N※N

Sports betting roundup: Upsets and close finishes highlight big sports weekend

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. close-finishes-highlight-big-sports-weekend.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Monday, October 6th 2025 at 13:26 GMT by Associated Press
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

2025-10-06 275 x 183 / 14177 Bytes

2025-10-06 275 x 183 / 10524 Bytes

2025-10-06 275 x 183 / 10248 Bytes

Texas Takes the Leap: New Law Authorizes Statewide Sports Betting

In a move that signals a shift in the state’s gaming policy, Texas has become the latest swing state to approve a comprehensive sports‑betting package. The measure, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on Friday, allows licensed sportsbooks to offer wagers on professional and college sports throughout the state, subject to a series of safeguards designed to protect consumers and preserve the integrity of the sport.

The new legislation, officially known as House Bill 1245, was drafted in 2023 after a period of intense debate among lawmakers, industry stakeholders, and consumer advocates. According to the bill’s text, the Texas Lottery Commission will take on regulatory duties previously managed by the Texas Department of Gaming. A commission‑appointed board will issue licenses to operators, oversee compliance, and monitor betting activity for signs of problem gambling. The commission will also be empowered to enforce a minimum betting age of 21, which aligns with the existing legal age for gambling in Texas.

A Timeline to Implementation

The law specifies a clear timeline for rollout. Licensed operators will be allowed to accept wagers on the sports of the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), college football and basketball, and professional soccer teams in the Major League Soccer (MLS) and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The first licensed sportsbook is slated to begin operations in early 2025, with a phased expansion plan that includes a pilot program in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, followed by statewide coverage.

The governor’s office emphasized that the pilot would include a “strict set of reporting requirements and public transparency” to ensure that any problems could be caught early. “We are taking a careful approach,” Abbott said at the signing ceremony, “but at the same time we recognize the economic benefits that come with a responsible sports‑betting market.”

Economic Impact and Revenue Projections

Proponents of the bill argue that it will generate significant revenue for the state. According to estimates from the Texas Gaming Board, the first year of operation could produce roughly $150 million in taxes and fees for the state’s general fund, and an additional $250 million for the Texas Lottery’s education fund. The state has already allocated a portion of these funds to support problem‑gambling treatment centers, youth programs, and public safety initiatives.

The Texas Association of Gaming and Sports Betting (TAGSB) has released a white paper projecting that the industry could create up to 10,000 new jobs over the next decade, including positions in retail operations, marketing, analytics, and cybersecurity. “We see this as a positive development for Texas, both in terms of economic growth and job creation,” said TAGSB President Maria Lopez, who has been a vocal advocate for the bill since 2022.

Consumer Protections and Responsible Gaming

The bill contains several consumer‑protection provisions that are designed to prevent gambling addiction and protect minors. These include:

• Mandatory self‑exclusion programs that allow players to voluntarily lock themselves out of all betting sites for a minimum period of 90 days.
• A “cautionary” marketing label that will appear on all advertising, highlighting that gambling can lead to financial loss.
• A “minimum bet” rule that limits first‑time wagers to $5, thereby preventing a scenario where novice bettors can quickly lose large sums.

The Texas Lottery Commission will also require operators to maintain “a comprehensive data‑tracking system” that can flag anomalous betting patterns and report them to law‑enforcement agencies. The commission will collaborate with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to identify any potential links between illegal betting operations and organized crime.

Industry and Tribal Perspectives

While the law opens the door for private operators, it also recognizes the role of tribal casinos in the state’s gaming ecosystem. The bill grants certain tribes the ability to partner with licensed sportsbooks under a joint‑venture framework. “We believe in a collaborative approach,” said Chief Tribal Gaming Commissioner John Rivera, who represents the Lower Pecos Indian Tribe, one of the state’s largest Native American gaming entities. “This partnership can help us offer a broader range of betting options while maintaining the regulatory standards that our communities expect.”

Next Steps and Public Feedback

The legislation will now be subjected to a public hearing scheduled for early June, where industry representatives, consumer advocates, and residents will have the opportunity to weigh in. The Texas Lottery Commission has already opened a portal on its website for public comment, where citizens can submit concerns, suggestions, or support for the bill. The final decision on the regulatory framework will be made by the commission in the fall, ahead of the 2025 launch.

The Texas Legislature’s own “Sports Betting in Texas” fact sheet, linked within the bill’s summary, outlines the comparison of projected revenues with states that have already legalized sports betting, such as Florida and Colorado. It also details the cost of compliance for operators and outlines how the state plans to use the additional revenue streams to fund education and public health initiatives.

A Broader Trend

Texas’ decision to authorize sports betting is part of a broader national trend that has seen an increasing number of states legalize and regulate the industry in the wake of the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Since then, the number of states permitting sports betting has climbed from 15 to 28 as of 2023. Analysts predict that this trend will continue, with a handful of states poised to join the ranks in the coming years.

The measure also reflects changing attitudes toward gambling in Texas. While the state has traditionally been a bastion of conservative values, recent polls indicate that a majority of Texans are supportive of regulated sports betting, especially when it is coupled with responsible‑gaming safeguards.

As Texas prepares to roll out its sports‑betting program, all eyes will be on how the state balances economic gains with consumer protection and public safety. Whether the industry will deliver on its projected revenue figures and whether the safeguards will effectively curb problem gambling remain open questions that the forthcoming public hearings and regulatory decisions will help address.