Texas Sports Betting

Editor’s note: As of Jan. 19, 2021

Everything is bigger in Texas, but lawmakers’ urge to bring sports wagering seems to be considerably smaller.

Sure, a bill to bring betting to Texas was offered up at the beginning of 2019 but didn’t get very far – if anywhere. Fantasy sports can’t find traction in Texas, but bingo, lottery and horse betting are allowed.

The bill offered in February 2019 by Rep. Eddie Lucio III (D) proposed both mobile and land-based sports betting and requires a voter referendum to change the Texas Constitution. Before being put to voters, the legislation had to garner a two-thirds vote in the Texas House and Senate. We can find no evidence on the Texas Legislature website that it was ever read or moved to a committee.

There has long been opposition to expansion of gaming in the state and the fact a Democrat proposed the legislation in GOP-dominated state likely sealed the legislation’s fate.

And though Texas is among the states where the Big Four sports rule, uh, two words: Dallas Cowboys, it is still unsure when, if ever, sports betting will become legal in the Lone Star State.

A famed sports marketer predicts that Texas could become the second-largest sports wagering market in the U.S. – if legislation could ever get to the ballot and pass.

The Acton Network, which studies all-things sports betting, forecasts in its latest state-by-state round-up that Texas may reconsider legislation in its next session, but residents should start planning a road trip to New Mexico, the closest state where legal sports betting is available at tribal casinos under existing state gaming compacts.

Is sports betting currently legal in the state?

No, and there is no evidence that it will be approved anytime soon.  The Texas Legislature is biennial and will reconvene in January 2021.