Chris Boline
With things continuing to gain steam with Texas Sports Betting potentially becoming legal in the near future, so many people out there figured that Jim McIngvale, best known as Mattress Mack, would be all for things moving in the right direction. Mack is without question one of the most popular sports betting figures in the state, as he won around $75 million alone on the Houston Astros winning the World Series in 2022. However, Mattress Mack shocked everyone by saying he’s against Texas sports betting.
What? This shocking development arrived earlier this month, as a new Texas sports betting bill had been pre-filed to try and get things all set for the legislators to take a look at things. However, when asked about betting in the Lone Star State coming, Mack indeed said he’s not a fan of the idea. Not only that, he went on to say that he’s ‘1,000 percent against it’ which is something no one expected.
Mack has been traveling to Louisiana in recent years to place his sports bets, as no legal wagers are permitted in Texas. Because of this, a lot of people assumed that he would have been all for backing up sports betting. Jerry Jones has doubled down in Texas sports betting, while Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has voiced his support for the new project and bill as well. So, why not Mack?
From our chair, it really has us shaking our heads. Legal sports betting is permitted in more than 30 states, yet Texas is one of the biggest places in the USA without it, joined by California and Florida. Mack has expressed his concerns on how much revenue would be recorded for Texas as one of the main reasons he’s not on board with the legalization, but this has led to countless people calling him out for this take.
In a special edition of “Chatting with Mack” exclusively on @GallerySports, John Lopez and I debate the merits of legalizing sports betting in Texas, and I think y’all will be surprised where I stand on the subject. @LopezOnSports
Full Video➡️https://t.co/iS7UHefp4g pic.twitter.com/9Wk5xyE2o4— @MattressMack (@MattressMack) February 6, 2023
Texas sports betting needs to come as soon as possible
If you ask people all over the state, they won’t hesitate in telling you that Texas sports betting needs to come as soon as possible. Around the year, people would love to be checking the NFL betting odds and placing wagers, but they’re still not allowed to do so. Jones is dreaming of the day when Dallas Cowboys fans can make bets, legally, in America’s Team in Texas. As a whole, Jones wants to see change come as soon as possible.
“Well, I think it’s really a thing that needs to be addressed at this time,” Jones said recently. “One of the reasons why I think it does is because it’s happening at this time. There’s a huge amount of gaming going on in and around sports at this time. And, so, to have all of the benefits or all of the control over it, it needs to be recognized and parameters put on it and discipline put in it. Then, also the benefits that go, can go in Texas, could adhere to the right kind of people, or some property tax.”
As you can see from that quote, you can see that Jones clearly understands how much illegal activity has been going on, especially this time of the year. This past weekend, more than 50 million Americans alone were expected to check the Super Bowl betting odds and then put money down. The Eagles and Chiefs treated people to an incredible game, with a lot of money being exchanged.
In Texas, though, any money that was exchanged was done so in illegal fashion. All of this unregulated money being bet is terrible for the state. While Mack might not believe in things, there’s no question that the potential for revenue in Texas when it comes to sports betting is through the roof. This is why a lot of lawmakers out there are on board with the idea. With so many pro teams in Texas, it only adds to the reasons why something must get done.
Jalen Hurts in less than a full half of his first Super Bowl.
3 Total TDs
145 yards passing
61 yards rushing
1 LeadRobbie Gould is somewhere shaking his head. pic.twitter.com/BJJJ4DT88q
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 13, 2023
When will Texas sports betting arrive?
With all of that said, people continue to wonder when will Texas sports betting arrive? That’s up in the air, but the good news is that multiple bills have been pre-filed, with state legislators finally getting on the same page here. For years, we’ve seen so much division when it comes to Texas sports betting, which has only added to the negative feeling as a whole when it comes to the legalization.
Now, though, it feels like a lot of people are singing a different tune and they don’t want anything to prevent legal betting from coming for sports fans soon. The hope is that things could get approved later this year, opening the door for legal wagers and kiosks to take bets potentially by early 2024.
That would be the best-case scenario here, but there’s a lot of folks who are feeling hopeful about this. There’s still a lot of work to do and more people need to hop on board, but it really feels like the right steps are being taken. We’ll see if Mack changes his mind, but his latest comments sure are disappointing to see.
