JUMP TO:
- Is sports betting legal in Texas?
- Recent legislative efforts and proposals
- What needs to happen for legalization
- Potential Texas sports betting timeline
- Potential online sportsbooks in Texas
- Popular Texas teams that could influence betting
DISCLAIMER: Sports betting is not yet legal in Texas. This article is intended for informational purposes only and will be updated as new legislation, ballot measures or court rulings develop. Until legalization is finalized and regulated operators launch, residents in Texans cannot legally place sports bets.
Sports betting has been legalized in some capacity in most of the United States, but it remains illegal in the biggest state in the continental U.S. Texas hopes to eventually legalize, but for now it's one of 11 states that has no legal sports betting whatsoever.
There have been talks about two Texas sports betting gambling bills gaining momentum recently, but it remains to be seen if anything will ever come of it legislatively. Until then, sports fans will need to stick to DFS sites and social casinos.
Of course, the moment Texas legalizes betting, it will likely become one of the biggest players in the entire American sports wagering landscape. Texas has over a dozen professional sports teams and dozens more NCAA sports programs, and it's one of the most popular football states in the Union.
Read on for more about the potential for sports betting legalization in Texas, which sportsbooks will likely come to the Lone Star State if the betting ban is lifted, and more.
Is sports betting legal in Texas?
No, sports betting is not legal in Texas, which has some of the most stringent gambling laws in the United States. Multiple efforts to repeal said laws have proved fruitless.
Lawmakers most recently introduced bills during the 2025 legislative session, but opposition in the state Senate caused them to stall once again.
Where legalization stands today
Sports betting in Texas remains at a standstill, with no definitive timeline or projection as to when it will be legalized.
We do know that 2027 is the earliest it could happen, as the Texas legislature meets only in odd-numbered years and 2025 proved fruitless.
Legalization efforts face strong opposition in the state Senate and require a constitutional amendment, which would need to be approved by both the legislature and Texas voters.
So, needless to say, many hurdles stand in the way of betting on sports in the Lone Star State.
MORE: Bet on sports in Missouri
Legislative efforts and political challenges for Texas betting
Because gambling is prohibited in the Texas state constitution, no sports betting bill can be pushed forward without a successful constitutional amendment. Such an amendment would need support from the House, the Senate, and Texas voters.
The House has shown support for sports betting in the state. During the 2023 legislative session, a sports betting bill received 100 yays and 43 nays, a historic approval in the House.
However, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick — who presides over the Senate — blocked the bill and stated that it didn't have enough Republican support to bring to a vote.
The short-term outlook grew even murkier in 2024, when more conservative and anti-gambling Republicans were elected to the House.
Many tribal gaming groups also oppose widespread legalization and commercial licensing for national sportsbooks.
Public polls in Texas have shown that Texans want the ability to vote on how to start sports betting. The push has also been strong from influential advocates like The Texas Sports Betting Alliance and major sports team owners like former Dallas Mavericks principal owner (and current minority owner) Mark Cuban.
Potential timeline for Texas sports betting
It has been a long and winding road for those trying to legalize sports betting in Texas. And, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is not yet in sight. Several difficult steps must be completed before it even becomes a possibility.
- For one, Texas would need to make a constitutional amendment. Since the state's constitution prohibits gambling, lawmakers must first pass a joint resolution to propose an amendment. That will require two-thirds majority approval from both the House and the Senate.
- If and when a constitutional amendment gets passed by the Texas legislature, it would then need to be approved by a majority of Texas voters (even 50.1 percent would suffice).
- If the amendment passes through the House, the Senate and the voters, the legislature would still need to construct a regulatory framework to govern how legal sports betting would operate.
- Details would need to be hashed out, including which committee or commission would oversee betting, what the tax rate would be, and how the tax revenue would be allocated.
All that said, legalizing betting in Texas will likely not be possible until at least 2027, as the state's legislative sessions run during odd-numbered years. Even then, the legwork involved may push any legalization dates to a non-legislature (even-numbered) year.
Possible sportsbooks and apps for Texas
While sports betting has not yet been legalized by the Lone Star State, it's easy to surmise which sportsbooks will lead the charge to be Texas-bound if and when betting gets the green light.
Here are some of the sportsbooks expected to operate in Texas once the state lifts its sports betting ban:
Popular Texas teams that could shape the betting market
Many states require sports betting operators to enter a marketing partnership with a sports league or team, in addition to brick-and-mortar casinos.
A major betting operator could form an agreement with these pro sports leagues and organizations. We'll also list the popular colleges and universities who will have interest by operators and bettors alike.
- NFL betting: Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans
- MLB: Houston Astros and Texas Rangers
- NBA: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs
- WNBA: Dallas Wings
- NHL: Dallas Stars
- MLS: FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo FC and Austin FC
- NCAA: Baylor Bears, Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, TCU Horned Frogs, North Texas Mean Green, Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Rice Owls, Texas Southern Tigers, Sam Houston Bearkats, Texas State Bobcats