Partisan support ranges from 80% of Democrats to 74% of Independents and 72% of.

78% of men and 72% of women support passage.83% of Black, 77% of Latino and 73% of white Texans support the bill.That rose to 78% among people who do not identify as born-again Christians.Īmong the survey’s additional findings on SJR 17: “We found a majority of people in urban, suburban and rural areas support it, and that cuts across racial, ethnic, partisan, religious, and generational lines.”Įven 69% of born-again Christians, long the backbone of opposition to legalized gambling, said they support the legislation. “It’s not just that a majority of Texans support expanded gambling,” he said. Jones, senior research fellow at the Hobby School and political science fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, said the broad support is striking. Proponents say the resulting tax revenue would be used to provide tax relief, as well as funding for education and public safety. In addition, 69% back stand-alone legislation to legalize both in-person and online sports betting 31% oppose it. The survey found three out of four (75%) Texans support the legislation, including 41% who said they strongly support the bill.

It also would allow the state’s three recognized tribal communities to operate slot machines or casino gambling. It would allow one casino resort in each of the state’s four major metro areas – Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio – along with limited casino gambling at horse and greyhound race tracks and legalized sports betting. Texas Senate Joint Resolution 17 (SJR 17), if passed by the Legislature, would require approval by a majority of voters in a November constitutional referendum. “Opponents have historically had powerful allies in the Legislature, but we found the public appears ready to back major changes in how Texas regulates gambling.”

“Texas has historically had strict laws regulating most forms of gaming, even as neighboring states have expanded opportunities for casino gambling,” said Renée Cross, senior executive director and researcher at the Hobby School. The support crosses demographic and partisan lines and includes strong backing from people who identify as born-again Christians.

A new survey from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston found widespread public support for legislation that would dramatically upend Texas’ longstanding prohibition against most forms of gambling.

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