Texas Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin has taken a neutral position on Texas sports betting. Goodwin, who defeated longtime gambling opponent Dan Patrick in last week’s election, says she’s neutral on whether Texas should allow sportsbooks and casinos. She does support letting residents decide through voting.
During a recent interview with KSAT 12, Goodwin was asked about expanding gambling in Texas.
“I’m not for or against. So, my preference would be to put it up to a vote of Texans,” she said.
Her answer puts some distance between Goodwin and the gambling industry, which has spent years trying to persuade Texas lawmakers to open the market. She isn’t committing to support legalization, even though her election has renewed interest in another legislative attempt at bringing it to the Lone Star State.
There’s an important difference between those positions. A lieutenant governor could support allowing a constitutional amendment onto the ballot without agreeing with every provision or even supporting the amendment itself.
Goodwin’s comments also leave plenty of room for disagreement over what a legal gambling industry would look like. Lawmakers would still have to settle concerns involving licensing, taxes, and which forms of gambling should be permitted.
At this time, Goodwin has indicated her position to leave those arguments to legislators rather than taking a public stance on Texas sports betting.
Goodwin’s position takes away some uncertainty about how she might approach the issue when she takes office. However, there is still a challenge to get Texas sports betting through the Senate.
That’s because Republicans hold 19 of the Texas Senate’s 31 seats. A proposed constitutional amendment requires approval from at least 21 senators, meaning Democratic lawmakers cannot advance a referendum without Republican support.
But since Goodwin has a neutral position on Texas sports betting, it’s still an improvement over Dan Patrick. Patrick’s opposition to sports betting was a major obstacle in previous sessions, but his election defeat doesn’t remove all challenges.
The Texas Legislature won’t convene until January, but lawmakers have already filed gambling proposals for the 2027 session.
Republican Rep. Charlie Geren introduced House Joint Resolution 52, while Democratic Sen. Carol Alvarado filed Senate Joint Resolution 11. The proposals would seek voter approval for constitutional changes involving sports betting and casino gambling.
November 2027 has been identified as a potential opportunity for Texans to vote. First, though, the measures would need to clear both legislative chambers with the required two-thirds majorities.
Even though Goodwin hasn’t endorsed either proposal, her comments demonstrate a willingness to let Texans decide on the future of sports betting within the Lone Star State. After Dan Patrick lost in the election, these comments are the latest development in a slightly encouraging stretch for the outlook of a regulated sports betting market in Texas.
