Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Removes Texas From List Of States Likely To Legalize Sports Betting By 2025

According to a recent report by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, a Southern California research and consulting firm specializing in the sports betting industry, Texas has been removed from the list of states likely to legalize the activity by 2025. 

Eilers & Krejcik Gaming had projected that Texas would legalize sports betting in November 2025 via ballot measure

The firm attributes this decision to the growing opposition to gambling in Texas. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has invested millions of dollars over the past decade in failed attempts to legalize casinos in the Lone Star State. No progress has been made. 

“We previously projected that Texas would legalize in November 2025 via ballot measure and then launch in fall 2026. We’ve now pushed the timeline back a legislative session,” Eilers & Krejcik Gaming recently announced.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. is once again leading a push for a casino bill as the state approaches its biennial legislative session. Though, opposition to gambling in the state has only made these efforts seem futile. Obstacles remain for the legalization of sports betting.

The Texas Tribune reported in May that Miriam Adelson, who controls 53 percent of Las Vegas Sands, contributed $9 million to the Texas Defense Fund (TDF). The TDF is a political action committee that supported Republican incumbents in the Texas House during the primary elections. 

In addition to this political donation, Adelson spent $3.5 billion in December to acquire a 73 percent stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks are expected to advocate for a new arena in Dallas. Their new arena is potentially tied to a future hotel-casino resort operated by Las Vegas Sands. 

Anti-gambling groups argue that legalizing casinos would lead to social and economic problems

Mark Cuban, co-owner of the Mavericks, has a retained a 27 percent stake in the NBA team. The billionaire emphasized the importance of the casino aspect of the project. 

Per Casino News Daily, while speaking at a sports economics forum in Dallas, Cuban stated, “The 10 percent of the people who gamble pay for everything else.” 

Andy Abboud, Senior Vice President of Sands, also spoke at a recent event hosted by the North Texas Commission (NTC). The NTC is a public-private partnership that includes Dallas-area businesses and local governments. 

Abboud briefed business leaders on the potential benefits of destination gaming. Of course, the commission is forming an exploratory committee to examine the issue further. 

However, these initiatives have only intensified opposition from Texas’ anti-gaming advocates. Those against legalized gambling are predominantly led by Republicans in the Texas State Senate. 

The anti-gambling groups argue that legalizing casinos would lead to social and economic problems. This includes gambling addiction, crime, and the destabilization of local economies.

Texas Republican Party has explicitly instructed lawmakers to oppose any form of gambling expansion

Chris Krafcik, an analyst from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, doesn’t see a future of legalized gambling in Texas within the next few years. The Texas House passed an online sports betting bill in 2023.

This bill was backed by major sports betting companies, a coalition of Texas’ professional sports teams, and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Nonetheless, it was later blocked in the Senate. 

This major downfall highlights Krafcik’s main argument that “the Senate is the chamber that matters, and things there are not moving in the right direction.” 

Krafcik also pointed out that the Texas Republican Party has explicitly instructed lawmakers to oppose any form of gambling expansion. This also means any budget proposals that include revenue from legalized gambling. 

Additionally, he emphasized the party’s firm stance against gambling. Krafcik stated that “[the party’s platform] even explicitly addresses the warmer reception gambling expansion has had in the House.” 

Considering these recent developments, Krafcik now believes that Texas will not be able to legalize sports betting until at least 2027. The earliest possible launch would coincide with the NFL season opener in the fall of 2028.

In May, a Texas poll showed that most residents were in favor of online sports gambling. However, Texans were split on sportsbooks at stadiums in the Lone Star State.