Texas Rep. Sam Harless filed the first gambling bill of the state’s legislative session Feb. 12. The constitutional amendment would send the decision to legalize sports betting to state voters in November, per iGB.
HJR 134 appears to call only for retail sports betting, though it does not explicitly prohibit digital wagering. It would allow for professional sports teams, PGA Tour stops and Class I racetracks to become licensed. The proposal requires that any potential licensees be in existence as of Jan. 1, 2025. Licensees would be able to work with management service providers to operate sportsbooks.
There is no framework in the constitutional amendment and the language is vague:
The constitutional amendment authorising the legislature to legalise wagering in this state on certain sporting events.
Other state legislatures, including Louisiana and Maryland, have gone down similar pathways. Should voters approve in Texas as they did in those states, the legislature would then be tasked with developing a framework for legal betting. Included in that would be determining if digital betting is part of the package. Voters in Louisiana and Maryland legalised in 2020 and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks opened in 2021 in both states. Digital platforms went live in 2022.
