Will Texas Legalize Sports Gambling
With 55 of 64 Louisiana parishes voting in November to legalize sports betting, roughly 300 miles of border could open to gambling-poor, population rich Texas. Houston, population 2.2 million, is about 150 miles from the Louisiana border, or slightly more than the evening commute in that sprawling burb. Proponents of legalizing sports betting argued that legalizing the activity will generate revenue for states and reduce the strength of illegal betting organizations. Opponents of legalization argued that legalizing sports gambling will push people toward gambling and encourage unreasonable spending and financial practices. House Joint Resolution 61 seeks a referendum Nov. 5 in which voters statewide would vote to amend the Texas Constitution to authorize “the Legislature to legalize sports betting in this state.
The United States Supreme Court produced a landmark decision last week, one which eliminated the federal ban on wagering on sporting events. The majority decision leaves the decision to allow, or ban, sports gambling to the individual states.
Will Texas Legalize Sports Gambling Laws
Many states are chomping at the bit to quickly establish ways to capitalize on the ruling. Despite being a bastion of individual rights relative to most states, Texas is not likely to make sports wagering legal anytime soon.
The state of Texas remains one of the stalwarts in refusing to allow casino games of any kind. Texas was one of the last states to get on board with having a lottery and banned horse track betting for years. Gambling remains a political football which the Texas legislature continues to intercept at every turn they can.
Will Texas Legalize Sports Gambling Legislation
The Houston Texans have not released any official statement, but the idea of the team facilitating legal wagering during games at NRG Stadium seems remote. Texans fans who want to bet $10 on DeAndre Hopkins catching more than 6 passes, or $20 that Houston will cover the spread against the Colts, will need to do what most Houstonian gamblers do now: drive to Lake Charles, Louisiana or Biloxi, Mississippi, where the parking lots are perennially chock full of cars with Texas plates.