Chris Boline
We haven’t even reached a point yet where sports betting in Texas has been made legal, but that doesn’t mean that some of the biggest companies out there aren’t racing to get things set up for when it does go down. Take a look at the latest news from the Lone Star State for example, as BetMGM makes history with Houston Astros deal that has everyone talking.
Per a report, the two sides reached an agreement last week to have BetMGM become the exclusive sports betting partner for the Astros once things, as expected, end up getting finalized in Texas. This isn’t out of the blue, as more and more sportsbooks have been trying to work with pro teams in the lead up to things being legalized.
We had previously seen a major sportsbook sign up with the Houston Dynamo of the MLS and now we have BetMGM and the Astros partnering up. While this is incredible news and it has people talking for sure, now we must wait to see if things even end up getting put into place for sports betting in Texas or not. Several people have been outspoken about it being a good thing.
On the other hand, there’s truly a divide in the state and a lot of people hate the idea of sports betting coming to Texas. The fact of the matter, though, is that millions of dollars in revenue is being lost in Texas. This needs to change as soon as possible, as there’s plenty of money to be made. This deal for the Astros and BetMGM could prove to be a step in the right direction as a whole.
BetMGM announces a sports betting partnership with the Houston Astros, per release. Sports betting is not legal in Texas, but the deal could help open the door for possible market access in the future; Texas pro sports teams are among the state's top advocates for legal wagering
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) May 9, 2022
Astros will be a huge partner for BetMGM down the road
It goes without saying, but the Astros will be a huge partner for BetMGM down the road once things are made legal. Time and time again, Houston solidifies itself as one of the best teams in the bigs and this is once again the case in 2022. Houston holds high World Series odds and it’d be a shock if they didn’t win the AL West.
Because of their talent both on the bump and at the plate, plus defensively, this is always going to be a tough team to try and take down. In the playoffs, Houston is always going to be a squad that’s ready to make plenty of noise. That’s going to happen when you have Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and others balling out for you.
BetMGM signing Houston is an absolute no-brainer. Down the road when there is sports betting in Texas, the idea of a sportsbook being present at Minute Maid Park sure has fans excited. They’d love nothing more than to be able to place their wagers on the team live from the ballpark. It would make for a much-better game experience too, which is what everyone is hoping for.
Right now, things are a bit up in the air for Texas sports betting, but it’s clear the Astros and its front office are on board with things being given the green light. It will come down to the voters and legislators to see if something does happen in the next year, but this update on the Houston Astros joining forces with BetMGM has most definitely gotten people excited about the idea.
Texas sports betting continues to gain steam
With all of this, Texas sports betting continues to gain steam and this will surely be something to watch in the coming months. If more pro teams end up signing deals like the Astros, how in the world could things not go through at some point later this year. It could open the door for sports betting to arrive at some point in 2024, which everyone is hoping for.
“The Houston Astros are a monumental addition to our portfolio of strategic partnerships with professional sports teams across the U.S,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said via Legal Sports Report. ”The organization’s passionate fan base will be key to the growth of BetMGM throughout the South as we look for new ways to engage fans with unique experiences that go beyond the game.”
BetMGM knows it hit a home run with the addition of the Astros. This is only going to motivate other companies to try and get things done with teams as well. In turn, more people are going to get anxious about sports betting. The fact that politician Beto O’Rourke came out in support of legal Texas sports betting was big too.
O’Rourke knows just how important it could be for the state. With more than 30 others making it official, there’s no reason Texas shouldn’t add its name to the list in the near future. Once that does happen, the Astros, BetMGM, and millions of others will be ecstatic. It’s a wait-and-see for now, but the hope and optimism have never been higher for legal betting in Texas. More big news could be coming.
BetMGM has secured Texas sports betting market access via its partnership with the Houston Astros, company CEO Adam Greenblatt said during a company presentation today; TX lawmakers are set to consider sports betting legislation in 2023 that could create a ballot measure in 2024
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) May 12, 2022
