Texas moves prediction markets, crypto and blockchain to the top of its legislative agenda as officials prepare for the 2027 session.
In a Friday announcement, Texas Senate Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick added studies of prediction markets, digital assets and blockchain technology to the interim charges that will guide the state’s next legislative session. Patrick framed the moves as part of efforts to “advance the priorities of Texas’ conservative majority,” and singled out prediction markets for special scrutiny.
The charges direct lawmakers to examine the rapid rise of prediction-market activity and how federal law may be used to circumvent Texas’ gambling restrictions — with particular attention on markets tied to elections. Patrick described the work as aimed at “closing gambling loopholes,” signaling potential legislative or enforcement action if the study finds gaps in current state law.
Crypto and blockchain will also be examined through a federal-coordination lens. Patrick called for stronger “coordination with federal rules” and ordered a review of crypto kiosks operating across Texas — a reference to the in-person machines that let consumers buy and sell digital assets. That emphasis suggests the state wants clearer alignment between state-level rules and federal regulators’ evolving guidance.
Texas is not alone in scrutinizing prediction platforms. States including Nevada and Arizona have already pursued legal action against trading venues such as Polymarket and Kalshi, reflecting a growing national focus on whether prediction markets fall within gambling law or are protected as financial markets.
The interim charges extend beyond crypto. Patrick also proposed a study on the “impact of AI on the Texas workforce and its implications for economic competitiveness,” underscoring the state’s interest in tech-driven economic policy. Separately, Texas has attracted major AI and cloud investments: Google recently backed a multibillion-dollar data center project in the state to support Anthropic, as previously reported by crypto.news.
Timing matters: the Texas Legislature meets only once every two years, and will reconvene for a 140-day session beginning in January 2027. The outcome of these interim studies could shape bills introduced then.
Texas’ crypto posture has already been notable. In the last session the state passed a landmark Bitcoin reserve bill, becoming the first U.S. state to establish such a reserve. Texas made its initial $5 million Bitcoin purchase in November 2025, a move that put it at the center of state-level crypto policy debates.
What to watch: the interim reports and hearings that emerge over the next year, any draft legislation addressing prediction markets or crypto kiosks, and how federal regulators’ positions influence state recommendations. Those developments will indicate whether Texas pursues tighter restrictions, enhanced regulatory coordination, or a middle path that balances market innovation with consumer and electoral protections.
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