Photo: Moment RF
Despite not seeming to have made much progress over the last several years, multiple casino-backed organizations and PACs have continued to spend big in Texas politics—especially in GOP primaries.
According to reporting from Texas Scorecard, PACs like the Texas Sands PAC have continued to throw millions of dollars into multiple races across the state, with just the casino-backed Texas Defense PAC spending $3.25 million.
The big question now is: With tens of millions already spent on Texas elections and seemingly little to no progress made on legalizing casino gambling in the state, will their investments ever actually pay off?
According to Steve Hilding with Revolutionizing Microtargeted Campaigns, that might not even be a factor for these lobbies right now. “In a state the size of Texas, with no legalized gambling, they see a great opportunity here,” he explained. “And to them, it’s almost pocket change to fund these candidates over several cycles.”
Essentially, Hilding believes these lobbies—and the casinos backing them—are playing the long game. “They are certainly supporting the candidates,” he said, “but they are also spending millions of dollars in public affairs work, with billboards across the state, just working very hard to change the public perception.”
He says that at this rate, with the amount of money currently being spent on the issue, it’s very likely that within 10 years, Texas will have some form of legalized casino gambling.