Texas Governor Greg Abbott Supports Legalizing Sports Gambling, Says He Would Be 'Shocked' If There 'Were Not Some Texans Who Do It Already'

The state of Texas has been debating legalizing sports gambling for several years, but discussions have intensified in the last decade. Despite many attempts and various bills introduced in the state's legislature, Texas is yet to legalize it. But according to Gov. Greg Abbott's latest comments, the state is ready to allow online sports betting.

During an interview for the Texas Take Podcast, Gov. Abbott said he has "no problem" with online sports betting, adding that he had be shocked "if there were not some Texans that do it already."

The state's legislature started to juggle with the idea after a 2018 Supreme Court ruling struck down a 1992 federal ban on sports betting outside of Nevada, transferring regulation powers to states.

"We appreciate the governor's comments because this echoes what we're hearing from Texans," said Jeremy Kudon, president of the Sports Betting Alliance. "They want the opportunity to vote on legalizing sports betting and putting in place a strong, regulatory framework that protects consumers and boosts revenue in the state."

In a promotional video, Perry agreed with Gov. Abbott's comments and said that many Texans are already gambling on games through offshore sites, either going to other states or using other unregulated means.

Perry added that allowing people to gamble through offshore sites means billions of dollars are leaving the state, and those who use sites do not have the same protections that legalizing it would bring.

Fortunately for sports gambling advocates, Abbott is not the only one supporting the motion. A coalition of major sports franchises in the state, including the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Astros and the San Antonio Spurs, have teamed up with gaming companies such as Bet MGM, DraftKings and FanDuel to push for legalized betting in Texas.

Last November, Missouri was the latest state to approve the initiative, making it the 39th state to legalize sports gambling.

But despite lobbying, Texas has yet to vote in favor, partly because the Texas Constitution prohibits the expansion of gambling in Texas, as the Houston Chronicle reports. In order to allow sports betting or expand casinos, Texas legislature would need to amend the state constitution by getting a two-thirds vote in both chambers and then get a vote of the people.

The closest it has gotten was in 2023, when a bill by State Rep. Jeff Leach cleared the House by an 82-51 vote but was never picked up by the Texas Senate.