Millions of Texans Attempting to Access Sports Betting

• More than 1.48 million Texans attempted to log onto sports betting accounts in the state in November
• GeoComply identified more than 177,000 online sports betting accounts in Texas
• The number of online sports betting accounts increased by 87% from November 2023

Despite Texas not have legal sports betting, millions of residents in the Lone Star state are still attempting to access sports betting accounts.

According to GeoComply, a geolocation compliance company, more than 1.48 million geolocation checks in November were made from devices located in Texas attempted to access legal online sportsbooks in other states, all of which were blocked.

Additionally, the company identified more than 177,000 online sports betting user accounts located in Texas, an increase of 87% when compared with the number of accounts in November 2023.

Texans Interested in Sports Betting, Lawmakers Are Not

The data compiled from GeoComply was touted by the Texas Sports Betting Alliance as a key reason for the state legislature to put legalized sports betting up to a public vote in 2025. Texas lawmakers will open up their legislative session on Jan. 14, 2025 and sports betting legalization will likely be discussed again.

GeoComply also provided geolocation check data for October and September, which saw 1.15 million and 1.1 million blocked checks, respectively. In the last three months nearly 4 million attempts were made by Texans to access sportsbooks in other states.

“The data surrounding legalized sports betting in Texas underscores the immense potential for increased tax revenue, job creation, and economic benefits, plus important consumer protections for Texans from risky, unregulated black markets and the personal freedoms enjoyed by the vast majority of Americans. We’re urging the Texas Legislature to take action in January to let Texans play,” Lauren Clay, spokesperson for the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, said in a release.

Despite interest from the public in sports betting, the Texas Senate still poses a huge roadblock to legalization in 2025. During the 2023 session, the Texas House of Representatives approved an online sports betting bill, as well as a bill to legalize through a constitutional amendment, for the first time in the state’s history.

The victory was short lived, however, as it died a quick death in the Senate.

Senate Republicans Not Interested

Despite the House approving a sports betting bill, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), who leads the Texas Senate, quickly threw cold water on any chance the bill would move ahead in his chambers.

Patrick said there was no majority Republican support for sports betting and he would not bring the bill up for a vote in the Senate. There are 31 members in the Texas Senate and the bill needed 21 votes (two-thirds majority) for approval. In 2023, there were 12 Democrat Senators. If all voted for the bill, they’d just need nine Republican votes for two-thirds majority, right?

Well, not exactly. Patrick will not bring a bill to the floor for a unless it has the support of 15 or 16 Republican Senators. If only nine Republican Senators are in favor of one of the bills, it becomes a “Democrat” led bill and Patrick won’t call it to the Senate floor for a vote.

Patrick will still lead the Texas Senate in 2025 and likely will not change his stance on legalized sports betting.