John Huffman, a Senate District 9 candidate who gained mass popularity across the state due to his pro-gambling and casino interests, has failed to make the runoff. However, he was the best-funded candidate in the race, which reveals that there still remains a strong pro-gambling outlook in the state that is likely to take legal shape in the near future.
The Current Laws
Currently, all forms of gambling for money, except for the casinos on native land and a selection of slot machine establishments, are not legal in Texas. Many people disagree with this sentiment and want to see more pro-gambling legislation land in the state.
The outcry for this change mostly comes from the successful rise of online casino gaming, which includes live table games, free online slots, and the incorporation of unique payment methods such as cryptocurrency, taking place across various states in the US.
A Set Back
Last week’s elections do stand as a significant setback for all Texans who were hoping to see more lenient gambling laws enforced across the state, but the dream certainly hasn’t been crushed. The frontman of the call for pro-gambling legislation, former mayor of Southlake, republican John Huffman, came in third place in the election.
Statistics reveal he received a reasonable 16% of the votes and was himself the most-funded candidate, having received significant donations from casino tycoon Miriam Adelson. His loss joins the recent defeat when new sports gambling legislation failed to advance out of committee earlier this year.
Hope Remains
Texans hoping for a future of safe and legalized gambling in the state should not give up hope with the recent news; Miriam Adelson certainly hasn’t. She has put enough funds into Texas ‘ political action committees to continue trying to push legislation in the state, and she has shown no signs of giving up.
Adelson recently made a $9.1 million donation to the political action committee, Texas Sands PAC, which was formed in 2022. She has also contributed millions to legislative contests through Texas Defence PAC.
These are two highly pro-casino PACs that, in the 2024 election year alone, contributed almost $7.2 million to bolster over ninety legislative campaigns fighting for gambling laws in the states.
The Future
Despite the recent defeats that those fighting for legal and safe gambling laws in Texas have faced in recent years, the fight for this kind of legislation certainly isn’t over. Many US states have changed their policy on gambling due to changing public sentiment and better legislation, and there is no reason Texas won’t join them.
A future of a casino-positive Texas would see a myriad of brick-and-mortar casinos popping up around the state and even more online options widely available to all Texas residents and visitors. It would certainly be an exciting time that would greatly improve Texas’ entertainment opportunities, and many people, Miriam Adelson chief among them, are not yet ready to give up on the dream.