Will Texas allow online sports betting? Lawmakers take steps to expand gambling

Lawmakers filed bills Monday to legalize online sports betting in Texas, the latest push by state legislators to expand gambling in Texas.

Legalizing sports betting in Texas would require voter approval of a constitutional amendment. Plano Republican Jeff Leach and Brenham Republican Sen. Lois Kolkhorst filed a bill that would allow people to vote on sport wagering and an accompanying bill outlining how gambling would be established.

“I am proud to partner with Senator Kolkhorst in filing this important legislation,” Leach said in a statement. “It will serve to promote freedom and liberty in Texas and protect our citizens from the illegal and increasingly dangerous sports betting market that preys on unsuspecting consumers, including minors, putting their personal and financial information at great risk.”

The legislation was met with support by the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, whose partners include the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Stars, Dallas Mavericks, FC Dallas, the Texas Rangers, Texas Motor Speedway, BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel.

Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said a legal and regulated sports betting market is best for Texas.

“It will give Texans the ability to decide for themselves if they want this activity safely regulated or continue to be conducted in the shadows by out-of-state betting platforms,” Jones said in a statement from the Sports Betting Alliance.

Ray Davis, the Texas Rangers’ managing partner and majority owner, said fans have been betting on sports for years.

“It is time for sports betting to come out of the shadows so we can engage fans in an area where they are already spending time and money while enhancing the fan experience,” Davis said in a statement from the Sports Betting Alliance.

The Alliance announced in November that former Gov. Rick Perry is serving as a spokesperson for the group, advocating for mobile sports betting in the state. Twenty lobbyists are registered to represent the Sports Betting Alliance, Texas Ethics Commission records show.

Sports betting is allowed in 33 states, according to the American Gaming Association. Three others have legalized it, but sports betting isn’t operational.

The legislation would prohibit sports betting for anyone under the age of 21 and would not allow computer terminals in places like clubs for the primary use of sports betting.

It establishes a permitted process for sports betting and allows sport governing bodies to enter into commercial agreements. Betting on youth sports would not be allowed.

The Texas Sports Betting Alliance and the Texas Destination Resort Alliance have emerged as two of the players pushing for expanded gambling in Texas.

On Friday, Fort Worth Republican Charlie Geren filed legislation that would let voters decide whether or not to legalize expanded casino gambling and legalize sports betting in Texas. The bill allows for a limited number of destination-resort style casinos — casinos with other features like hotels, restaurants, meeting spaces, entertainment venues and shopping centers. It did not outline the specifics of how sports betting would be allowed, such as whether it would be in-person only or if mobile sports betting would be permitted.

The legislation is supported by the Texas Destination Resort Alliance, backed by casino and resort company Las Vegas Sands.

Only a fraction of the bills filed during the legislative session become law. Pushes for expanded casino gambling and sports betting in did not make it to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk when lawmakers last met in Austin in 2021. The gambling allowed in Texas includes a state lottery, horse and dog racing, some gaming rooms and a few tribal casinos.

Gov. Greg Abbott, while running for reelection, said in a candidate questionnaire he was open to “a professional entertainment option for Texans” but didn’t elaborate on how sports betting fits in. House Speaker Dade Phelan told reporters in January that he believes voters would back proposals for expanded casino gambling or sports betting.

“I want to see destination style casinos that are of high quality and that create jobs and that improve the lifestyle in those communities,” Phelan said. “That have hotels and concert venues, golf course — that are major economic drivers.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick thinks proposals for casinos and sports books should be made through the lens of jobs and tourism, according to a 2021 radio interview on the on “The Chad Hasty Show.” More recently, in a KXAN-TV interview published in the days before the legislative session began, Patrick said he has not seen movement on gambling expansion.

Phelan on Monday declined through a spokesperson to comment on the sports betting legislation. Requests for comment sent to Abbott and Patrick’s office were not immediately returned.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.