The Texas-sized mirage of mobile sports betting in the Lone Star state has again manifested itself this spring in Austin.  

House Joint Resolution 102, co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Leach, just cleared the 100-threshold vote needed in the House and will now advance to the Senate.  

The vote was 101-42 and it passed on Thursday, which marked the crossover deadline for bills to advance out of a chamber this legislative session.

Any sports betting legislation in Texas needs a two-third majority vote because the state constitution will need to be amended. 

But the hopes of  HJR 102 in the all but died over the weekend thanks to a Tweet from the grim reaper of sports betting in Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. He holds all the cards as no bill in the Senate can come to the floor without his blessing.

The bill would put betting on the statewide ballot. If it passes, Texas sports betting would launch some time in 2024. Currently, casino gambling and sports betting remain illegal in Texas. 

HJR 102 allows sports betting operators like DraftKings and FanDuel to partner with the state’s pro sports teams and other entities. 

It faces an uphill battle in the Senate, however.

If the Senate doesn't take up HJR 102, Texas sports betting won't come up again until 2025 since the Texas legislature meets every other year. The Texas legislative session ends on May 29.

A similar bid failed in 2021 when similar bills failed to advance past the House committee hearing process. None of the bills were even heard in the Senate. 

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Texas Sports Betting Market Would Be Biggest in U.S.

Texas has 31.172 million people in 2023, according to state estimates. That makes it number two in the nation behind California. It would be the largest state or province with legal betting in North America. New York is the most populous state in the nation with legal sports betting and has roughly 18.937 million people.

The state boasts 2 MLB franchises, 2 NFL franchises, 3 NBA teams, and one NHL squad. It is also the home to PGA Tour stops, NASCAR Cup races, and multiple major collegiate events. 

The state’s major-league teams, along with the PGA Tour and other related organizations have long supported the push for legalized Texas betting apps. 

Currently, Texas allows parimutuel wagering on horses and greyhounds, charitable raffles and bingo, and three Indian casinos.

Texans have sought various extensions for decades. The Supreme Court PASPA decision on May 14, 2018 – five years ago Thursday – opened the door for sports betting nationwide. 

The state’s residents are passionate sports fans. Illegal and offshore betting sites proliferate.  

Previous efforts to expand gambling through the legislature have run up against a firewall of conservative politicians and religious groups. 

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Texas Sports Betting Bill Details

Leach’s bill would allow “sports entities” to have one sports betting license. They would be free to partner with any operator to offer retail and mobile betting. The 12 “entities” to have a license would include a dozen sports teams and two race tracks. 

Its fate in the Senate remains uncertain, to be charitable. Patrick is a formidable foe and won’t even schedule a committee hearing until he has enough GOP senators in the fold. 

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