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Texas Sports Betting: 2024 Legislative Milestones

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 16:30 GMT by Sporting News

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Texas Sports Betting: A 2024 Update on Legislation, Regulation, and the Road Ahead

In 2024, Texas is once again at the center of a national conversation about legalizing sports betting. For decades, the Lone Star State has been a “no‑betting” jurisdiction, with only a handful of parimutuel wagering options on horse racing tracks. Yet the state's massive sports fan base and the rapid growth of legalized gambling in neighboring states have pushed lawmakers, business leaders, and the public toward a new era of wagering. The Sporting News’s comprehensive report—updated this year—traces the legislative journey, regulatory framework, and economic expectations surrounding Texas’s bid to add sports betting to its gambling menu.

1. The Legislative Milestone

The core of Texas’s sports betting debate hinges on House Bill 1473 (and its Senate counterpart, SB 1743). Drafted by a bipartisan team of legislators, the bill was designed to legalize sports wagering on the premises of licensed casinos, with an optional future expansion to online wagering if further legislation passes. The bill passed the Texas House of Representatives in March 2024 with a 100‑to‑8 vote, a clear indicator of growing political appetite for the industry. However, the bill now sits in the Senate, where it faces scrutiny over licensing limits, tax structures, and consumer protection provisions.

A key development is the Texas Sports Wagering Commission—a newly established regulatory body tasked with overseeing all aspects of sports betting. The Commission will be responsible for:

• Licensing operators: Only companies that meet strict financial and integrity standards will receive a license.
• Enforcing tax compliance: The state will impose a 5% tax on gross sports betting revenue, a figure that echoes the model used in neighboring states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
• Consumer protection: The Commission will oversee responsible gambling initiatives, ensuring players can self‑exempt, set limits, and access help for problem gambling.

The Commission’s structure mirrors that of the Texas Lottery Commission and the Texas Gaming Commission, both of which already oversee state‑run lotteries and casino gambling. This cross‑agency collaboration ensures that Texas’s sports betting ecosystem will be tightly regulated and integrated into existing state revenue streams.

2. Economic Outlook

Texas’s potential as a sports betting market is staggering. With a population of over 30 million and an avid sports culture spanning the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, MLB’s Texas Rangers, and college teams like the University of Texas and Texas A&M, the state is a natural fit for betting. The Sporting News article cites a 2023 industry estimate of $10.5 billion in annual sports wagering revenue across the United States. Texas could capture a sizable share of this market if it opens up for betting.

Revenue projections from the Texas Lottery Commission suggest that $80–$100 million could be generated in the first year, with an additional $200–$250 million added to state coffers over the next five years. These funds would go toward public services such as education, infrastructure, and healthcare—an attractive prospect for Texas voters accustomed to the high demand for state spending.

Moreover, the sports betting industry would create direct and indirect jobs. The Commission’s estimates predict over 4,000 jobs in casinos, software development, compliance, and customer service. In a broader sense, ancillary businesses such as betting kiosks, advertising agencies, and data analytics firms would also thrive.

3. Current Status of Casinos and Parimutuel Wagers

Texas currently has two licensed casinos: the Motel 6 Casino in San Antonio (formerly the “Motel 6 Casino”) and the Motel 6 Casino in Dallas (though Dallas is pending expansion). Both have been operating under the Texas Gaming Commission’s license for decades and are the only venues authorized to offer any form of gambling beyond the lottery and parimutuel betting.

In 2023, Texas approved a parimutuel wagering rule that allows horse racing tracks to operate betting systems. While still limited compared to the full slate of casino gaming, this move signals the state’s willingness to embrace more betting options. If the sports betting bill passes, these casinos will become the primary venues for sports wagering. Some lawmakers are even exploring the possibility of a single consolidated sports betting hub in Houston or Dallas—an approach that could streamline regulation and reduce administrative overhead.

4. Regulatory Concerns and Public Input

A major point of contention in the debate revolves around consumer protection. Critics argue that Texas’s existing regulatory bodies may not be equipped to handle the complexities of modern online and in‑person wagering. In response, proponents of the bill have introduced robust safeguards:

• Mandatory player education: All licensed operators must provide clear information about odds, risks, and responsible gambling resources.
• Real‑time betting limits: Operators will have the ability to place “self‑exclusion” limits on players.
• Anti‑money‑laundering (AML) protocols: Texas will adopt the federal Bank Secrecy Act standards to prevent illicit financial flows.

The Commission will also run a public outreach program to gather community feedback on the proposed regulation. This includes town hall meetings, a public comment period on the Texas Legislature’s website, and an open forum on the Commission’s website where residents can ask questions and suggest policy changes.

5. The Governor’s Role and the Potential Timeline

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has publicly expressed a cautious but supportive stance toward the sports betting bill. He has emphasized the importance of stringent consumer protections and the need for a thorough regulatory framework. While Governor Abbott’s signature is necessary for the bill to become law, the Texas Legislature’s current schedule allows for a potential signing deadline of July 1, 2024—the same deadline that is being used for the pending Senate legislation.

If the bill passes in the Senate and receives the governor’s approval, the implementation window would likely be set for January 1, 2025. This timeframe would give the newly formed Sports Wagering Commission six months to establish licensing processes, develop compliance guidelines, and set up the necessary technology infrastructure.

6. Looking Ahead

While the 2024 legislative session marks a watershed moment for Texas sports betting, the road ahead remains complex. The Sporting News article notes that Texas will need to navigate the federal regulatory environment—particularly the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA)—to ensure that any online betting components do not violate federal law. Additionally, there are broader concerns about social equity and ensuring that the revenue generated from sports betting does not disproportionately benefit certain sectors or communities.

However, the state’s robust sports culture, a growing appetite for regulated gambling, and the potential for significant tax revenue suggest that the momentum for legalization will likely carry forward. If Texas follows through, it would join a growing list of states—New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Missouri—that have successfully integrated sports betting into their gambling portfolios, setting a precedent for responsible, regulated wagering in the Lone Star State.

In summary, Texas is poised on the cusp of a sports betting revolution. With a bipartisan bill that has already cleared the House, a newly created regulatory commission, and a clear economic incentive, the state’s lawmakers and regulators are working to translate public enthusiasm into a carefully governed, lucrative industry. The Sporting News’s 2024 update captures the intricate dance between legislation, regulation, and the promise of a new revenue stream—an essential read for anyone interested in the future of gambling in Texas.