Supporters for Texas sports betting continue to line up, including a former secretary of state.
John Scott, who served as Texas secretary of state from 2021-22, told CBS Austin and ESPN Houston last week that he hopes people in the state can soon vote on Texas sports betting. He noted the estimated $6 billion illegally wagered annually.
“Last session, [legalized sports betting] came very close to passing. … What the folks that are in favor of it want done is to just put it out there for the voters,” Scott told the radio station. “If the voters say, ‘yes,’ then that’s what we’ll have.”
The Texas legislative session starts Jan. 14.
Texas sports betting momentum
While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick leads the Senate and remains a major roadblock, momentum is swelling for Texas sports betting.
Along with Scott, former Gov. Rick Perry has been lobbying for legalized sports betting.
Likewise, billionaires are lining up to support sports betting and gambling expansion, including Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban. Casino magnate and Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson donated $14 million to legislators in 2024, lobbying for gambling legislation.
Lone Star path
In 2023, the House passed online sports betting legislation. It fell short in the Senate, where Patrick led the opposition.
Patrick has repeatedly said there is not enough support to pass the issue in the Senate.
Gambling expansion requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers. It also requires a majority of Texans to approve of the issue at the polls.
Growing support in Texas
A recent industry projection estimates that the Lone Star State could be the most lucrative market in the US for online sports betting. The estimates suggest an annual handle of $32.1 billion.
In November, GeoComply logged more than 1.48 million attempts to access legal sportsbooks from Texas, up 87% from November 2023.
“The data surrounding legalized sports betting in Texas underscores the immense potential for increased tax revenue, job creation, and economic benefits, plus important consumer protections for Texans from risky, unregulated black markets and the personal freedoms enjoyed by the vast majority of Americans,” Texas Sports Betting Alliance spokesperson Lauren Clay said in a November release. “We’re urging the Texas Legislature to take action in January to let Texans play.”
