New Push For Legal Sports Betting in Texas 2025

After repeated failed attempts, Texas is reigniting efforts to legalize online sports gambling.

The Lone Star State now has a prominent proponent in Gov. Greg Abbott, who during a recent appearance on the Texas Take podcast threw his support behind legislation.

“I don’t have a problem with online sports betting,” Abbott said. “The reality is I’d be shocked if there were not some Texans that already do it.”

Abbott was ostensibly referring to those who gamble using unregulated sportsbooks and offshore accounts.

According to GeoComply, a geolocation compliance, fraud and identity technology service, Texans made 1.48 million attempts in November alone to log into sportsbooks in other states.

The push for sports betting continued this week as Rep. Sam Harless introduced House Joint Resolution 134, which would amend the state constitution.

Thirty-eight states, plus Washington, D.C., are already fully operative, while Missouri is on deck for this summer. Of the 11 states still outstanding, few projects to do as well financially as Texas.

Projections by the Sports Betting Alliance, which represents DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Fanatics Sportsbook, estimate that the Lone Star State would generate close to $360 million annually in state tax revenue from legal sports betting.

Sports Betting Alliance president Jeremy Kudon released a statement thanking Abbott for his support, saying it “echoes what we’re hearing from Texans.” He added: “They want the opportunity to vote on legalizing sports betting and putting in place a strong, regulatory framework that protects consumers and boosts revenue in the state.”

In addition to the Republican governor, each professional Texas-based sports team has supported legalization.

Abbott’s comments coincided with a new study from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, which shows that 60 percent of Texans want the state to adopt sports betting. That includes 64 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of Republicans.

Despite that, it is uncertain whether Texas’ measures will gain the necessary votes. In 2023, efforts passed through the House but stalled in the Senate, where Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has been an outspoken critic of sports betting.

The bill will need to amend the constitution, requiring a two-thirds vote of both chambers before a public vote on Nov. 4. If approved, the launch date wouldn’t likely be until 2026.

Along with generating hundreds of millions in tax revenue, which would be redirected to essential services like education and healthcare, supporters say the bill would help put safeguards in place to protect against illegal gambling.

At the moment, Texans who want to bet must travel to a neighboring state legally such as Louisiana. Opponents, however, worry about so-called problem gambling. Ultimately, Karina Kling, a spokesperson for the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, hopes that legislators will leave the decision in the hands of the voting public.

“At the end of the day, that’s what we’re asking: to let Texans vote on this,” Kling said via KTRK-TV in Houston.

“We’re not asking lawmakers to vote up and down on us, but to send it to the voters so that they can have a say.”