Texas Sports Betting

Sports betting is currently not legal in Texas, as many lawmakers are traditionally opposed to gambling. This makes it tricky for any betting legislation to pass through the House and the Senate. In addition, sports betting is illegal through the Texas Constitution, meaning that even if a sports betting bill passes, it will still have to be approved in a voter ballot.

However, hope is not lost for sports bettors in the Lone Star State. Texas only holds legislative sessions every two years, so sports betting supporters have been campaigning hard ahead of 2023. Many of Texas’ sports teams, including the Dallas Cowboys and San Antonio Spurs, have declared official support of sports betting in the Sports Betting Alliance. In addition, other Texas franchises have partnered with sportsbooks, like the Houston Astros with BetMGM, to raise the profile of the attempts to legalize betting.

If sports betting is legalized in Texas, the focus will probably be on launching online sportsbooks. Unlike many US states that allow brick-and-mortar casinos to operate retail sportsbooks, this path is limited as Texas has only one land-based casino. Retail betting at sports stadiums may also be an option, but online betting will definitely be crucial.

Read our expert guide to sports betting in Texas for insight into the latest attempts to legalize wagering, sports teams in TX that support betting, and legal alternatives in nearby states. 

Texas Legislation Timeline

• May 14, 2018: The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) is overturned, allowing states outside of Nevada to legalize sports betting.
• January 25, 2019: HJR 61 and HB 1275, the first sports betting bills in TX following the PASPA decision, are put forward by Representative Eddie Lucio. HJR 61 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow betting, and HB 1275 proposes regulations for Texas sports betting. While lawmakers read these bills, neither makes it to a vote in committee, and no other sports betting bills are considered in the 2019 legislative session.
• March 2021: Texas legislative sessions are held every two years, so lawmakers get the first chance to try and legalize sports betting since 2019. Representative Harold Dutton puts forward HB 1121, Senator Juan Hinojosa backs SB 736, and  Representative Dan Huberty gets behind HB 2070. However, all three bills die on the floor without receiving a vote. After two years of lobbying for sports betting, this shows how tricky it will be for any sports betting legislation to pass. 
• May 31, 2021: The 2021 legislative session ends with no sports betting bills. The next legislative window in Texas is in 2023. 
• May 22, 2022: Many sportsbooks sign partnership deals with major league franchises in Texas to try and bring more publicity to the attempt to legalize sports betting in 2023. The first team to get on board with this is the Houston Astros, agreeing to a deal with BetMGM. 
• November 14, 2022: A Senate resolution is preemptively filed that seeks to create a Texas Gaming Commission. This indicates a firm intention to file bills to legalize sports betting in Texas in 2023. 

Texas Sports Teams

There are eight major league sports teams in Texas, with the state represented in each of the four big leagues. In addition, the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area is one of only 13 cities in the US with a team in the MLB, NHL, NFL, and NBA.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys were founded in 1960 and have won five Super Bowls on the way to being labeled the most valuable sports franchise in the world. The first of these two victories came in the 1970s, with Roger Staubach quarterbacking the team in 1972 and 1978. However, the defense in both games led the team to win, with the Cowboys only conceding three points to the Don Shula-coached Miami Dolphins, then just ten points to the Denver Broncos.

The early 1990s was the best period in Cowboys’ history, with the team reaching three Super Bowls in three Super Bowls in four years and winning all three. These games were won with Hall of Famer Troy Aikman under center and Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith picking up yards.  

However, the team hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 1995, and owner Jerry Jones is desperate to take the team back to the biggest game in football. The Cowboys play at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which holds the record for an NFL crowd at 105,00.

Houston Texans

The Texans are the youngest franchise in the NFL, having joined the league in 2002. The team plays in the AFC South and had a difficult start to professional football, not making the playoffs in its first nine seasons. 

However, the team turned things around in 2011 after drafting defensive end J.J. Watt. With Watt wreaking things in the backfield, the Texans won six division titles in the 2010s. The franchise’s lack of consistent quarterback play meant the team never had much success in the postseason. Watt left the Texans in 2020, and the franchise has been rebuilding ever since. 

The team plays at the 72,000-seater NRG stadium, the first NFL stadium to have a retractable roof.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks were formed as an expansion franchise to the NBA in 1980 and spent the majority of that first decade challenging in the playoffs. The team even made it to the conference finals in 1988 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-3.

The 1990s was a period of struggle for the franchise until the team drafted Dirk Nowitzki in the 1998 draft. Nowitzki led the Mavs for the next two decades, helping the team to claim its first NBA Championship in 2011. 

While Nowitzki is gone, Mavericks fans have plenty of reason to get behind the team. The franchise is now built around Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic, one of the game’s most exciting young talents.

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets moved to the city in 1971 after previously playing in San Diego. The team has had two standout periods of history led by all-time great players. Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted in 1984, and the Hall of Famer led the Rockets to three NBA Finals, winning it all in 1994 and 1995.

When Olajuwon left the team, the Rockets had limited success until adding James Harden in 2012. Harden won multiple scoring titles in Houston, and the Rockets made the postseason every year from 2012-2020. However, Harden never helped the team claim a conference championship and reach an NBA Final. Harden left in 2020, and the Rockets are looking for a new superstar to build around.

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs started as an ABA team in 1967 before joining the NBA in the 1976 ABA-NBA merger. Since joining the NBA, the Spurs have been consistently successful and have the best winning percentage of any team as of 2022. The franchise has also won five NBA Championships, six conference titles, and 22 division titles.  

The team has had a range of Hall of Famers playing to help it reach this success, including David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobli. These stars helped the franchise make it to the playoffs every year except one from 1990 to 2019. While the players on the court may have changed, head coach Gregg Popovich has been present for every championship and leads the team to this day.

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros began life in the MLB in 1962 as the Houston Colt .45s. The team quickly rebranded to its more familiar Astros name in 1965. After playing in the National League until 2013, the team was moved to the West Division of the American League. While the team had a decent level of success in the NL, it was the move to the AL that sparked success for the franchise.

The Astros established a baseball dynasty by winning the AL Pennant in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022. The franchise went on to win the World Series in 2017 and 2022. However, the 2017 victory has been marred by the Astros being found guilty of sign-stealing in 2017 and 2018. The 2022 victory came in a 4-2 series win over the Philadelphia Phillies, with World Series MVP Jeremy Pina and hard-hitting Yordan Alvarez leading the way.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers began life as the Washington Senators in 1961 and moved to the TX in 1972. However, the team has never managed to win a World Series after coming painfully close in 2010 and 2011. In those years, the Rangers won the AL Pennant. The 2011 World Series loss was especially painful for Rangers fans, with the team losing 4-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals after twice being one out away from the title in Game 6.

The Rangers play home games at Globe Life Field, the newest MLB stadium, with the 40,300-capacity arena opening in 2020.

Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars began life in the NHL far away from Texas in 1967, launching as the Minnesota North Stars. After more than 25 years in MN, the team moved to Dallas. The move was almost instantly successful, with the franchise winning the Stanley Cup in 1999 by beating the Buffalo Sabres in six games.

The team has been to the Finals another two times in 2000 and 2020 but lost both of these games. Along with these appearances in the Stanley Cup, the Stars have won two Presidents’ Trophies and eight division championships.

Where can I Bet on Sports in Texas?

The earliest sports betting can launch in Texas is 2023, and legislation will mainly be focused on online sports betting. There is only one casino in Texas, the Kickapoo Eagle Pass Casino and Hotel in Eagle Pass. This is operated by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and is a 2.5-hour drive from the nearest major city, San Antonio. This makes it unlikely sports betting will launch at land-based casinos.

However, there is a lot of support for sports betting from major league franchises. All eight of the big four teams in the state have joined the Sports Betting Alliance with BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Barstool Sportsbook. FC Dallas, Austin FC, the Texas Motor Speedway, and the PGA Tour are other organizations in the Alliance. In addition, teams like the Astros have signed partnerships with betting brands like BetMGM.  

This suggests retail sports betting could launch at sports venues, along with an online launch. Check out some of the potential betting locations in Texas below.

• Q2 Stadium - Austin FC
• AT&T Stadium - Dallas Cowboys
• American Airlines Center - Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, 
• Toyota Stadium, Dallas - FC Dallas 
• Minute Maid Park - Houston Astros
• PNC Stadium - Houston Dash, Houston Dynamo FC
• Toyota Stadium, Houston - Houston Rockets
• NRG Stadium - Houston Texas
• AT&T Center - San Antonio Spurs
• Texas Motor Speedway
• Globe Life Field - Texas Rangers

While sports betting isn’t available, you can enjoy other types of gambling, like casino games at the aforementioned Kickapoo Eagle Pass Casino. In addition, there are over a hundred poker rooms in which you can play if you pay a membership fee rather than paying to join a pot. 

Horse racing betting is legal in Texas, with pari-mutuel wagering available at four racecourses. As well as pari-mutuel wagering, simulcast betting facilities are also available at the Gillespie County Fair, Lone Star Park, Retama Park, and Sam Houston Race Park. However, online horse racing betting is still illegal.

Bordering States

Texas shares a border with four US states, with three of these jurisdictions having some type of legal sports betting. We’ve given a brief overview of the regulations in each state if you want to cross the border and place bets. 

Arkansas

Retail sports betting in Arkansas was legalized on November 6, 2018, going live eight months later on July 1, 2019. Three retail sportsbooks are at brick-and-mortar casinos, including Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, the Saracen Casino Resort Annex, and Southland Casino Racing.

Online sports betting was legalized on February 28, 2022, and the market launched quickly on March 6, 2022. You can use sportsbooks like Betly, BetSaracen, and Oaklawn Sports to place bets anywhere in Arkansas.

Louisiana

Of all the states neighboring Texas, Louisiana offers the widest choice of online and retail sportsbooks. Sports betting was legalized on June 21, 2021, with retail sportsbooks going live on October 6, 2021. Online sportsbooks launched on January 28, 2022, with brands like BetMGM, Barstool, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel available.

However, Louisiana has legalized sports betting on a parish-by-parish basis. You can only use online sports betting apps in 55 out of 64 parishes. You will have to enable your geolocation services in LA to prove you are playing in a legal area. 

New Mexico

There are four land-based tribal casinos in New Mexico offering retail sports betting. You can visit Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel in Bernalillo, the Hilton Buffalo Thunder Resort in Santa Fe, the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort in Mescalero, or the Isleta Resort in Albuquerque to place bets. However, online sports betting isn’t available.

Oklahoma

Sports betting is currently illegal in Oklahoma, just like in Texas. Oklahoma lawmakers had agreed to gaming compacts with tribes to operate sports betting, but these were deemed unlawful. This shows OK has an interest in legalizing sports betting in the future.

Texas Sporting Events

While major league sports are huge in Texas, dozens of other sporting events attract thousands of fans regularly. Check out some of the most popular sports events in TX. 

United States Grand Prix 

The US Grand Prix has a history going back to 1908, and since 2012 the event has taken place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The 3.4-mile track has been one of the highlights of the Formula One circuit, and US fans have embraced the event. The 2022 Grand Prix featured over 150,000 fans for race day, with 440,000 fans visiting the Circuit of the Americas arena over the 3-day event. Two drivers have won multiple US Grand Prix since the event moved to Austin, with Max Verstappen winning twice and Lewis Hamilton winning the race five times.

Valero Texas Open

The Texas Open is the sixth oldest golf tournament in the world and the event has always taken place in and around San Antonio. The current home of the Valero Texas Open is The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, a notoriously low-scoring course that is friendly to the longer hitter. The winners of the Texas Open include some of the all-time greats of the game, with Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, and Ben Hogan previously winning the event. In the 2000s, Justin Leonard joined Arnold Palmer as the event's only three-time winners. Famous golfers Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, and Zach Johnson have also claimed victory at Valero.

Dallas Open 

The ATP Tour returned to Dallas in February 2022 after a 40-year absence. Not only did the ATP Tour 250 event come back for 2022, but it is slated to be a permanent fixture of the tour, replacing the New York Open. The inaugural event was won by the big-serving American Reilly Opelka, who won 7-6, 7-6 in the final against fellow American Jenson Brooksby.

Cotton Bowl

The Cotton Bowl is one of the New Year’s Six bowl games, with the National Championship playoffs rotating between the six games on a three-year cycle. In years that the Cotton Bowl does not host a semi-final, the game features two of the best teams that just missed out on the College Football Playoffs. Games were held at the Cotton Bowl stadium until 2010, when the game moved to AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. Cotton Bowl MVPs include Jim Brown, Joe Montana, Bo Jackson, Troy Aikman, and Eli Manning.

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500

The Texas Motor Speedway hosts the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 each fall, with the race making up part of the NASCAR Cup Playoff Series. The 500-mile, 334-lap race hosted over 150,000 people in the pre-pandemic era. The race has been won the most times by NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, who won the event on five separate occasions.

Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston Race Park

The Houston Ladies Classic Stakes has the largest purse of any active horse race in Texas, with a purse of $400,000. This Grade III race is run over one and one-sixteenth miles at the Sam Houston Race Park and features fillies and mares aged four and older. While the Houston Ladies Classic is a thoroughbred race, Sam Houston Race Park also features American Quarter Horse racing, providing high-speed action over short distances.