As the largest state in America, aside from Alaska, Texas is another area where gaming regulators and businesses are looking to sink their teeth into. Currently, there are a handful of legal forms of gambling in Texas which include the Texas lottery, pari-mutuel wagering on horses and greyhounds, and also three Indian casinos. Beyond that, there are a multitude of sources in the Texas legislature and beyond that are trying to get commercialized gaming legalized in the Lone Star State.
Below, SBS will detail some of the latest news coming out of Texas and what these developments mean for the future of the state.
As mentioned above, there are a couple of main champions in the Texas legislature pushing to get gaming legalized across the state. For instance, in a recent February article from KTEM News Radio, Texas State Senator Carol Alvarado has been pushing for the last decade to get commercialized casino gambling approved in the state. Her stance is that it would create more money and jobs for the people of the state. However, for this to happen it would take a constitutional amendment which has to be approved by voters in the state. This has yet to happen, but law enforcement officials have found that these gaming laws seem to be broken all the time across the state.
What’s interesting is that even with one of the harshest stances on illegal wagering (see Penal Code 47.01) in the country, many still find a way to gamble. For instance, KTRK-TV (ABC 13) in Houston reported earlier this year that Texans placed over a million illegal bets, around $5 billion, on contests a year. So with that in mind, there are organizations working together to make illegal wagering, a thing of the past.
One of those groups is known as the Sports Betting Alliance and is a coalition of Texas sports, fans, and betting platforms. With many groups like this popping up all over the state, there are more laws currently being written to change the gaming landscape in Texas.
Per their website, the Sports Betting Alliance has a goal of having a bill getting on the ballot in November of 2023. If everything breaks correctly for the group, this constitutional amendment would go into effect statewide. If this bill is passed, mobile sports gambling could go live in Texas as early as January 1st, 2024 according to the same article from KTEM.
For gaming to make the final push at the legislative levels, party officials will have to meet in the middle for the state to turn the corner. Until then, casino cruises, Indian casinos, and eight-liners in game rooms across the state will be the norm.
As you are getting ready to place more bets, it is a no-brainer to check out what kind of resources are available to you in Texas. That’s why SBS has you covered with the best online sportsbooks in the state. Another great resource to have available are the most popular payment methods and how you can access them. By checking out these two resources, you will give yourself a leg up on placing your wagers at lightning-speed and also doing so in a legal fashion.
For anyone that is also familiar with gaming, a great tool to have handy is where you can find the best bonuses online at any given time. Having this page on hand will give you the most return on your investment and at a minimum – free money! The SBS bonus page has the most up-to-date information regarding new programs with each site so make sure to check them all out for the most lucrative fiscal return.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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