When Will Sports Betting Be Legal in Texas?
In 2019, there were some positive developments for sports betting and gambling in the state. Two bills were created to legalize sports betting in House Joint Resolution 61 and House Bill 1275. Another, House Bill 3043, was put forth to build 12 casinos in counties that voted in favor of doing so were introduced. Unfortunately, none of the bills gained any traction.
There were bills being discussed in 2021, but they needed to gain a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate and then be put to a referendum vote to amend the state constitution in a later election. With Texas being a historically conservative state, the move to accept legal sports betting may be a slow one. However, new sports betting bills are starting to file in as of February 2023, and Texas online sports betting could soon be a reality.
BREAKING: The Texas Sports Betting Alliance announced that Sen. Lois Kolkhorst filed SB 715 and SJR 39 1942 and Rep. Jeff Leach filed HB 1942 and HJR 102 to legalize and regulate online sports betting in Texas.
— RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl) February 6, 2023
Should sports betting continue to expand in the US, the potential market may be too big to ignore. Texas is the second-most populous state in the country and is home to numerous high-profile major sports teams.
Texas is home to the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, Dallas Wings, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash, Houston Rockets, and recent MLS expansion side Austin FC. Additionally, Texas is a hotbed for college and high school sports and ranching and rodeos, with sports heavily ingrained in the state’s culture.
According to Dallas News, estimates say Texans spend approximately $2.5 billion a year at border casinos in other states, an astonishing amount for lawmakers to allow to continue to be spent elsewhere.
Latest Texas Sports Betting News
We’re keeping this page updated with the latest updates surrounding the legalization of Texas sports betting. Here is the most recent Texas sports betting news:
- March 1, 2023: The Texas senate had it’s first reading of sports betting bill SB 715. The Texas sports betting bill that would legalize retail and online wagering in the Lone Star State was referred to the Senate State Affairs committee.
- February 21, 2023: Support continues to grow for legalizing Texas sports betting in 2023, with government officials and pro sports teams throwing their approval behind the latest regulatory efforts. If legalized, local Texas teams from pro sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA, and MLS will be eligible for online sports betting licenses. The Texas Sports Betting Alliance is backed by figures like former Gov. Rick Perry, and there’s confidence any online sports betting bill would be approved by voters if a ballot measure makes in through the Senate and House.
- February 6, 2023: The Texas Sports Betting Alliance has announced Sen. Lois Kolkhorst filed SB 715 and SJR 39 1942, while Rep. Jeff Leach filed HB 1942 and HJR 102 to potentially legalize online sports betting in Texas. While similar bills have faced opposition previously, these bills are already receiving full support from the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, which is comprised of pro sports teams and leagues, racetracks, and betting platforms.
Texas Sports Betting FAQs
Here are some quick answers to Texas sports betting FAQs:
Is sports betting legal in Texas?
Currently, sports betting is not legal in Texas, whether that be in-person or through mobile wagering. However, horse racing and pari-mutuel betting are legal in the state, and there are tracks throughout where gamblers can make wagers.
Are there any casinos in Texas?
In the entire state, only two tribal casinos operate to serve gamblers in Texas. One is in Livingston, and the other is in Eagle Pass.
What are the professional sports teams in Texas?
Texas is home to a ton of pro sports teams. The Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs of the NBA, Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers of the MLB, FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo of MLS, the NHL's Dallas Stars, and the WNBA's Dallas Wings all call Texas home.
