Texas lt gov-elect Goodwin backs casino vote after beating Patrick
Billionaires Cuban & Fertitta have called for legal casino resorts in Texas.
The hit
Vikki Goodwin, who beat three-term Republican Dan Patrick to become Texas lieutenant governor-elect, says she wants voters to decide on legalising casinos. Goodwin told Casino.org regulations should follow if a majority of Texans want casino gambling, a stance she first floated as an underdog candidate in September 2025.
Why it matters
Texas bans commercial gambling outside the state-run lottery & parimutuel wagering. Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa, who takes office on 19 January, has not been as explicit as Goodwin on casinos & gambling, according to Casino.org. Billionaires Mark Cuban & Tilman Fertitta have called for state lawmakers to legalise casino resorts. Fertitta, who owns Golden Nugget Casinos & has a deal to acquire Caesars Entertainment, says destination casinos would bring tourism, business travel & convention dollars to Texas. Legalisation would directly affect Fertitta’s operations in the Lake Charles, Louisiana market, where he owns Golden Nugget Lake Charles & Caesars operates the nearby Horseshoe.
The record
| Goodwin’s win | Texas’s first Democratic lt gov in nearly three decades |
|---|---|
| Governor’s race | Gina Hinojosa unseated Greg Abbott, Texas’s first Democratic governor since Ann Richards in 1990 |
| Public support | 73% of Texans back casino resorts, including 72% of Republicans (University of Houston poll) |
| Sports betting support | 60% of Texas voters back legal online sports betting (University of Houston poll) |
| Industry lobbying | Las Vegas Sands, the world’s largest casino operator by market cap, continues aggressive lobbying in Austin |
What happens next
Hinojosa will face increasing pressure as state lobbying mounts ahead of her 19 January inauguration.
Sources: Texas Lt. Gov.-Elect Vikki Goodwin Signals Support for Casinos
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