Texas Sports Betting Legalization in 2025 Seems 50-50

Despite the Lone Star State’s legislature not meeting in 2024, speculation over the future of Texas sports betting has run rampant during recent months. Most of the between-the-lines reading has skewed positive, suggesting there’s a real chance at legalization in 2025. But not everyone’s ready to put on their rosy-colored glasses.

Skeptics continue to exist. Heck, they might even represent the majority. It’s just that the pockets of optimism have grabbed more headlines of late. This is in no small part because the sale of Dallas Mavericks to the controlling shareholder of the Las Vegas Sands corporation has prompted many to think policy overhaul could be coming down the pipeline. And indeed, there is plenty of action being taken. Though the state’s legislation won’t meet this year, the push to legalize sports betting in Texas next year is already underway.

Still, not everyone’s sold the sale of the Mavs or the next initiative(s) will be successful. In fact, in a recent interview with Legal Sports Report, Dallas Stars president Brad Alberts said the chances of legalization are 50-50 at best.”

“I think it’s in the same spot it was,” he told LSR’s Mike Mazzeo. “The same challenges exist, which is a resistant Senate, led by the Lieutenant Governor (Dan Patrick). And I don’t think that that has changed. Obviously, those same personalities are still in office. I think the momentum of last session, getting it through the House is positive. But you still have to get it through the Senate.”

The Biggest Roadblock to Legal Sports Betting in Texas Remains the Same

To be sure, Albert doesn’t paint a totally bleak picture. And look, the executive of a National Hockey Association franchise isn’t necessarily the end-all, be-all barometer for this issue. At the same time, pro sports organizations are heavily involved in the Texas sports betting association. They tend to have a great hold on the current state of affairs. So, at the very least, we should take Albert’s sentiments seriously.

This includes his thoughts on the primary issues standing between sports betting and legalization. As he noted in the above comments, the influence of and opposition from Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick remains the foremost hurdle. Alberts is not the only one who feels this way, either.

“It really comes down to convincing 12 Republican Senators to say they want this,” one industry source told LSR. “Patrick has to respond to the interest of the caucus. And it’s going to be incumbent upon not only the lobbyists but the public in Texas that wants sports betting to engage with those Senators and tell them this is something that they want.”

Alberts agrees with Mazzeo’s anonymous source. He also went on to note that Texas sports betting lobbyists should direct all their resources toward swaying members of the Senate rather than the House. Some might call this logic risky. But the previous Texas sports betting bill in 2023 made it through the House. Members of the House have also seemed more open to allowing top online sportsbooks in the United States to enter the market. Most of the resistance past and future measures have faced has come from the Senate.

Granted, lobbying the Senate alone may not change their collective view. It may take a shift in political power for that to take place.

Can Texas Legalize Sports Wagering While Dan Patrick is Still in Office?

This is perhaps the most important question of all. No matter how much voters and lobbyists openly support the legalization of sports betting in Texas, the issue may continue to remain in gridlock so long as Lieutenant Governor Patrick has so much control over the Senate.

Assuming a bill won’t make it through until he leaves office thrusts the Lone Star State into a years-long sports betting timeline. Patrick’s term is up in 2026. But because the Texas legislature only meets in odd-numbered years, they wouldn’t have the chance to reintroduce the matter until 2027. From there, if Texas sports betting requires a constitutional amendment, it will must be put on a general election ballot. Under this timeline, that wouldn’t be possible until 2028. And then, if we presume voters approve any measure, there’s a strong chance Texas sports betting wouldn’t roll out until 2029. After all, general elections take place in November, which is very close to the end of the year.

None of this will rub supporters of sports betting in the Lone Star State the right way. But it’s hard to see an alternative, or more accelerated, timeline taking place.

One possibility that some have floated? Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election. Many believe he would bring Patrick onto his cabinets, which would remove him from the Texas hierarchy before the legislation meets next year.

To what extent this is true remains to be seen. And it may never be seen. President Joe Biden still leads Trump in the latest polls, according to FiveThirtyEight. Plus, even if Patrick is removed from the equation, there’s no guarantee Texas sports betting gets legalized in 2025. So much remains up in the air. And while speculation will continue, we’re still roughly one year away from getting concrete answers.

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