Texas Lt. Gov. Candidate Vikki Goodwin Would Support Liberalization of Casinos
Posted on: September 12, 2025, 09:26h.
Last updated on: September 12, 2025, 09:42h.
- Texas Rep. Vikki Goodwin is seeking to become the next Lt. Gov. of Texas
- Goodwin is the underdog against incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
- Goodwin is seeking to return the power of government to the people
Texas Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-Travis) would support casino resorts and online sports betting should Texans show that’s what they want through statewide ballot referendums.
Goodwin is running to unseat Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a three-term incumbent, in the November 2026 election. Goodwin expects to be the Democratic nominee — no other Democrat has thrown their name in the hat for the challenge.
Turning the lieutenant governor’s office blue is an uphill battle. Republicans have held the office since 1999. However, before Rick Perry became Lt. Gov. in January 1999, Democrats served as the lieutenant governor every year since 1870.
Goodwin’s campaign is focused on better funding for public schools, not voucher programs for the wealthy to send their kids to private schools. Her priorities additionally include more affordable and accessible comprehensive health care, increasing affordable housing, and improving clean energy and water throughout the Lone Star State.
Most importantly, Goodwin says she’s running to rid Patrick and the Republicans of their stronghold on government, where they’ve turned Texas into an “ideological demagogue.”
Her campaign says it’s time to legalize “adulthood” and stop being told by elected officials what they can and cannot do, like whether they can access medicinal THC. Goodwin says a part of that possibly includes gaming.
Casino Question
Texas has mulled whether to allow casino gambling and sports betting for several sessions. Much lobbying money has been spent, mainly from Las Vegas Sands, which has for many years sought to build an integrated resort in Dallas.
Goodwin says casino gambling and/or sports betting won’t be a pillar of her 2026 campaign, but she — unlike Patrick — is willing to embrace it should voters pass a gaming referendum.
We need to listen to the voters of Texas. There are a number of issues where I think a vast majority of Texans feel one way and their elected representatives are doing the opposite,” Goodwin told Casino.org. “Gambling may be one of those things.”
Goodwin says many Texans enjoy gambling. They visit neighboring Louisiana and Oklahoma, and make the short flight to Las Vegas.
While Goodwin herself isn’t a gambler, she said Texas lawmakers should allow “voters to have the say.”
The same goes for the THC ban. Let’s put in some regulations, and then let people live their lives. If the majority of Texans say they want to open the state to casino gambling, then let’s put in some regulations and allow it,” Goodwin said.
Patrick was blamed for blocking a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the state House of Representatives in 2023 that would have allowed Texans to vote on whether to legalize online sports betting. Upon receipt in the Senate, Patrick, who as Lt. Gov. serves as president, shelved the bill on claims that there weren’t adequate votes in the chamber to warrant consideration.
Democracy at Stake
Goodwin says she’s running to balance the executive branch of government.
We have not had balance for 30 years. We’ve had Republicans in all of the top offices. I think it’s time — 2026 is the time. We’re seeing a lot of chaos in Texas, in the education world, in the health care world. I think that people from all sorts of backgrounds are unhappy with the leadership of the state,” Goodwin concluded.
A June poll from UT Tyler had Goodwin trailing Patrick by just four points, 46% to 42%.
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