Is Sports Betting Coming To Texas Anytime Soon? SXSW Tackled The Issue

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Sports betting is huge and every year it's getting bigger and bigger and more money is being spent on placing bets. Just look at this year's Super Bowl that saw the largest amount of sports betting ever. And with March Madness looming, you better believe that those who place bets will.

But Texans still can't legally bet on sports. But sports teams and high profile names in Texas are starting to put more pressure on Texas lawmakers to change that. The question is, is it likely to change anytime soon? It's a question that was discussed at South by Southwest in Austin on Monday during a panel discussion.

The short answer? Don't bet on anything changing soon.

Of course the Texas Legislature won't meet until 2025, so that means for the next year the issue is legislatively dead. But that doesn't mean people aren't talking about it according to Spectrum News.

“I would hope that by next year, you’d see Texas move forward,” Schneider said.

Professional sports owners in Texas have embraced the idea of sports betting, with all the state’s biggest sport franchises being partners in the Texas Sports Betting Alliance.

One of the most vocal proponents of legalizing gambling in Texas is former majority Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

While many believe that Texas will eventually see sports betting in Texas, it's also important for people to remember that legislation regarding sports betting hasn't gotten anywhere close to even being debated in the Texas Senate or House. And as of today, odds are, it's probably a non-issue in 2025.