In a state that is known for having some of the biggest sporting events in the world, legalized sports betting is still a hot-button topic. Per a recent report from Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas sports betting faces major hurdles towards legalization moving forward despite major in-state support. Per the updated article, Texas legislators have held firm against gaming legalization, the latest bill being struck down in 2021. That bill would have legalized sports wagering in the state, but since the legislature only meets in odd-numbered years, there will be no further movement on the matter until at least 2023, even with some major backing in the state.
For this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming update in the Lone Star State and also some more thoughts and notes about Texas wagering.
According to the update in the Star-Telegram, many professional sports teams in the state have come together to support a legalized gaming bill. Recently, legal sports betting has received a push from the state’s professional sports teams. This includes all of Texas’ NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB franchises, along with the Texas Motor Speedway and the PGA Tour forming the Sports Betting Alliance backing the 2021 gaming bill how the latest gaming measure fell short in the last legislative session and died from inaction.
Per the updated article, while Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick remains a fierce opponent to any gaming measure, pro sports teams in the state continue to work with online gaming companies. As pointed out in the Star-Telegram, the Houston Astros were the latest club to form a partnership with a betting company. Back in May of this year, the club announced BetMGM as their exclusive betting partner, while Major League Soccer teams in Austin and Houston have put together partnerships with Fubo and PointsBet sportsbooks, respectively.
Per sources, some other big power players in the Lone Star State are also in support of legalized gambling in the state. This includes Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones along with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban as some of the loudest supporters of the new measure. In addition to these professional sports titans, professional gambling in the state also has an ally in Beto O’Rourke, who is the biggest opponent for incumbent Greg Abbot, the state’s next governor this election cycle.
According to O’Rourke, he feels as though legalized gaming in the state is something that “warrants a very close look” and is something that he is inclined to support. However, it would appear that prospective sports bettors in Texas must look out of state. As the Star-Telegram update points out, although New Mexico allows only for in-person sports betting at a handful of tribal casinos, other bordering states offer other options. For instance, Louisiana just launched mobile sports betting in January and Arkansas followed suit in March. The former has been particularly popular for Texans bettors to get out of state and place their bets in.
When you are done making your bets and would like to learn more about the current state of the Texas gaming scene, make sure to check out our sports betting in Texas guide. For this breakdown, you will learn more about the state of legal wagering in Texas along with a lot of fun information. This also includes information on great bonuses, which is further expanded on in the SBS best bonus betting sites breakdown. On this page, you can find a dynamic catalog of the different bonus offers available to you right now and the best ones to take advantage of. On a final note, our payment methods overview is a wonderful resource to see all the latest deposit and withdrawal options available. Choose the best outlet for you, and let the games begin!
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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