During the last legislative session, Texas House members passed a resolution to let voters decide on legalizing sports betting, but it stalled in the Senate
Lawmakers in Texas are preparing for the 2025 session, and efforts to make sports betting legal are picking up steam.
Texas Sports Betting Alliance Urges Action on Illegal Wagers, Eyes $360M in Taxes
Groups like the Texas Sports Betting Alliance are putting more pressure on politicians to control the industry. They point out the possible financial benefits and the need to protect consumers better. The alliance speaks for big sports teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Astros, Austin FC, and Texas Motor Speedway.
They keep asking lawmakers to do something about the state’s big illegal betting problem. Industry guesses say Texans spend about $6 billion each year on unregulated sports bets. If the state were to control it, experts think it could bring in over $360 million in taxes every year.
During the last legislative session, Texas House members voted to pass a resolution. This resolution would let voters choose if they want to make sports betting legal by changing the state constitution. The resolution got enough votes in the House, but it did not go far in the Senate. Dan Patrick, the Lieutenant Governor, played a big part in stopping it. He said there was not enough support in the Senate, which Republicans control. Patrick pointed out that the Senate focuses on things GOP voters care about.
John Scott, a spokesperson for the Texas Sports Betting Alliance and former Texas Secretary of State, still sees hope for the upcoming session to bring new chances, reported CBS Austin.
Scott noted that more pressure from voters could sway the Senate’s view hinting that last session’s defeat came from poor communication between senators and their areas about public interest in sports betting. Scott has presented the issue as a matter of personal choice claiming that Texans should be free to choose how they spend their money.
Legal Sports Betting Could Boost Texas Economy by $2.6B Annually, Study Finds
Economic research keeps showing that a regulated sports betting market could bring big benefits. A study by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming suggests legal sports betting might add $2.6 billion to yearly economic output. It could also create an extra indirect income of $24.3 million. Those who support this idea say this money could help pay for important state services. These include things like schools and building projects.
Despite obvious financial benefits, pushback from key players like Patrick keeps holding things up. Still, backers in the sports world, including Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Charlotte Jones, argue that rules could boost fan interest, offer vital safeguards for consumers, and stop Texas from missing out on money to nearby states where sports betting is already regulated. Jones has stressed how crucial it is to make sure Texas does not lag behind as things get more and more competitive.
The political scene for the 2025 session is still up in the air, but the drive to legalize sports betting is getting stronger. Firms like DraftKings and FanDuel have stepped up their lobbying hinting at the industry’s growing confidence in a possible change. Public polls show rising support for legal sports betting putting more heat on lawmakers to take another look at the issue.
