Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick lost his reelection bid to Democrat Vikki Goodwin, a state representative, in Tuesday's election, according to the report. Patrick had been a leading opponent of expanding gambling in Texas, and he held considerable influence over which bills advanced in the Texas Senate. He repeatedly opposed proposals to legalize sports betting and permit destination casinos.
In 2023, the Texas House approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed lawmakers to authorize sports betting. The measure passed 101-42 but never received a vote in the Senate.
Goodwin supported gambling expansion proposals as a state representative. She has also expressed support for letting Texans decide the issue through a statewide vote. The report said that position could matter when lawmakers return to Austin. It also said casinos or online sports betting are not expected to arrive in Texas soon.