Despite long odds, new attempts to bring legalized gambling to the Lone Star State are officially underway in the Texas legislature in 2025.
Two separate bills were filed this week in hopes of getting sports betting and land-based casino gaming on this year’s November ballot in one of the largest unregulated markets in the U.S.
Rep. Sam Harless filed HJR 134 “proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to legalize wagering in this state on certain sporting events.”
Rep. Charlie Geren proposed HJR 137, calling for the Texas legislature to “regulate and authorize casino gaming and sports wagering by general law and establishing certain requirements for such law, including imposition of a tax on casino gaming and sports wagering revenue, requiring licensing of casino gaming and sports wagering operators, and requiring license application fees.”
Legislation details
The sports betting bill wants to allow professional sports teams, pro golf organizations that hold tour events in Texas, and Class 1 racetracks to authorize wagering. No tax rate was included in his filing.
HJR 137 is more complicated and involves the controversial decision to offer commercial casinos for the first time in the Lone Star State. Geren’s bill calls for a maximum of 10 gaming licenses given by the state with a tax rate of 15%.
Texas would also have to negotiate gaming compacts with three federally recognized Indian tribes to offer casinos and Texas sports betting on tribal lands.
Online casinos, which are only legal in seven U.S. states, are not included in either of these proposals. Sports betting is currently legal in 39 states and operating in 38.
Massive roadblocks
Texas is the second most-populous U.S. state behind only California, another unregulated market. Those are the two most coveted gaming jurisdictions left, but neither appears ready to move in a pro-gambling direction.
ICYMI: Texas lawmakers have introduced the long-anticipated online sports betting and retail casino authorization bills; state Senate leaders have said they will not consider either bill, but proponents have said they will continue pushing the proposals
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) February 13, 2025
Previous legislative attempts have largely gone nowhere in the Lone Star State. Many lawmakers oppose any form of legal gaming, citing problem gambling as one of the major concerns.
Despite the House’s hopes, Senate leaders in Texas have stood their ground against either form of gaming.
There’s an unregulated market in Texas, with residents placing bets at offshore sportsbooks, as well as daily fantasy sports sites that operate in murky waters throughout the state.
Arkansas and Louisiana, a pair of Texas neighbors, offer legal online sports betting that takes wagering money from the Lone Star State. Oklahoma has casinos located close to the border to attract Texas residents, but the opposition has held steady.
Hopeful parties
There are gaming proponents in Texas beyond these two lawmakers, and there’s a proverbial thought that eventually, the Lone Star State will enact sports betting laws.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has stated that he has no problem with sports betting and believes Texans are already doing it.
The NBA team in Dallas was purchased by the Las Vegas Sands Corp. in late 2023. The hotel and resort group that built multiple casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and owns gaming operations in other countries has clearly stated that it wants to bring casino projects to the highly populated Dallas area.
Dallas Cowboys co-owner Charlotte Jones said last year in an interview that she wants Texas to legalize sports betting to rid the state of “bad actors” in the unregulated market. Jerry Jones’ daughter said she also sees sports betting as a way to engage more with fans.
Dropping the ball?
Data suggests that there are a lot of people in Texas who want to bet on sports.
Geolocation technology company GeoComply reported that 17,000 sports betting accounts created in legal wagering states were accessed in Texas during Super Bowl week. That figure was up 29% from 2023’s 13,000 attempts.
Everything’s bigger in Texas—including the demand for legal sports betting.
— GeoComply (@GeoComply) February 13, 2025
Over #SuperBowlLIX weekend, thousands of Texans tried to place legal bets—but with no options in-state, they were left high and dry.
Check out the infographic & January's report for the full story!… pic.twitter.com/SgNLkf5Am2
During the NFL’s regular season, GeoComply’s data showed that over 4.5 million geolocation checks came from more than 333,000 Lone Star State accounts, a 55.55% year-over-year increase.
The technology company also estimates that Texas could produce $302.4 million annually in tax revenue by Year 3 of sports betting if it were legal and regulated.
A research firm projects an even higher tax benefit in the Lone Star State.
