Along with California, Texas has established itself as one of the most lucrative states yet to establish legal gambling. While broad legalized wagering has yet to be passed through in the Lone Star State, there are still partnerships and establishments in place that allow betting in Texas. For instance, earlier this month according to CardPlayer.com, a press release from MGM Resorts and also the Houston Astros official page, MGM Resorts recently inked a deal with the Houston baseball team. This marketing relationship is the first of its kind in Texas for MGM and shows that the company is optimistic broad gaming will become legal soon in the state.
In this breakdown, SBS will go over the known details of the partnership, what it means for the state and also some other notes about gaming in Texas.
Per the release from CardPlayer.com, the Las Vegas-based MGM announced earlier this month that the company had solidified a partnership with the Houston Astros. This will be the first of its kind marketing foray for MGM in Texas. This marketing sponsorship now means that MGM’s sports betting website and app are now the exclusive sportsbook partner of the Houston baseball team. Under this new agreement, MGM’s sports betting product will get exclusive signage at Minute Maid Park (home of the Astros). This will include a permanent outfield wall sign and rotational promo messaging behind home plate.
According to a press release from MGM Resorts, the company is excited to partner with the Astros on this new partnership for the organization.
“The Houston Astros are a monumental addition to our portfolio of strategic partnerships with professional sports teams across the U.S.,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “The organization’s passionate fan base will be key to the growth of BetMGM throughout the South as we look for new ways to engage fans with unique experiences that go beyond the game.”
Though this new partnership is certainly exciting for the Astros and MGM, the overall future of commercial gaming in Texas is still clouded. According to the article from CardPlayer.com, in the past there have been efforts to legalize sports betting in Texas since the Supreme Court struck down a federal prohibition in 2018 on single-game sports betting that applied to all states but Nevada. However, Texas currently maintains no commercial casinos, making future policy changes for sports betting more unlikely. Also, as of late, there has not been a substantial amount of progress made when it comes to legalizing commercial gamlbing in the Lone Star state.
In the same report, there was a spotlight shown on internet sports betting being legal in the neighboring state of Louisiana. So for the purpose of their partnership with the Astros, MGM said they will be looking to leverage more Astros-themed partnerships and offers to residents of the Pelican State since gambling is legal if they are in-state. However, the MGM online sports betting products would not be usable once a customer returns back to Texas since geolocating ensures compliance. Nonetheless, once gaming becomes legal across the state, MGM would have a strong foothold in the market. The question is not how in this case, but rather when.
Certainly one of the most exciting and intriguing states in America, Texas has a little bit of something for everyone. If you are interested in learning more about betting in the Lone State State then make sure to peruse the SBS wagering overview in Texas. On this page you can find all kinds of fantastic tips and tricks for legal betting in the state. On the topic of wagering, SBS also has your back when it comes to getting the most out of your bets with our welcome bonus offers guide. Finally, if you are perhaps unsure on how to place your bets or which payment methods are accepted, then our payment options breakdown is where you need to go before going on your next gambling adventure.
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.
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