Rangers Support State Online Betting

Two different bills in the Texas legislature would allow Texans to bet on games on mobile devices without leaving the state.

The Texas Rangers are among the Texas-based pro sports teams that have thrown their weight behind legislation that would legalize and regulate mobile sports betting in the state.

The Dallas Business Journal reported on Tuesday that the Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, San Antonio Spurs and other franchises are supporting a bill authored by two Texas state legislators — State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) and State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano).

Kolkhorst filed Senate Bill 715 and Senate Joint Resolution 39, while Leach filed HB 1942 and HJR 102.

The legislation is identical, per reports. They are designed to “create transparent licensing, permitting and reporting requirements, while reigning in illegal offshore betting already occurring across the state.”

A similar bill was introduced during the 2021 legislative session, which would have allowed both mobile sports betting and “retail” sports betting, such as casinos. This bill would only apply to mobile sports betting.

Leach told the Dallas Business Journal that 35 others states allow mobile sports betting.

The bill also has the support of the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, which has enlisted the help of former Gov. Rick Perry as a lobbyist for the bill.

Right now, Texas residents must go to another state to make sports wagers. One of the most notable sports wagerers in the state is Jim McIngvale, the owner of the Houston-based Gallery Furniture and a die-hard Houston Astros fans. He won what $75 million on the Astros winning the 2022 World Series on an original $3 million bet he made while sitting in a parking lot in Louisiana.

If this legislation were to pass, Texans wouldn’t have to drive to adjacent states to make such bets.

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard

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