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When will the good people of the Lone Star State receive some positive news on Texas sports betting? That’s unknown at this time, as things won’t be launching in 2023 and it’s up in the air if 2024 or 2025 will be the year where things get launched. However, we have seen plenty of big figures in the state come out in support of this project. Matter of fact, Astros owner Jim Crane doubled down on the push for Texas sports betting.
This is of course massive news, as Crane spoke highly of trying to legalize things back in February. Now, with the MLB postseason around the corner, he’s bringing attention to the sports betting efforts once again. From Crane’s chair, it’s absurd that people in Texas aren’t able to place legal wagers. We would have to agree with that, as the sports betting market in Texas would be massive.
The Astros are one of the best teams in the bigs and they’ve posted some fantastic seasons in recent years. Last campaign, Houston stunned everyone by winning the World Series. This summer ahead of the deadline, they traded for Justin Verlander and people are noticing how their MLB betting odds have increased. Crane is excited about this team’s potential, but he also knows that money is being lost without sports betting.
Imagine if sports kiosks were available at Minute Maid Park in Houston. If this were the case, the stands would be packed to the brim and the club would be looking at potential revenue from those wagers. This is something Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys has been eyeing as well. With Crane being such an activist for sports betting becoming legal, it could help out the efforts for future attempts.
Everything's bigger in Texas. pic.twitter.com/zUTAmsG8DB
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 7, 2023
Texas is missing out with no Cowboys bets this season
With the NFL starting off with Week 1 action this week, it’s a reminder that Texas is missing out with no Cowboys bets this season. On Sunday night, Dallas will take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in what should be one of the best games of the weekend. People in Texas would love nothing more than to check the NFL betting odds and put money down on America’s Team, but that won’t be the case here unless they do so in an illegal fashion.
The Cowboys have a huge following across the country, so you know that countless bets will be placed in states where things are allowed. If you’re a Cowboys fan and live in Texas, though, then you’ll have to travel across state lines to make something happen. That’s why Louisiana has become such a popular tourist attraction for Texas. They love going to New Orleans, placing legal bets and watching football action. Jones is hoping things will flip soon, as he knows the value of legal betting.
“Betting and wagering have been an integral part of the NFL for a long time through individuals, in various forms, making their wagers, my town against your town,” Jones said in an interview earlier this year. But it’s always to the benefit of the viewership. The viewership is where our numbers will increase. People will stay longer. That value is how our sport will benefit from gaming.”
From the moment AT&T Stadium was built, it has been labeled as one of the biggest and best sporting venues on the planet. Now, things would only be made better if kiosks were inside of the stadium for people to use for their betting needs. Jones and the Cowboys would surely roll out the red carpet for sportsbooks if Texas gets things across the line in the near future. It would be a major benefit for the Cowboys and the NFL as a whole if Texas sports betting gets done sooner rather than later.
Turnin' up the heat 🔥 @oakley pic.twitter.com/R9czRUwlG4
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 6, 2023
Lawmakers need to come up with the right sports betting bill
With all of the failures that have been showcased in the past for Texas, it has been made quite clear that lawmakers need to come up with the right sports betting bill. In the past, multiple efforts have been made, with the bill even making it to the Texas House of Representatives. However, once things get to the Texas Senate, they usually die on the table. This has to change and the only way that will happen is if people writing these bills can get on the same page once and for all.
That won’t be easy, as there’s a strong divide between Republicans and Democrats on this issue. With that said, they need to roll their sleeves up and come up with a plan that will make everyone happy. This is the only way that things can progress past the Texas Senate the next time something is presented. Only time will tell if this will prove to be the case, but unless the two political parties can come to an agreement, then sports betting in Texas will keep getting pushed back. Sports fans are tired of that.
