Casino lobby backs Huffman with 94% of Senate election funds
A special election for Texas Senate District 9, a suburban area north of Fort Worth, has gained attention due to its potential impact on future gambling legislation. The seat, previously held by State Senator Kelly Hancock, is being contested in the 4 November election. Candidate John Huffman (as depicted in featured image), former mayor of Southlake, has received nearly 94 percent of funding from entities linked to the Las Vegas Sands Casino Group, according to Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. Texas maintains strict gambling laws, but companies such as Las Vegas Sands have shown interest in expanding operations in the state. Their strategy includes supporting candidates who may favour legalising casino gambling.
Candidates in race
Huffman is a Republican candidate in the District 9 race. While he identifies as a fiscal conservative, campaign finance records show important contributions from entities associated with the Texas Sands PAC, the political arm of the global casino empire Las Vegas Sands. During his mayoral tenure, Southlake’s budget increased from $104.6 million in 2022 to $126.7 million in 2024, with actual expenditures rising by over 36 percent.
Leigh Wambsganss, also a Republican candidate, opposes the expansion of gambling in Texas. She has criticised the influence of casino-related funding in the race. In response to scrutiny over past business ties involving her husband and gaming investments, she has stated she was not involved in those ventures and maintains her campaign’s focus on limiting external influence.
Las Vegas Sands’ political activity in Texas
Las Vegas Sands is financially supporting efforts to influence gambling legislation in Texas. Through two organisations, the Texas Sands PAC and the Texas Defence PAC, the corporation has made contributions to political elections despite not running any casinos in the United States. Whereas the latter concentrates on advertising and indirect campaign support, the former acts as its direct political arm.
John Huffman’s campaign has reported $500,000 in direct contributions from the Texas Sands PAC and nearly $600,000 in indirect support from the Texas Defence PAC, accounting for almost 94 percent of his campaign funding.
Casino industry interests in Texas
Texas is considered a potential market for casino expansion, with residents frequently travelling to neighbouring states to access gambling facilities. Las Vegas Sands has argued that retaining gambling-related spending within Texas could benefit public infrastructure and services.
Las Vegas Sands has invested considerable resources in lobbying efforts within Texas, advocating for the introduction of resort-style casinos. The company’s stated goals include job creation and retaining gambling-related spending within the state.
Review of John Huffman’s fiscal record
John Huffman approved a $3.85 million public pickleball facility while serving as Southlake’s mayor, which sparked debate about excessive government spending. Although he promoted tax cuts, his leadership resulted in a sharp rise in city spending and budgets, raising questions about his financial management techniques.
Impact on gambling policy
On 20 October, the Texas Senate District 9 special election will open for early voting. The race, which started out as a local competition, has drawn statewide attention because it could influence future gambling laws. John Huffman’s victory might spur other attempts to legalise casino gaming in Texas. A loss could suggest that there is currently little popular support for such policy changes.
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