According to a report by CBS Sports, industry analysts believe that Texas could legalize sports betting by 2023. If this happens, Texas will become the largest state with legal sports betting.
Lawmakers missed the deadline to bring legal and regulated sports betting to the Lone Star State last year, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t come back on the agenda next year.
The move has generated a lot of interest by major stakeholders, including Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, the Dallas Mavericks and the Texas Rangers – all which have formed a coalition to push the issue.
We’ve being seeing a lot of action in Texas’ gambling industry in recent months.
Just last week, the Supreme Court ruled 5 – 4 that the state doesn’t have the authority to ban electronic bingo on tribal lands since it is not a game that’s prohibited by state law.
Operators are making a move to ready themselves for entry into any potential sports betting market. In May this year, BetMGM announced that it was the exclusive sports betting partner of the Houston Astros – the group’s first collaboration in Texas.
Beto O’Rourke, in the running to be elected governor of Texas, said in April that he would support a sports betting measure if he got the vote.
“It’s something I’m inclined to support,” he’s on the record for saying.
