A push to legalize sports betting in Texas is getting a huge push from professional sports teams that are wanting to see a change in gambling laws. The Sports Betting Alliance was formed by five professional sports teams but also includes some sports betting companies as well.
The Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, and Texas Rangers have teamed up to form this coalition. The Sports Betting Alliance also announced that other teams are expected to join the coalition, and those teams would be revealed at a later date.
This same process has taken place in other states around the country as professional sports teams are set to benefit from legalized sports betting. The Sports Betting Alliance is lobbying lawmakers to allow residents of Texas to have a vote on the issue.
Several key executives from these professional sports teams have recently made statements outlining the need for Texas sports betting. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban believes that the state needs to take a serious look at allowing casinos to operate in the state.
These professional sports teams also want to get involved in the betting and are looking to offer betting on-site at their stadiums. Several states now allow this type of betting to take place, and these would likely become huge sports betting sites if that were an option.
These teams argue that illegal sports betting is currently taking place for Texas residents, and it is causing the state to lose millions of dollars. Louisiana and Oklahoma could offer legal sports betting soon, and that would attract bettors from Texas.
Legalizing Casinos Likely the First Step
The Texas Constitution prohibits gambling of any kind, and that makes legalizing sports betting that much harder of a task. The first step to passing a sports betting bill is to create a law that allows casino gambling in the state.
This would actually be a two-step process, with the first step being to pass a bill to amend the Texas Constitution. A two-thirds vote is needed in both the House and the Senate to create a constitutional amendment, and then another bill would be needed to allow for casino gambling.
This same process would be needed to legalize sports betting, but a constitutional amendment could allow for all forms of gambling to be allowed. There are currently two bills that have been introduced in the Texas legislature that would allow casino gambling.
One bill allows brick-and-mortar casinos to be built in coastal areas of the state, with revenue going towards an insurance program to help in the case of a hurricane. The other bill would allow for online gambling to be allowed in Texas, similar to what currently takes place in Tennessee.
It is unclear how much support either bill will receive as other legislation aimed at legalizing new forms of gambling have quickly been shut down in the state. Having the support and backing of professional sports teams in Texas could provide a solid push that would allow for a change to occur.
