Survey: Majority of Texans Support Gambling, Marijuana Legalization

 

HOUSTON – A new survey from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston found that a majority of Texans support legalizing gambling and marijuana.

The survey, conducted in January, found that 73% of Texans favor legalizing destination resort casinos, 60% support online sports betting, and 56% back sportsbooks at professional sports venues. Support for marijuana legalization was also strong, with 79% favoring the sale and use of medical marijuana with a prescription, 69% supporting decriminalizing personal marijuana possession, and 62% advocating for legal recreational use.

However, 22% of respondents support keeping Texas’ current marijuana laws unchanged.

Mark P. Jones, a political science fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, noted that while support for these changes is high, legislative approval remains uncertain. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has prioritized a ban on THC consumables in his 2025 agenda.

“This research indicates a majority, and in many cases a significant majority, of Texans support these proposals, including a majority of Republicans,” Jones said. “While support for marijuana-related legislation is lower among Republicans than Democrats, and among those who describe themselves as born-again Protestants, support for many of the proposals under consideration crosses demographic and partisan lines. That’s especially true in regard to gambling.”

Support for gambling was found across party lines, with 72% of Republicans and 74% of Democrats backing casino gaming. Online sports betting saw slightly lower support among Republicans (59%) compared to Democrats (65%).

The survey also revealed generational and religious divides, with born-again Protestants and older generations being the least likely to support gambling. Younger Texans and independents were more likely to favor marijuana legalization.

Despite strong support for easing restrictions, more than half of Texans support Patrick’s proposed ban on THC consumables, with 61% of Republicans and 70% of Gen Z respondents in favor.

The survey was conducted between Jan. 13 and 21 in both English and Spanish, with a margin of error of +/- 2.83%. 

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