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In the free market state of Texas, a pair of bills (SB 715 and HB 1942) might make legal online sports betting in Texas a reality very soon.
The prospects of online sports betting are an attraction to many businesses across Texas. Most recently, the San Antonio Spurs‘ Managing Partner and Chairman, Peter J. Holt, has given his full support to the pending legislation.
According to an article by KENS 5 Holt Jr. stated in a release by the Texas Sports Betting Alliance: “Texas has the best fans in the country, and legal sports betting is an exciting new way for Texans to engage with their favorite teams.”
New legislation hopes to avoid previous obstacles
The new Texas sports betting bills were filed last Monday by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst and Rep. Jeff Leach. There is optimism that Texas lawmakers will meet them with less opposition.
Holt Jr. added, “Sen. Kolkhorst’s bill will provide Texans the same opportunity that sports fans across the country now enjoy — the chance to utilize mobile sports betting in a responsible manner.”
In 2021, online sports betting was shot down by policymakers, but the new bills take a narrower approach and have a new Republican author to help gain bi-partisan support in the GOP-led Senate. The most significant modification from the 2021 bills is that the current legislation does not legalize in-person sports betting in arenas where teams play.
List of Texas sports betting supporters will be hard to ignore
Other Texas organizations supporting the new legislation include:
- Dallas Cowboys
- Houston Texans
- Texas Rangers
- Houston Astros
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Dallas Stars
- Austin FC
- FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo
The November elections will decide the fate of online sports betting in Texas. It’s hard to believe Texas won’t legalize online betting at some point, but will it be sooner rather than later?
