The effort to legalize sports betting in the Lone Star State got off to a strong start in 2023. Back in January, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came out in support of sports betting in the state during a KRLD radio interview.
The Dallas Cowboys were already members of the Sports Betting Alliance – as are most major league sports teams in Texas. But Jones’ vocal support was noteworthy, owing to his close ties to Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Team owners have given voice to what most Texans want – the ability to place a legal sports bet. In a survey conducted by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, 75% of Texans supported destination casinos with retail sportsbooks while 69% supported legalizing online sport betting.
In April, two sets of bills enabling legal sports betting passed the Texas House State Affairs Committee. It was the most progress any gambling legislation has ever made in the traditionally conservative state. One set of bills would have allowed destination casinos with retail sports betting. The other set of bills would have specifically legalized online sports betting.
In May, both sets of bills passed the Texas House. Initially, the bills lacked the two-thirds majority required to move them to the Senate. The casino bill did not have sufficient support and was ultimately postponed until Jan. 12, 2027. Eventually, the online sports betting bill secured a constitutional majority, moving on to the Senate. It, however, never got a Senate hearing and died in session.
See also: 10 Predictions, Bold and Otherwise, About Sports Betting in 2024
Dallas Mavericks and Las Vegas Sands jump start sports betting hopes
The Texas legislature only meets every two years. So, the earliest sports betting legislation can come up again is Jan. 14, 2025. And still, the chances would be slim, unless something unusual were to happen. But something unusual has happened.
In November, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban shared his vision for a sports complex tied to a destination casino in Texas. Weeks later, Cuban sold a controlling stake in the Mavericks to Las Vegas Sands’ majority shareholder Miriam Adelson for roughly $3.5 billion.
Months before the announcement, it turns out a company owned by the Sands bought 259 acres of land near Dallas, right by the site of former Texas Stadium. The site has public transportation and a brand-new bridge passing over State Highway 114. In other words, it would be a great site for the Mavericks’ new home and a destination casino.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the NBA released this statement, “The NBA Board of Governors has approved the sale of the controlling interest in the Dallas Mavericks from Mark Cuban to the families of Dr. Miriam Adelson and Sivan and Patrick Dumont.”
Patrick Dumont, Sands COO and Adelson’s son-in-law, will have a 73% stake in the team, while Cuban retains a 27% stake. Cuban will continue to control the team’s operations.
Now there are two NBA teams in Texas that have casino ties. Tilman Fertitta owns the Houston Rockets and several casinos in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi and Louisiana through his ownership of Landry’s.
So, if Texas fails to legalize gambling, would one – or both – of its NBA teams pick up and leave? That’s something for Texas legislators to consider over the next year.
