Former Texas Governor Rick Perry is supporting the push for legal sports betting in Texas.
Like his fellow Texas republicans, Perry has historically been an outspoken opponent of legalized gambling in the Lone Star State. However, Perry’s views on sports betting have changed, and the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) is hoping the rest of his party will follow suit.
The SBA is a group comprised of sports betting companies, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Barstool Sportsbook. Nearly every professional Texas sports team is also an SBA member, from the Dallas Cowboys to Austin FC.
Last month, the Texas-based organization hired Perry as a spokesperson. This month, Perry has been making the rounds in Texas media, touting the advantages of regulated sports betting in Texas.
In a recent Fox 7 Austin interview, Perry discussed the prevalence of illegal sports betting and the need for statewide regulation.
"I'm pretty sure people have been betting since the first time two guys met horseback in a dusty street and probably centuries before that," Perry said. "So, betting on sporting events is nothing new. 35, 36 other states already do this because the Supreme Court met and said, you know, you can't ban this. This is a state issue. So, two-thirds of the states have already said, you know what, this is going to go on.
"Let's regulate it. Let's make sure that it's safe. Let's make sure that your information doesn't get used by some nefarious platform somewhere. That's why the time is right."
Perry changes his tune… or at least some notes
Like most Texas Republicans, Rick Perry was not initially a fan of gambling. In fact, he was a vocal opponent of legal sports betting in Texas. In 1986, he voted against the Texas Racing Act, which allowed pari-mutuel wagering on horse and greyhound races, and established the Texas Racing Commission.
While still Governor of Texas, Perry sent a letter to US Congressional leaders urging them to reverse a 2011 interpretation of the Wire Act, which had the potential to pave the way for legalized online gambling.
Perry wrote, “Allowing internet gaming to invade the homes of every American family and be piped into our dens, our living rooms, our workplaces, and even our kids’ bedrooms and dorm rooms is a major decision. We must carefully examine the short and long-term social and economic consequences before Internet gambling spreads.
Perry claims, however, that his current role as spokesperson for the SBA is not at odds with his previous stand on gambling. He has always wanted to protect Texans from gambling’s downside.
Perry rightly notes that illegal sports betting is already prevalent and growing in Texas. An Eilers & Krejci Gaming study estimated that revenues from illegal sports betting in Texas were $5.0 billion in 2021 and $8.7 billion in 2022. Perry now feels that regulation is the safest option for Texans.
“This is a way to regulate and to make legal this activity that is going to go on. The idea that somehow or another, people are going to stop betting on sports is a bit of a fallacy. Well, it is just not going to happen,” Perry said.
The Hurdle is Still High, But Sports Betting is Gaining Ground
Just a few years ago, legalized sports betting in Texas was a non-starter. But times change, even in this largely conservative state.
While the rest of the country rolled out casinos during the financial crisis in the hopes of generating jobs and revenue, Texas abstained. After the Supreme Court lifted the ban on sports betting, Texas sat on the sidelines.
Texas saw its first real push for legalized gambling from long-time Republican donor — and former casino mogul — the late Sheldon Adelson. The Las Vegas Sands hired more than 50 lobbyists for the 2021 session of the Texas legislature. While no gambling bill passed that year, this session could be more fruitful, especially for sports betting.
Sports betting is already prevalent in Texas. That horse has left the barn, and now the only question left is whether legislators are willing to rein it in or let it continue to run amok.
A bipartisan sports betting and casino bill has already been submitted for Texas’ 2023 legislative session, and more bills may soon follow. The goal of any gambling will be to get a referendum before Texas voters in the November 2023 election.
However, it will take a two-thirds legislative majority to move forward, and that’s still a tough hill to climb — even with Perry’s support.
