Texans Visit Casinos In Large Numbers, Las Vegas A Popular Destination.

In 2022, more than 2.4 million Texans gambled at a casino, indicating that many residents are going out of state to play blackjack, craps and more. 

Texas has three tribal properties offering limited games, such as online slots, according to the Texas Tribune. Though Texas does not have Las Vegas-style full commercial casinos, each state that borders Texas has full casinos with slots and table games. These states are New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Texas lawmakers are considering legislation that could allow full commercial casinos in the largest cities, but it is uncertain whether any gambling bills will win approval this year at the capital in Austin. The legislative session is set to end May 29.

Texans Favor Las Vegas

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the following figures show the number of people in Texas and bordering states who gambled last year at any casino anywhere — and in Las Vegas.

Texas:

• 2022 gambled at a casino: 2,434,244
• 2022 gambled in Las Vegas: 829,924

Louisiana:

• 2022 gambled at a casino: 397,238
• 2022 gambled in Las Vegas: 109,041

Oklahoma:

• 2022 gambled at a casino: 328,939
• 2022 gambled in Las Vegas: 88,389

Arkansas:

• 2022 gambled at a casino: 242,299
• 2022 gambled in Las Vegas: 66,110

New Mexico:

• 2022 gambled at a casino: 172,566
• 2022 gambled in Las Vegas: 52,694

Gaming Bills Unpopular In Senate

An effort is underway at the statehouse in Austin to legalize commercial casino gambling and sports betting in Texas. Sports betting is legal in the bordering states of New Mexico, Louisiana and Arkansas, but not in Oklahoma. Sports betting legislation is under consideration in Oklahoma.

A Texas House committee has approved legislation that could legalize casinos and sports wagering. However, the measures lack support in the Senate, according to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Patrick, a Republican who serves as Senate president, told the Dallas Morning News there aren’t enough GOP votes in the upper chamber to approve gambling bills. The 31-member Senate includes 19 Republicans.

“We don’t have the votes for casinos,” Patrick said. “There are not enough votes for sports betting, and I don’t think that’s going to change.”

Patrick’s remarks are consistent with what major sports bettor and Houston furniture salesman Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale told Gambling.com in October. 

McIngvale, 72, said Texas would not legalize sports betting or casinos during his lifetime, partly because of opposition from religious groups. McIngvale often travels to Louisiana to place multimillion-dollar sports bets.

Like all bills, the three gambling measures recently approved in the Texas House State Affairs Committee require passage by the full House and Senate before going to the governor for his consideration. Those bills are HJR102, HB1942 and HB2843.

Neighboring States Benefit From Texas Ban

According to a survey released early this year by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, 75% of Texans support a measure allowing the public to vote on sports betting and one casino in the four major metro areas — Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio.

Meanwhile, with gaming legislation blocked in the state Senate for now, some of Texas’ 29.5 million residents are expected to continue crossing into neighboring states to visit casinos and to bet legally on sports. 

Texas is the nation’s second most populated state, with about 10 million fewer residents than the largest state, California.

Gaming officials in Texas’ neighboring states welcome the tax revenue generated by Lone Star State residents who can’t bet legally in full casinos or on sports in their state.

Last fall, Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns, a former state senator, publicly thanked Texas for sending sports bettors to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to gamble. Lake Charles, only 35 miles from the Texas border, has outpaced the Bayou State’s other gaming markets. 

“I guess we have our neighbors in Texas to thank,” Johns said.