Texas faces decision on sports betting legalization, with both support and opposition on the table
Texans who wish to gamble are currently forced to drive across state lines, as betting is illegal within the Lone Star State. Despite this, thousands of Texans are engaging in sports betting online, even though it is also illegal.
State Representative Jeff Leach, R-Plano, has proposed a bill, HB 1942, to legalize and regulate online sports betting, and spoke before the State Affairs Committee to advocate for its passage. Additionally, he has proposed HJR 102, a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting in the state, which he believes should be put on the ballot for voters to decide on in November.
Leach believes that hundreds of thousands of Texans are engaging in illegal sports betting, and that regulating the industry would be beneficial for everyone. The proposed bill would require operators to pay a $500,000 license fee, while sports franchises would be able to apply to operate online sports bets.
The Dallas Cowboys organization has already expressed support for the bill, with legal counsel Jason Cohen stating that they “would love to give our fans an opportunity to engage with our game in a new way by providing fans a safe and responsible way to place wagers.”
The Texas Sports Betting Alliance, consisting of professional sports teams from across the state, including the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Mavericks, the Houston Texans, and the San Antonio Spurs, has also expressed support for the bill. Online sports betting platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Barstool have also thrown their weight behind the alliance.
However, not everyone is on board with the proposed legislation. Jonathan Covey, policy director for Texas Values, spoke out against the bills, arguing that “gambling in any form is addictive and harmful to families and disproportionately affects those who cannot afford to lose anything.” Texas Against Gambling, a grassroots organization, has also opposed the bills.
No action was taken on Wednesday, but for the bill to move forward, it must first make it out of committee. Despite the opposition, Leach believes that Texans have the right to vote on whether or not to legalize sports betting in the state and is committed to pushing for the passage of the proposed bills.
