Gaming is a hot-button topic in the Lone Star State and for good reason with potentially millions of dollars of revenue at stake. Proponents for and against the measure have stated their case for years now, but a new poll shows that a majority of Texans favor sports betting. In a recent report, Betting TX commissioned a Pollfish poll to gauge voter support for sports betting legalization. The poll targeted 1,000 registered Texas voters 18 years of age and older. According to the article, they were asked if they would vote in favor of a referendum on legal sports betting if the question was on the ballot in 2025. Moreover, an overwhelming 67.39% of respondents would vote yes, and there was majority support within each age subset.
For this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from Texas and also more notes about Texas wagering.
Per the same report, the most fervent support came from the 35-44 group with 78.65% approval. Moreover, the figure was 74.99% for people between the ages of 24 and 34. Support for gaming measures stood at 68.65% among some older respondents 45-54 years old. Overall, these results were all favorable for gaming in the state but dipped a bit as the audience segment became older.
For example, a solid 69.25% of the 18-24-year-old participants were in favor of legalization. Juxtapose this with 53.65% of people 55 years of age who would “vote yes” on a measure to legalize sports betting in Texas according to the poll. Indeed, based off this segmented poll alone, it would certainly appear that younger Texans are making an effort to push for sports betting in the state.
For regular readers of this space, you are aware of the recent battles to get sports betting passed in Texas. In 2023, the Texas House of Representatives voted on two legislative measures that would have put sports betting legalization on the ballot in November of that year per one article. Prior to the vote, State Representative Rick Leach made a statement to the State Affairs Committee. He said, “Hundreds of thousands of Texans right now who are placing sports bets illegally, criminally right now, should be allowed to come out of the shadows. The people of Texas deserve a right to vote on this.”
While the House passed the bills, there was insufficient support in the Senate and the bills did not move forward. Texas uses a biennial legislative session model, so the next session will begin in January 2025.
Once you are all squared away with the latest gaming news updates from the Lone Star State, check out all the other great resources at SBS. For even more information on the topic at hand, the sports betting in Texas guide is a must-read page. Here you can find the most updated news coming from Texas related to sports betting. Moreover, for anyone looking to bolster their bets, our best bonus betting sites rundown has your back with a catalog of welcome bonus offers. Finally, if you are uncertain which payment options are the best for you, then do not worry as there are options at your disposal. For example, our payment methods breakdown is a great page to learn more about your options from crypto to traditional banking routes.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide:
