A new poll by the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation indicated 56 percent of the 1,600 likely voters surveyed support building and operating destination resort casinos in Texas, versus 30 percent opposed.
The poll also found 47 percent of Texans support legalizing online sports betting compared to 37 percent against it. The only measure with more people opposed than in favor−42 percent to 41 percent−was regarding legalizing sportsbooks at the state’s professional sports venues.
According to the poll, men were much more likely than women to support legislation legalizing gambling. In addition, the results were fairly evenly split by political affiliation.
Jason Villalba, chairman and chief executive officer at the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation, said, “Given the results of this survey, it is clear that the public appetite for additional gaming opportunities now matches the political appetite, not only with traditional supporters of gaming, but also with church-going Texans and women. That is a major change from what we have seen in recent legislative cycles.”
Las Vegas Sands, under the name Texas Destination Resort Alliance, is conducting a petition drive in support of legalizing casino gambling in the state. The company is owned by the Adelson family which recently purchased the Dallas Mavericks. Last year the Texas legislature rejected casino and sports betting bills.
