Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioTexas may be on the verge of intensifying its enforcement against unregulated gambling after all four Republican candidates for attorney general pledged to uphold Texas gambling bans.
The candidates’ statements mark some of the strongest unified anti-gambling positions from candidates for the state’s top legal office. Given Texas’s politics lean heavily Republican and no Democrat has held the Attorney General position since 1999, one of them will likely take the office.
That could spell trouble for unregulated forms of gambling, such as sweepstakes casinos and daily fantasy sports (DFS), which have faced scrutiny elsewhere. Additionally, future proposals for casinos or sports betting may face another opponent.
Candidates Signal Tougher Enforcement
When asked about their stance on online gambling in Texas, all emphasized strong opposition to it.
“As a State Senator, I have opposed any efforts to expand gambling in Texas,” said Joan Huffman. “Serving as Attorney General, I will stay dedicated to enforcing our existing state laws and shielding communities from illegal gambling operations through vigorous prosecutions.”
Chip Roy took a similarly strict stance: “I oppose online gambling and other forms of gambling in Texas. I will pursue all litigation to enforce the law, and use the power of AG opinions to ensure the law is clear.”
Aaron Reitz outlined a broad enforcement tool kit: “Every lawful tool available—including the issuance of legal opinions, cooperation with local and federal authorities when formally requested, and enforcement of consumer protection and charitable trust laws—to ensure that Texas gambling laws are upheld.”
Mayes Middleton framed his position in constitutional terms: “Our laws and Constitution are not suggestions. As Attorney General, I will pursue litigation against any company, politician, or rogue George Soros DA that attempts to treat them as such with civil penalties, criminal penalties, or removal from office.”
He added, “I have a consistent and clear record of holding unlawful gambling operations accountable, as well as those attempting to illegally expand gambling.”
Their unanimity leaves little room for interpretation: whichever Republican wins in 2026, the next attorney general is likely to treat gambling enforcement as both a legal and moral mandate.
Unregulated Gambling in the Crosshairs
Texas law already prohibits most forms of gambling. Still, ambiguities in enforcement have allowed gray-market operations to flourish.
Sweepstakes casinos, which use virtual dual-currency and “no-purchase-necessary” clauses to circumvent restrictions, have drawn increased scrutiny nationwide.
An assertive Texas attorney general could interpret these platforms as illegal gambling. They can issue cease-and-desist orders or formal opinions advising district attorneys to prosecute them.
Reitz referenced that. He noted that the Consumer Protection Division “can pursue civil enforcement actions against individuals or entities that mislead Texans about the legality of their gambling or betting operations.”
In recent months, the state has shown a willingness to act. In August, the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office seized roughly $1.5 million and arrested six people in an illegal gambling bust. A few days earlier, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office confiscated over $67,000 in cash and 60 illegal slot machines.
Some local politicians have also decided to act. The Waco City Council is debating whether to ban “eight-liner” machines. The terminals visually resemble slot machines, but manufacturers argue they are not gambling devices as the outcomes involve player input. The machines, commonly referred to as “skill games,” are also unregulated.
Fantasy Sports, Prediction Markets & AG Precedents
The gray area extends to daily fantasy sports (DFS) and the fast-growing world of prediction markets. Texas has never explicitly legalized DFS, and a 2016 attorney general opinion suggested such contests could constitute illegal gambling. Unlike in other states, such as California, operators never exited or changed offerings — but a new AG could alter that.
While none of the candidates explicitly mentioned DFS, Reitz noted that “there may be multiple constitutional, statutory, and regulatory considerations involved” in determining how online gaming fits within state law.
Texas could also follow states such as Massachusetts, where regulators have warned that prediction markets may violate gambling laws. It’s important to note that by the time Texas’s next AG takes office, the national debate may have evolved. Still, the state’s enforcement posture could tighten.
Elsewhere, AGs have already set lasting precedents. In California, AG Rob Bonta’s office issued a legal opinion that DFS violates gambling laws. In New York, former AG Eric Schneiderman’s actions against DFS platforms reshaped the national market. Meanwhile, the current AG, Letitia James, shut down 26 sweepstakes casino operators in May this year.
And in West Virginia, AG John McCuskey’s 47 subpoenas to sweepstakes casinos have resulted in over 20 exiting the state.
Those examples demonstrate how a single attorney general can influence gambling policy without the need for new legislation. That’s a power Texas’s Republican AG candidates appear ready to use.
Bad News Also for Legalization Efforts
The anti-gambling tone among AG candidates adds yet another roadblock to expansion efforts.. That’s bad news for proponents, who already face a significant hurdle in overcoming Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s opposition.
Patrick has repeatedly said there is “no appetite” for gambling expansion in the state Senate. He remains the most powerful obstacle in the Legislature. His decision to run for reelection has cemented the Senate’s opposition to both sports betting and casinos.
Still, Las Vegas Sands remains committed to investing heavily in the state’s political future. The gambling giant’s political action committee, Texas Sands PAC, now holds over $9.3 million in cash. That’s a hefty sum timed strategically ahead of the 2026 election cycle, one that could prove pivotal for the state’s gambling future.
Yet, an anti-gambling attorney general could undermine those efforts by interpreting existing laws strictly or challenging permissive local enforcement practices.
Outlook: The AG Office as Gatekeeper
Texas has flirted with gambling reform before, with the House approving a sports betting amendment before Patrick shut it down. Even with Gov. Greg Abbott signaling openness to limited sports betting, an antagonistic AG could block or delay implementation through legal interpretations and enforcement actions.
With AG primaries set for March 2026, gambling interests have little time to adjust. Whether through prosecutions, advisory opinions, or consumer-protection lawsuits, the next attorney general seems ready to make gambling enforcement a political centerpiece.
For the industry, the message is unambiguous: Texas is preparing to scrutinize gambling more closely — and not in a way that favors expansion.
