Despite failed efforts to enact sports gambling legislation in Texas, there remains plenty of support for sports betting among lawmakers.
While Patrick looms as a key opposition figure, politicians from both sides of the aisle have voiced their support of sports betting.
HJR 102 was sponsored by three Republicans and two Democrats and received 101 of 150 possible votes from a chamber with a roughly 55-45 split in favor of Republicans.
Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano), who filed HJR 102 in the House, argued that the legislation is less about expanding gambling and more about regulating the practice.
Leach has said one million Texans already bet on sports each year through illegal or unregulated channels.
Former Governor Rick Perry (R) has also become a powerful proponent of legalized sports gambling.
While he once fought against measures to legalize gambling in his state, Perry has argued such legislation would help combat billions of dollars in illegal wagers – a figure scrutinized by experts but one that speaks to revenue potential for Texas if it enacts legislation.
Texas Sports Betting Alliance
Perry also serves as the spokesperson for the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition of sportsbooks and professional sports organizations that have lobbied the state to legalize sports betting since the group was founded in 2021.
The alliance boasts partnerships with 12 major professional sports franchises in the state (along with five sportsbooks, the PGA Tour and Texas Motor Speedway) and has played a key role in supporting pro-gambling legislation over recent years.
Many of those franchises have already embraced sports betting with open arms.
The Houston Astros announced an exclusive partnership with BetMGM in 2022, while the Houston Dynamo (Fubo Sportsbook) and Frisco Fighters (BetRivers) have signed similar partnership deals.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has proven noncommittal about sports betting measures but has publicly declared interest in partnering with a casino if the state legalizes gambling.
Voters also appear in favor of legalizing sports betting in Texas.
In January 2023, a poll showed support from 75% of Texans for a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize sports betting and gaming at casino resorts in each of the state’s four major metro areas.
Another poll from 2023 – three months after the passage of HJR 102 and HB 1942 – saw more than two-thirds of registered voters favor sports betting legalization if on the ballot in 2025.