would leave Patrick, if re-elected, in office through 2030.

Oddly enough, Patrick used a gambling term when announcing his plans to seek re-election.

"I’m all in," Patrick said. "I’ve always been all in."

Patrick has stymied all attempts in Texas to legalize gambling

Patrick was the driving force putting a halt to a 2023 attempt to legalize sports betting in Texas. In his government role, he also serves as President of the State Senate. That enables him to wield plenty of legislative power to prevent items he doesn't like from moving forward.

House Bill 1942 proposed the legalization of mobile sports betting across the state. The bill passed easily through the Texas State House by a vote of 100 to 43. However, the bill stalled in the State Senate. It never came to a vote before the end of the legislative session. The bill died on the Senate floor.

A second attempt to move a similar bill forward earlier this year never even got a hearing before the state legislature. Bill HJR134 sought to put the question of whether the public wanted sports betting and casino gambling as a referendum on the November 2026 ballot. To legalize gambling in Texas, it would require changes to the state constitution.

Best Brand

BetMGM Promo

Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win

Get bonus now

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Quick Draft

DraftKings Promo

New Customers: Bet $5+ Get $300 in Bonus Bets Instantly

Get bonus now

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/PR/WY). Void in NH/OR/ONT/PR. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings Sportsbook customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Bet must settle by and Token expires 5/3/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 4/26/26 at 11:59 PM ET.

Newcomer

FanDuel Promo

New Users – Bet $5 Get $250 If Your Bet Wins!

Get bonus now

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG Help . Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit Helpline and Chat – CONNECTICUT COUNCIL (CT). "Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support. 21+ and present in MA. Connect with a PlayWell Advisor at PlayWell.org. Visit Home (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 21+ (18+ D.C., KY, WY) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at FanDuel Sportsbook

Texas Governor Abbott seems to be a supporter of gambling

Strangely, while Patrick continues his opposition to the legalization of gambling, the one man in the state who holds more power than Patrick appears to be changing his stance on the subject.

Greg Abbott, the Republican Governor of Texas, recently stated during an appearance on Texas: The Issue Is podcast that he doesn't view legalized gambling as a non-starter.

"I don’t have a problem with online sports betting,” Abbott said. “I’m not standing in the way of legislation moving forward, and I wouldn’t rule out signing [a sports betting bill] into law.”

That's a polar opposite viewpoint from the one held by Patrick.

“I've said repeatedly there is little to no support for expanding gaming from Senate GOP,” Patrick posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. “I polled members... nothing changed.

"The Senate must focus on issues voters expect us to pass. We don’t waste time on bills without overwhelming GOP support.”

His opinion flies in the face of gathered data. A 2021 poll about the legalization of gambling in Texas found that 43% of Texas residents were in favor of legalization. Only 26% stated their opposition, while 31% were undecided.

With 30.3 million people, Texas is the second-largest US state in terms of population, holding 9.8% of the country’s people.

Powerful Texans behind pro gambling lobby

The people who are seeking to get gambling legalized in Texas are among the most prominent movers and shakers in the state. They include Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones; Dallas Mavericks owner Tilman Fertitta, who is also the owner of the Golden Nugget casinos and the Houston Rockets; Las Vegas Sands Casino operator Miriam Adelson; and billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban.

They have banded together to form the Sports Betting Alliance, a powerful pro-gambling lobby. Still, they've not been able to outmaneuver Patrick.

4.6/5

BetMGM Review

Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win

USA Players Welcome

Bet now

4.3/5

DraftKings Review

New Customers: Bet $5+ Get $300 in Bonus Bets Instantly

USA Players Welcome

Bet now

4.2/5

FanDuel Review

New Users – Bet $5 Get $250 If Your Bet Wins!

USA Players Welcome

Bet now

3.8/5

Fanatics Review

Bet $5 Get $200 FanCash immediately

USA Players Welcome

Bet now

New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Must toggle on this promotion in your bet slip and wager $5+ cash on any market (min. odds -500) within 7 days of account opening to receive $200 in FanCash. Promotional FanCash expires 7 days from issuance (at 11:59pm ET). Terms, including FanCash terms apply-see Fanatics Sportsbook app.