Sports betting in Texas would be a huge boon to the state’s economy if it were legalized. It is quite strange that sports betting is illegal in Texas since the state is known for its love of the sport. In fact, Texas is the home to some of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
During the 2021 parliamentary session, sports betting was a major topic of discussion. Several measures were introduced in the state legislature that would legalize sports betting. Since the Texas legislature only meets every 2 years, the next possibility for legalization will not come for another year.
Continue reading to learn more about the possible future of sports gambling in Texas.
Status of Sports Betting in the State of Texas
In Texas, sports betting is not yet allowed. In the meanwhile, Texas legislators have joined a growing number of states in the United States that are thinking about allowing sports betting as a means of generating additional income.
2021 was a bad year for advocates of sports betting. Legislating sports betting on commercial and collegiate levels in Texas can be difficult due to strong political opposition.
Nevertheless, the political situation might undergo a dramatic shift in 2022. Gambling critics in Texas may have lost their stranglehold on Texas politics over time as the state has become more tolerant of other forms of entertainment. Perhaps a new melody might be heard in 2023 when legislators return to work for the first time since 2018. Fortunately, until sports betting is completely legal in Texas, you can still utilize the service of offshore bookies to place a wager in the Lonestar State. Since these firms are based in countries where sports betting is legal, you won’t be penalized if you use their sites to place a bet.
Nowadays, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency is Bitcoin. A growing number of Bitcoin sportsbooks are making use of this blockchain technology and more sites are resorting to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Some of the best crypto betting options in Texas may give a special crypto booster incentive to entice their users to bet more.
When will Texas be able to place bets on sports through the internet?
For Texas, legal sports betting is not expected before 2023. There is a strong anti-gambling sentiment in Austin’s legislative environment. Sports betting is not particularly controversial among Texans. There was a recent poll performed by the College of North texas – Tyler revealed that 48% of Texas residents support legal sports betting, while another 36% were unsure. Only a few were adamantly opposed.
Only white evangelicals were more opposed to further growth than the rest of the population. Even so, just 44% of those polled were opposed to the legalization of sports wagering. Interestingly, the same poll found that more than 50% of respondents supported the idea of bringing online casino gambling to Texas
However, elder residents are still the most inclined to vote and donate to political causes. This demographic in Texas has a negative view of gaming. Because of this, the Lone Star State’s opposition voters are more likely to be the most vociferous and well-equipped to influence state officials. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have both been outspoken opponents of casino expansion throughout their terms as governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.
Out-of-state gambling interests also give generously to Texas lawmakers. When it comes to political donations from Native American groups, the Chickasaw Nation, which operates WinStar World Casino in Oklahoma, has given more than $15 million throughout the years.
Even while the public appears to support the idea of sports gambling in Texas, there are a number of significant political barriers that must be cleared before the issue can be debated in the state legislature. Can you blame the public? Imagine betting on NBA Hall of Famer James Worthy with a chance to win money. For now, however, the best predictor of a probable change in the situation is the outcome of this year’s midterm elections.
Are Texas Daily Fantasy Sports Legal?
FanDuel and DraftKings are two of the most popular DFS betting services, however, there is a legal gray area around whether or not it is truly allowed to place wagers.
Even though daily fantasy sites aren’t prosecuted by the law, previous attempts to make them legal failed.
FanDuel and DraftKings both allow players from Texas, and the state appears to be comfortable with letting this roll out in a condition of legal limbo while it properly examines its next actions on sports betting. At the end of the day, all DFS activity is completely secure thanks to the US Gaming Commission and the Fantasy Sports Trade Association.
To Conclude: Legal Texas Sports Betting is still uncertain
No one can anticipate exactly how the legalization of sports betting in Texas will turn out, and it’s impossible to know what the future holds.
Our best judgment is that it should happen, but the present sports betting law may not be the one that does it.
But if everything goes well and H 1275 succeeds with a change to the state law, Texans may begin wagering on sports as early as February 1, 2023, if all goes according to plan.
As a result of the possibility of billions of dollars in revenue, this law may be pushed through quickly.
Texans can play daily fantasy sports (DFS) or travel to one of the few surrounding states that have already legalized full-fledged sports betting in the meantime.
