Texas Representative Sam Harless has introduced the first gambling bill of the session on February 12, proposing a constitutional amendment that would allow state voters to decide on the legalization of sports betting in November.
HJR 134 primarily focuses on retail sports betting, though it does not explicitly ban digital wagering. The proposal would permit professional sports teams, PGA Tour stops, and Class I racetracks to obtain licenses, provided they existed as of January 1, 2025. Licensed entities could partner with management service providers to operate sportsbooks.
Other states like Louisiana and Maryland have followed similar approaches, where voter approval led to the legislature developing a regulatory framework. If Texas voters approve sports betting in November 2025, lawmakers would then determine whether digital betting would be included.
In Louisiana and Maryland, voters legalized sports betting in 2020, with retail sportsbooks opening in 2021 and digital platforms launching in 2022. However, due to Texas’ biennial legislative sessions, even with approval, Texans would likely have to wait over a year before placing a legal bet.
The number of available licenses under HJR 134 remains unclear, as the proposal defines eligible entities only as “a sports team as defined by general law.” In other states, lawmakers have explicitly named teams when drafting similar legislation.
Texas is home to 13 professional sports teams, including seven from the major four U.S. sports leagues. The remaining six consist of the WNBA’s Dallas Wings and five soccer teams, including three MLS teams, one USL Super Leagueteam (Dallas Trinity), and one NWSL team (Houston Dash).
While WNBA teams have generally been granted sports betting licenses in most legal jurisdictions, MLS and women’s soccer teams have not always been included in every state’s regulatory framework.
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