Sports betting advocates are left looking toward the future after another lackluster result in the Texas Legislature’s regular session this year, a new local report from Texas points out. Per the article, the Texas Sports Betting Alliance (TSBA) has been working diligently for years to see state lawmakers prioritize the topic of sports betting. Sports franchises like the Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, and Austin FC are members of the alliance, which has noted the untapped revenue potential that’s being left on the table. The TSBA says Texans wager $7 billion in unregulated offshore betting sites, meaning there’s an untapped potential of more than $360 million in tax revenue.
In this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news and updates coming from the world of Texas gambling legalization, and also share some additional notes.
According to the same report, Bread Alberts, president and CEO of the Dallas Stars, spoke with the local outlet back in February when the legislative session was very much in its infancy. “People are betting, we all know that,” Alberts said. “What they’re doing now in Texas is … it’s unregulated, and we’re not benefitting from it, so the teams aren’t benefiting from it, the state isn’t benefiting from it,” Alberts said. Despite the TSBA spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in lobbying at the state Capitol, sports betting legislation is seemingly dead in the water.
Former Spectrum News Capital Tonight anchor Karina Kling is now a spokesperson for the alliance. “Obviously, we’re disappointed, but we know that this is a marathon and not a sprint,” Kling said. Now, the alliance and other sports betting advocates will work to lay the groundwork for a push in the 2027 legislative session. “We’re going to educate people on what this would mean in terms of keeping Texans safe,” Kling also said.
Per the same article, Lt. Governor Dan Patrrick is a major obstacle in that reality. He has a final say in the state Senate and is against legalizing sports betting and gambling. With Patrick set to run for a fourth term, he could potentially remain a roadblock in two years. Chris Kraovil, a Dallas attorney for Dykema, says it’s an uphill battle. “Dan Patrick and many others, in the Republican leadership in Austin, view gambling as a very destructive social force. It’s pernicious, and they want to keep it out of Texas,” Kratovil noted. Forty states have legalized sports betting, according to the American Gaming Association. It’s been fair game in Louisiana since 2021.
Additionally, the local outlet reached out to Elliot Rapaport, the founder of Louisiana-based Birches Health, to discuss how they help Louisiana residents battle gambling addictions. “In general, the impacts of legalized sports betting can be seen quickly,” Rapaport said. “Unfortunately, new bettors may often be caught up in the excitement of new gambling products,” Rapaport says some effects of addiction include high suicide rates, divorce, and increased bankruptcy.
“There is no denying that there are significant societal impacts from gambling,” Rapaport said in an email. However, the TSBA argues that a regulated industry will allow tax dollars to go towards resources and studies. “Potentially, that $360 million could be even a lot more than we anticipate would go to, directly to tax revenue and helping with some of the vital resources that we could see take place here in Texas,” Kling said.
In other Lone Star gaming news, thirty game rooms were raided and shut down earlier this month in what federal authorities called one of the largest gambling schemes in Texas history. The feds dubbed the massive bust Operation Double Down. Sixteen people were charged with felonies, including conspiracy and money laundering, and $22 million was seized. However, a local outlet in Houston discovered a third, or 10, of those game rooms had been on law enforcement radar before, raided and reopened time and time again over the past decade.
Court records show most of these operations had been previously raided by one office – Harris County Constable Precinct 1. Constable Alan Rosen said it’s now the business owner, but rather the on-site manager who was usually arrested in his office’s raids. “The manager that’s actually there and managing the illegal operations … and it’s a misdemeanor (charge),” he said. Court records dating back to 2015 show Precinct 1 made 20 misdemeanor arrests at seven game rooms that were later part of Operation Double Down. All but one of those low-level charges got dismissed.
After you are all up to speed on the latest gaming updates and thoughts coming from the Lone Star State, make sure to peruse the excellent array of info at SBS. For instance, the sports betting in Texas guide has you covered with all of the latest updates coming from the Lone Star State and also notes to help qualified customers stay on top of the action. Conversely, for those intrigued by what some gaming outlets are doing, eligible customers can check out the BetOnline sportsbook review breakdown. On this page, you can find the latest updates and promotions from the site and beyond. Finally, for those looking to diversify their payment options, look no further than the payment methods rundown, which goes over a variety of excellent options from crypto to more traditional banking routes.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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