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...
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has delivered a significant blow to hopes for casino legalization in the state, telling CBS News Texas that he does not currently support changing the state constitution to authorize destination-resort casinos. The remarks pose a fresh challenge for Las Vegas Sands‘ long-term ambition to build a flagship resort in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
When asked directly about whether he supports a constitutional amendment allowing a limited number of large-scale casinos, Abbott was blunt. “I’m not there yet. I’m simply not there yet,” he said.
The comments strike at the core of Sands’ strategy. The company has invested heavily in Texas politics. Its two affiliated PACs, together, hold more than $16 million in cash on hand. They have raised over $18 million in contributions.
Abbott’s hesitation makes that path considerably more complicated. That’s especially in a year when Sands is ramping up political and public-facing efforts across North Texas.
Integrity Risks Shift Abbott’s Stance
Abbott told CBS News that his stance comes from concerns that have intensified over the past year. In particular, he highlighted the importance of sports integrity and the social implications of expanded gambling.
“We’ve seen increasingly problems that go along with gaming, whether it be addiction, whether it be things that are happening in sporting events and athletes who are on the take,” he said.
“There have been more red flags raised. That caused us to have to pause, step back, take a look at this and make sure that we wouldn’t do anything that would be harmful either to the people of the state of Texas, the culture that we have in the state, or to sporting events that we have in the state.”
That framing marks a notable shift. Over the past two sessions, Abbott has signaled openness to discussing broader gambling reforms, particularly online sports betting.
Some observers interpreted the posture as leaving the door open to conversations about destination-resort casinos backed by major operators, such as Las Vegas Sands.
But with high-profile sports-betting scandals emerging nationwide and Texas lawmakers growing more vocal about gambling-addiction concerns, the governor now appears to be adopting a more cautious posture.
Sands’ North Texas Vision Hits Another Hurdle
Las Vegas Sands has invested millions into the state as part of a multi-year campaign to build a destination resort. The company argues the property would supercharge tourism and generate billions in long-term economic impact.
However, not all spending has been successful. In November, the company invested $3 million in John Huffman’s campaign for a North Texas State Senate special election. Huffman finished third in the race. That marked a setback in what had become a proxy fight over the future of gambling policy in the region.
Now, with the governor’s opposition stance, Sands faces a steeper path in a Legislature that is largely against gambling expansion. Any casino proposal must secure a two-thirds majority in both chambers before reaching voters. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who’s running for reelection, has repeatedly opposed any expansion of gambling.
Momentum Shifts Back to Lawmakers
Abbott’s comments do not necessarily end the push for casinos. Still, they add another significant roadblock in Sands’ hopes.
With the governor and major opposition in the Legislature, the casino giants’ effort becomes an enormous challenge, one that even millions of political contributions might not be able to overcome in the near future.
