- Revenue from a sports betting market in Texas has seen estimates of generating $150 million annually if the pastime were legalized. Should a bill pass in 2021, voters would see the subject on their ballots in November for a launch in 2022 if sportsbook legalization received the majority vote.
- Texas didn’t officially legalize any gambling activities until 1933, when they approved pari-mutuel betting. Just four years later, the state voted to shut down pari-mutuel wagering. The see sawing continued in 1987, when Texas legalized pari-mutuel gambling for good. The state also has a strange history with tribal casinos.
No, sports betting in Texas is not legal at this time.
A number of sports betting legalization bills were introduced in 2019, including one from the governor that would allow residents anywhere in the state to place mobile sports wagers (not tied to.
Sports betting in Texas
In 2019, Rep. Eddie Lucio filed H 1275, a bill which would authorize and regulate sports wagering, including mobile and online betting. Passage, however, is considered a long shot. The state governor is opposed to legalized sports betting, as are many state politicians. A two-thirds majority would be required to pass the bill in the Texas legislature.
With numerous professional and college teams in a state of nearly 30 million people, the Lone Star State is a potentially large market for the sports betting industry. Indications are that Texas lags behind other states as a serious contender to add sports betting in some form or another.
Online sportsbooks in Texas
None.
Retail Sportsbooks in Texas
None.
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Is Us Sports Betting Legal In Texas
Latest updates on Texas sports betting
Updated: Feb, 25, 2021
Just a few weeks into the new year and Rep. Harold Dutton has proposed a bill to legalize sports betting in Texas.
The online-only bill emerged with support from Gov. Greg Abbott as well as from owners of some of the state’s professional teams. If passed, HB 1121 would make Texas the second state to introduce a regulated mobile-only industry, joining Tennessee.
The bill authorizes regulators to issue a maximum of five sports betting licenses at a time, which, considering the sheer size of Texas, would not be sufficient enough for the state to capitalize on a sports-crazed population. Another drawback surrounds the proposal’s ban on accepting wagers on events involving Texas colleges and universities.
As written, the bill would also set a 6.25% tax rate on revenue, far less than what most other jurisdictions levy on regulated sports betting operators.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Texas
Ultimately, any change to Texas gambling laws requires a constitutional amendment. So a long road still awaits for this proposal, which awaits discussion in the House.