According to a recent report by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, a California-based research firm specializing in the sports betting industry, Texas is unlikely to legalize sports betting until at least 2027. This shift in projections pushes any potential launch to coincide with the NFL season opener in 2028.
Initially, Eilers & Krejcik expected Texas sports betting to be legalized via a ballot measure in November 2025, with a 2026 launch. However, the firm has now revised this timeline due to increased opposition from anti-gaming advocates and the growing complexities surrounding the push for casino legalization.
“We’ve now pushed the timeline back a legislative session, with legalization occurring in November 2027 and launch occurring in time for the NFL season opener in fall 2028,”
the firm announced.
Casino Legalization Efforts Derailing Sports Betting
At the center of this delay is the escalating battle over Texas online casino legalization, primarily driven by Las Vegas Sands Corp., a company that has been pouring resources into Texas for over a decade in an attempt to bring casinos to the state.
Despite numerous failed attempts, Sands remains undeterred, continuing to spearhead efforts as Texas heads into its next legislative session.
However, Sands’ relentless lobbying for casinos has created fierce opposition from anti-gaming groups. These groups, which are primarily led by Republicans in the Texas State Senate, argue that casinos will bring a host of social and economic problems to the state, including gambling addiction, crime, and the destabilization of local economies.
These concerns have complicated the path forward for sports betting advocates, who now find themselves caught in the crossfire of a larger debate.
“The Senate is the chamber that matters, and things there are not moving in the right direction,”
explained Eilers & Krejcik analyst Chris Krafcik. While the Texas House did pass an online sports betting bill in 2023, supported by major sports betting companies, professional sports teams, and former Texas Governor Rick Perry, the Senate ultimately blocked the measure. Krafcik emphasized the importance of the Senate’s stance, stating that the Texas Republican Party has explicitly instructed lawmakers to oppose any form of gambling expansion.
Opposition Intensified by Casino Lobbying
Miriam Adelson, who controls 53 percent of Las Vegas Sands, has donated millions to political causes, including a $9 million contribution to the Texas Defense Fund, which supports Republican incumbents.
Additionally, her recent $3.5 billion acquisition of a 73 percent stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks has sparked speculation that a future hotel-casino resort, potentially tied to a new arena for the Mavericks, could be on the horizon.
Mark Cuban, who retains a 27 percent stake in the Mavericks, underscored the importance of the casino aspect in the team’s future. At a recent sports economics forum in Dallas, Cuban stated,
“The 10 percent of the people who gamble pay for everything else.”
This sentiment reflects the economic allure that destination gaming could bring to the state, yet it has only intensified opposition from anti-gambling advocates.
With Texas Republicans holding firm on their anti-gambling stance and the push for casino legalization complicating the political landscape, Eilers & Krejcik now predicts that any progress on sports betting will be delayed until at least 2027.
As the battle over gambling expansion rages on, it appears Texans will have to wait until the fall of 2028 to potentially place their first legal bets.
