When you sign-up through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more >
Beginner friendly
Fantastic odds
Bet $20 Win $200 in Free Bets
21+ CO, VA, MI Only | Terms and conditions apply
HB 2070 was looking like it would legalize sports betting in one of the largest markets in the country, with revenue take expected to rival that of New Jersey (currently the biggest sports betting market in the country). Numerous attempts were made by sponsoring state Rep. Dan Huberty to get the bill on the docket, which would have gone to a vote in November had it made it through the legislature– but things aren’t looking promising for HB 2070.
The two main proponents of sports betting in Texas have each sponsored a sports betting bill that was hopeful to pass through the Legislature and be drafted into a bipartisan text with support on both sides of the aisle. Rep. Dan Huberty (R) and Senator Juan Hinojosa (D) each drafted and sponsored a sports betting framework in the form of HB 2070 and SB 736, respectively.
The latter senate bill, SB 736, was referred to the committee but didn’t make it out of the death grip of Business & Commerce. Rep. Huberty is a sponsor of HB 2070 and a driving force behind the popular HB 3, a school and finance bill that is slated to direct millions in funds to Texas education. In an attempt to prop up HB 3 with even more revenue, HB 2070 was drafted with the intent of directing tax revenue from sports betting directly to schools.
At the high end, independent lobby groups like Texas’ Sports Betting Alliance have determined that nearly $6 billion is wagered on illegal, offshore platforms, making Texas the second-largest sports betting market behind NJ should the practice be legalized. HB 2070 would have allowed tribal operators and professional sports teams to apply for a mobile license at a fair cost of $500,000.
Despite the support from local sports teams, gambling operators, and the Texas public, sports betting is not likely to be on the ballot this November.
One quirk about the Texas constitution: it bans nearly all forms of gambling. The text of the TX constitution specifically bans:
Because the text of the constitution itself bars sports betting, Texans will have to vote on a constitutional amendment after two-thirds of lawmakers agree to move forward with a betting framework.
That last thing, getting two-thirds of legislators to agree, is a difficult task in any state but near impossible in historically conservative Texas. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has publicly stated his opposition to legalized sports betting, and many legislators echo his position.
More than anything else, these sports betting frameworks just didn’t have the momentum to make it to a ballot in November 2021. This timing issue was noted by Rep. John Kuemple (R), who stated matter of factly that “there’s no time for (HB 2070) to pass this session”.
That sentiment is shared by several lawmakers in Texas, but there remains optimism that sports betting could be put on the books by the time the Texas legislature meets again. However, another quirk of the Texas legislative system is that lawmakers only meet in odd-numbered years, so we’re gonna have to wait until 2023 before we see another push for legal bets in the Lone Star State.
Beginner friendly
Fantastic odds
Bet $20 Win $200 in Free Bets
21+ CO, VA, MI Only | Terms and conditions apply
Bet $20 Win $200 in Free Bets
21+ CO, VA, MI Only | Terms and conditions apply
AUTHOR
Chris Altman
23 Articles
Chris Altman is a traveling writer and content specialist covering everything from betting to plane crashes. He has been working in sports betting, specifically legislation for some time now, covering industry developments and the legal landscape of sportsbooks in the U.S. Chris is also a published short story writer and zine editor. Email: [email protected]
More info on Chris Altman
© Rebel Penguin ApS 2023 (a subsidiary of Gaming Innovation Group Inc.)
We support responsible gambling. 21+ Only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
WSN.com is run by iGaming Cloud Inc (a Gaming Innovation Group Subsidiary) and is registered with the New Jersey
Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) under affiliate vendor ID
89744,
with the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) under certificate of registration number SWR-000148, approved by
the
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a gaming service provider, under certificate registration number
117656-1,
possesses a Vendor Minor sports betting license from the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (account
number 94414163), granted a vendor registration number VR007603-20-001 by the Michigan Gaming Control Board,
an
interim Sports Wagering Supplier license, under license number SWS 066, issued by the West Virginia Lottery
Commission, a sports betting vendor registration, under registration number #100400, issued by the Director
of
Gaming Licensing and Investigations of the Virginia Lottery to operate in the State of Virginia, and a
Vendor
Registration issued by the Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation.
Advertising disclosure: WSN contains links to online retailers on its website. When people click on our
affiliate links and make purchases, WSN earns a commission from our partners, including ESPN and various
sportsbooks.