A recent poll by Comped indicates that 39% of Texans support legalizing sports betting, and an even higher 42.6% favor online casino gaming (iGaming). Supporters emphasize economic benefits, particularly keeping tax revenue in Texas instead of losing it to neighboring states. However, legislative approval faces significant challenges due to ethical, social, and political opposition. Approximately one-third of voters remain undecided, making their final stance crucial for any potential gambling expansion legislation.
Odds are long for lawmakers to clear the way for the legalization of sports betting in Texas, but a recent Comped survey of voters in the Lone Star State show growing support for the ever-expanding industry.
A month after two proposals emerged to amend the state constitution and allow voters to decide the legality of sports betting, 39% of respondents to our survey, conducted by Pollfish, responded in support of legal sports wagering.
The majority of open-ended feedback highlighted the economic impact that such gaming expansion would have in Texas, such as tax revenue, job creation, and keeping money within state lines.
If these proposals even reach voters remains to be seen. In fact, it appears as if the road to the ballot is a rocky one.
These are the current Texas sports betting bills
In mid-February, Rep. Sam Harless filed House Joint Resolution 134, a constitutional amendment that, if passed, would head to the voters on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot. The resolution would authorize and regulate sports betting in Texas, with operators partnering with sports teams in existence by Jan. 1, 2025; organizations that held an annual PGA Tour event before Jan. 1, 2025; Class 1 racetracks in operation on Jan. 1, 2025; or a designee of one of those entities.
(Just this week, Sen. Juan Hinojosa introduced Senate Joint Resolution 65, a companion bill of HJR 134.)
On the same day Harless filed his motion, Rep. Charlie Geren introduced HJR 137, which proposes an amendment to allow online sports betting and retail casinos. It would create up to 10 licensed commercial casinos and three tribal properties.
Breaking down poll results for sports betting, iGaming, retail casinos
As noted, of the 500 respondents, 39% said they would support the legalization of sports betting in Texas. The majority of that group, around 38%, indicated that the industry would make a “somewhat positive” impact on the state, offering some benefits but also some risks. Some 11% of respondents said sports betting would generate significant tax revenue and jobs in the Lone Star State.
Lawmakers in Texas have yet to address online casino gaming in the Lone Star State. According to the Comped survey, 42.6% of respondents support legalizing iGaming, with open-ended feedback again highlighting the economic boost it would bring to Texas.
Further, 39.4% indicated that legalizing brick-and-mortar casinos in Texas would provide some benefits but also create risks, while 15.4% said casinos would create significant economic impact for the state.
Over half of male poll-takers said they would vote in favor of sports betting legalization, while just 29% of women would support the measure compared with 31% who would oppose. However, nearly 40% of women remain undecided, indicating that more information on safeguards for bettors and benefits to the state could convince them to support the amendment.
Similarly, younger voters tend to be most supportive of sports betting legalization, with over 50% of 18- to 24-year-olds in favor and around 44% of those 35 to 44 in the same boat. By contrast, of the 55-and-older group, only 35% supported the measure with 32% opposed and the remainder undecided.
Houston, we have some would-be sports bettors
Metropolitan areas showed some of the highest support, notably in counties around Houston (about 47%) and San Antonio (over 40%). The Dallas-Fort Worth area was more split, with around 35% of respondents in favor and about 33% opposed.
The poll also provided some insight from an educational level: Nearly 47% of people with a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree said they would vote in favor of sports betting legalization, with about 22% opposing and 31% remaining undecided. Respondents who did not advance beyond high school provided the least support: 23% in favor, roughly one-third opposed.
‘Tax dollars would stay here instead of going to other states’
Respondents had the opportunity to provide free-answer feedback to the poll, with just over half of those comments reflecting positive support toward expanded gambling.
While most emphasized the added revenue stream for Texas and more jobs created by expanded gaming, many also noted that Texans currently have to travel to nearby Oklahoma, Louisiana, or Las Vegas to participate in legal gambling. By legalizing sports betting and land-based casinos, one poll-taker said, “tax dollars would stay here instead of going to other states. Plus, people would travel from other states to Texas and stay in hotels.”
Added another respondent from Houston, echoing that sentiment:
“Texas residents are going to other states to spend gambling money. Those funds should stay in and benefit Texas.”
The majority of respondents said that, if the industry was legalized in Texas, tax revenue from sports betting should go toward property tax relief (39.6%) above all else. Some 29.2% indicated money should support public education, while 25% highlighted health programs as the benefactor. Just 4% of respondents said revenue should benefit problem gambling measures.
Plenty of opposition still exists
This is not to say that even the vast majority of Texans support gambling expansion. A strong contingent — 27.8% for sports betting, 36% for online casinos — oppose expansion, citing gambling addiction and rise in crime as key reasons.
Some 18.8% of respondents said legal sports betting (16.8% for casinos) would create more issues than benefits for the state, while 10% for both sports betting and casinos said it would hurt communities more than help.
One response cited the “crime and poverty that gambling creates” as a reason to oppose a measure to expand gaming. Another said that it would “hurt the average household, with money being gambled away that should support the home.”
Others indicated that the state “doesn’t need” expansion, with some outright saying they “don’t like the type of crowd” that follows the industry.
How the ‘undecided’ view gambling expansion in Texas
More respondents answered with “undecided” than flat-out opposing gambling expansion in the Lone Star State: 33.2% for sports betting and 21.4% for online casinos.
Broadly, they indicated the need for more information regarding regulations and consumer protections (28.64%), economic impact reports (26.29%), tax revenue distribution plans (24.18%), and impact on problem gambling (19.95%).
About one-third of written responses fell into the undecided bucket. Specifically, over 60% of these respondents said they needed to see tax revenue distribution plans as well as economic impact reports before deciding where they stand, essentially more concrete proof one way or the other.
Similarly, around 51% of undecided respondents said they need more information on the impact on problem gambling, suggesting a potential concern that legal sports betting and iGaming would lead to a rise in gambling addiction.
The vast majority of respondents, however, suggested the need for more information on consumer protections and state regulations regarding gambling expansion. Will the state, for example, have strict rules and safeguards in place to protect Texans from fraud and corruption?
Lawmakers: Texas sports betting, casino expansion won’t happen
In a letter sent to Rep. Ken King, chair of the House State Affairs Committee, 15 Texas legislators remained confident that neither of the two gambling expansion bills introduced last month has the votes necessary to pass the House this session.
“Given the certainty of its failure,” the letter reads, “I urge you not to waste valuable committee time on an issue that is dead on arrival.”
In January, the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston conducted a statewide poll, finding that 73% supported casino expansion while 60% were in favor of legal sports betting.
Matt Hirsch, a spokesperson for the Texas Destination Resort Alliance, told the Texas Tribune that it remains “essential for elected officials to listen to their constituents and respect their right to vote.” Ignoring them, he said, “undermines the democratic process, but also disregards the voices of the very people they represent.”
Added Karina Kling — a spokesperson for the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, which includes mainstream sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings:
“Poll after poll shows Texans overwhelmingly want the chance to vote on legalizing sports betting and we hope the Texas Legislature will give them that chance.”
This study was conducted through an online survey within Texas to assess public sentiment on House Joint Resolution 134 (HJR 134) and gambling expansion legislation. The survey was fielded among 459 Texas residents eligible to vote, using a stratified sampling method to ensure geographic and demographic representation. Data collection took place February 27 – March 1, 2025 leading up to potential legislative discussions.
The sampling precision of this survey was measured using a Bayesian credible interval, with results accurate to within +/- 4.57 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Weighting adjustments were applied to align with voter demographics, and responses were analyzed based on key variables such as past voting behavior, attitudes toward casino expansion, and perceived economic impact. For complete survey methodology details, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, contact
