After coyly keeping his stance on sports betting, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott might finally be making his thoughts known.
In a recent interview with USA Today, Abbott told the newspaper he would not oppose sports betting legislation that is going through both the House and Senate.
That revelation came as welcome news to the casino operators, who have donated an approximate $2.5 million to Abbott’s reelection campaign since 2021.
One thing Abbott was adamant about, however, was he didn’t want an overabundance of machines in the state, saying “(I don’t want) gambling operations on every street corner, every 7-Eleven or even inside airports in Texas.”
Abbott’s office reiterated his stance with a statement put out by his press secretary.
“We don’t want slot machines at every corner store, we don’t want Texans to be losing money that they need for everyday expenses, and we don’t want any type of crime that could be associated with gaming. But, if there is a way to create a very professional entertainment option for Texans, Gov. Abbott would take a look at it,” the statement read.
Abbott said responsible gambling can be a healthy activity.
“It’s really just a form of entertainment,” Abbott told USA Today. “And so it depends on how it’s constructed. And we’ll see how far it can advance in the House and Senate.”
On February 6, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst and Rep. Jeff Leach filed bills regarding the legalization of sports betting.
They have already progressed more than last year’s versions that failed to make it out of committee. They are steadily moving through both the House and Senate
Sports betting has the support from the Lone Star State’s professional sports teams, including the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been a vocal supporter of legalizing sports betting. He voiced that support in a statement released by the Sports Betting Alliance, which consists of national sportsbook operators and Texas sports teams.
“A legal and regulated sports betting market is what’s best for Texas and I applaud Sen. Kolkhorst and Rep. Leach for filing this legislation. It will give Texans the ability to decide for themselves if they want this activity safely regulated or continue to be conducted in the shadows by out-of-state betting platforms.”
