Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is “ready to allow online sports betting” in the state, according to Jeremy Wallace of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Abbott during an appearance on the “Texas Take Podcast” said that he has “no objection to the Texas Legislature passing a law to join 39 other states that have legalized online sports betting.” Wallace notes the comments are “some of the governor’s strongest in support of an industry that has ramped up its lobbying and political giving” in recent years. A coalition of major sports franchises in the state, including the Cowboys, Astros and Spurs, have “teamed up with sports gaming companies like BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel to push for legalized betting through the Texas Sports Betting Alliance.” In order to allow sports betting in Texas, the state Legislature would “need to amend the state constitution by getting a two-thirds vote of both chambers” and then “get a vote of the people.” In 2023, the issue “got as far as it ever has” when a bill cleared the House by an 82-51 vote but was “never picked up by the Senate, where the biggest hurdles remain.” State Sen. Carol Alvarado has “reintroduced another bill this year” that would allow sports betting (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/4).
Gov. Greg Abbott signals support to allow sports betting in Texas
