Texas Poll Reveals Support For Online Sports Gambling, Split On Sportsbooks At Stadiums

A new Texas poll shows that residents support online sports gambling, but Texans remain split on sportsbooks at stadiums in the Lone Star State. 

Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation surveyed 1,600 voters last month regarding sports-betting legislative proposals 

The Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation surveyed 1,600 potential Texas voters from April 5-10 concerning three legislative proposals to legalize sports betting.

About 56% of the people surveyed supported the construction and availability of Destination Resort Casinos in Texas, while only 30% opposed it.

According to the poll’s figures, approximately 47% of Texans support legalizing online sports gambling compared to 37% who hope it remains banned. Plus, 16% said they didn’t have a strong opinion. 

Since sports betting is still a polarizing issue, the pollsters also asked Texans how they felt about the legalization of sportsbooks at Texas professional sports venues.

Although 41% of respondents said they’d support retail books at pro sports stadiums and arenas, another 42% opposed the change.

Furthermore, the polling revealed that men were much more likely to support the bills legalizing gambling than women.

Regardless of poll results, Texas lawmakers have been pushing to legalize gambling in the state in recent years. 

Proposals supporting sports betting were rejected by the Lone Star State’s legislature last year

“Given the results of this survey, it is clear that the public appetite for additional gaming opportunities now matches the political appetite, not only with traditional supporters of gaming, but also with church-going Texans and women – that is a major change from what we have seen in recent legislative cycles,” said Jason Villalba, Chairman and CEO of the TXHPF in a statement.

Las Vegas Sands, a casino company owned by the Adelson family, who recently purchased the Dallas Mavericks, supports the legalization of gambling in Texas as well.

The Texas Destination Resort Alliance is asking Texans to sign a petition to show its support for lawmakers to legalize casinos.

Bills supporting casinos and sports betting were rejected by the Texas Legislature last year.

In 2023, a poll conducted by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston between Jan. 9 and 19 revealed that 75% of Texans supported a proposed constitutional amendment by Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston.

Alvarado’s bill would have legalized sports betting and allowed for up to four upscale “destination resorts.”

However, the proposal failed to gain enough traction.