For a state that prides itself on being the biggest and the bestest, Texas is a bit behind being biggest or bestest in sports betting. The fact they pass laws every two years makes the legislature a little weird. So is the fact they assist illegal gambling by not replacing it with legal gambling.
Just check the numbers.
The Texas Sports Betting Alliance—a collection of in-state teams and major operators—recently found almost 1.2 million attempts to bet on sports in the state between September 1 and October 23. This number rose 68.5 percent compared to last year.
The Alliance’s data comes from GeoComply, which collects statistics showing how many Texans attempted to bet at legal sportsbooks in other states. Over 20,000 came on October 20, 22 and 23, during Games 5 through 7 of the American League Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros.
All attempts were blocked.
Supporters have high hopes for passage of legislation in 2025, the next legislative session.
In addition to unsuccessful attempts at legal sportsbooks, Texans place over 2 million bets a year at illegal, offshore sportsbooks, said Alliance spokesperson Cara Gustafson in a press release.
“It’s simple. The data show that Texans want the freedom to place bets on their favorite teams safely and legally. Texas is one of only 12 states that have not legalized sports betting in some form.,” she told PlayTexas.
The Alliance efforts brought enough momentum to pass the House last session, only to die in the Senate.
By 2025, they’ll have more data to confirm the amount of illegal sports betting in an effort to sway former naysayers.
Unregulated sites do not guarantee the safety or security as their legal competitors, nor do they provide bettors with the necessary information to ensure they gamble responsibly.
Gustafson spoke with PlayTexas last September about how the Alliance can not only help legalize sports betting but also blaze new trails in responsible gambling, setting examples for other states nationwide.
“We have the benefit of watching other states legalize, and we can learn from them. We can be at the forefront of legal gambling protections and gambling addiction. Texas can be a leader in having so many sports fans safely learn about betting and safely execute it. If we can get all the sports teams on the same page, we can show a unified front.”
By remaining illegal, Texas sends untold amounts of revenue to black-market operators, who use it as they wish.
According to a PlayTexas analysis, legal sports betting could generate as much as $2 billion in revenue from $30 billion in wagers in its first year. That translates to hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue the state could use to benefit its citizens.
