As the largest state in America, aside from Alaska, Texas is another area where gaming regulators and businesses are looking to sink their teeth into. Currently, there are a handful of legal forms of gambling in Texas which include the Texas lottery, pari-mutuel wagering on horses and greyhounds, and also three Indian casinos. Beyond that, there are a multitude of sources in the Texas legislature and beyond that are trying to get commercialized gaming legalized in the Lone Star State.
Below, SBS will detail some of the latest news coming out of Texas and what these developments mean for the future of the state.
As mentioned above, there are a couple of main champions in the Texas legislature pushing to get gaming legalized across the state. For instance, in a recent February article from KTEM News Radio, Texas State Senator Carol Alvarado has been pushing for the last decade to get commercialized casino gambling approved in the state. Her stance is that it would create more money and jobs for the people of the state. However, for this to happen it would take a constitutional amendment which has to be approved by voters in the state. This has yet to happen, but law enforcement officials have found that these gaming laws seem to be broken all the time across the state.
What’s interesting is that even with one of the harshest stances on illegal wagering (see Penal Code 47.01) in the country, many still find a way to gamble. For instance, KTRK-TV (ABC 13) in Houston reported earlier this year that Texans placed over a million illegal bets, around $5 billion, on contests a year. So with that in mind, there are organizations working together to make illegal wagering, a thing of the past.
One of those groups is known as the Sports Betting Alliance and is a coalition of Texas sports, fans, and betting platforms. With many groups like this popping up all over the state, there are more laws currently being written to change the gaming landscape in Texas.
Per their website, the Sports Betting Alliance has a goal of having a bill getting on the ballot in November of 2023. If everything breaks correctly for the group, this constitutional amendment would go into effect statewide. If this bill is passed, mobile sports gambling could go live in Texas as early as January 1st, 2024 according to the same article from KTEM.
For gaming to make the final push at the legislative levels, party officials will have to meet in the middle for the state to turn the corner. Until then, casino cruises, Indian casinos, and eight-liners in game rooms across the state will be the norm.
As you are getting ready to place more bets, it is a no-brainer to check out what kind of resources are available to you in Texas. That’s why SBS has you covered with the best online sportsbooks in the state. Another great resource to have available are the most popular payment methods and how you can access them. By checking out these two resources, you will give yourself a leg up on placing your wagers at lightning-speed and also doing so in a legal fashion.
For anyone that is also familiar with gaming, a great tool to have handy is where you can find the best bonuses online at any given time. Having this page on hand will give you the most return on your investment and at a minimum – free money! The SBS bonus page has the most up-to-date information regarding new programs with each site so make sure to check them all out for the most lucrative fiscal return.
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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