Texas Lawmaker Renews Push to Legalize Casinos, Sports Betting

State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, filed a proposed constitutional amendment Monday that would give Texas voters another opportunity to decide whether the state should authorize casino gambling and sports wagering.

House Joint Resolution 52 would allow the Legislature to authorize up to 10 licensed casino facilities statewide, with initial licenses lasting at least 40 years. Casino gambling would be restricted to licensed physical locations, while lawmakers would determine where casinos and sports wagering could operate.

The proposal would require operators to obtain licenses and pay application fees. Gambling revenue would be taxed at a rate no higher than 15%, with restrictions on additional gambling-specific taxes and fees. It also calls for Texas to establish a process for negotiating gaming agreements with the state’s three federally recognized tribes with Indian lands in Texas.

The resolution would not immediately legalize casinos or sports betting. It first requires approval from two-thirds of both legislative chambers—at least 100 votes in the House and 21 in the Senate—before reaching voters. If approved by lawmakers, the proposed amendment would appear on the Nov. 2, 2027, ballot.

Geren has pursued gambling expansion in previous sessions without success. His 2025 proposal, House Joint Resolution 137, was referred to the House State Affairs Committee but never reached a full House vote. Other lawmakers’ efforts to authorize destination resort casinos or legalize sports wagering also stalled.

The latest filing renews a longstanding debate over gambling expansion ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature, which convenes Jan. 12, 2027. Any change will require substantial legislative support and voter approval before Texas can move forward. For now, the state’s gambling laws remain unchanged.

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