Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Welcomes Gambling to Texas

Since rumors began to swirl that Texas may introduce sports betting and casino options, the response from sports franchises has been one of strong positivism. Introducing sports betting to the Lone Star State would mean curbing offshore gambling and providing a boost to the economy through new taxes and jobs. 

Yet, it’s not just sports betting that was a hot topic in Texas with Las Vegas Sands, the casino gambling empire of the late Sheldon Adelson, making decisive strides and splurging millions of dollars in a bid to lobby for the arrival of casino resort properties.

However, legislators have been slow to move, and despite the lobbying of Las Vegas Sands Corp., it seems that Texas will not get sports gambling for another two or three years in the very least. This is the opinion of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is a missed opportunity.

Speaking to KTCK-AM radio, Jones argued that Texas residents are already placing sports and that the “handwriting’s on the wall,” with the Lone Star State already on a path towards legalization. 

“Gambling has been here a long time,” the Dallas Cowboys owner added. Texas is a golden opportunity for any gambling vertical as it’s the second most populous place in the United States, right behind California, another state where sports betting has been making slow but steady progress forward.

Following the defeat of bipartisan sports legislation that failed to pass scrutiny, the current plans for legalizing the gambling industry in the state would have to be scrapped until 2023, when lawmakers meet again at the Capitol. 

Another potential way to avoid this is to leverage a referendum, but the earliest date is now set for 2024, which is both a blessing, allowing the pro-gambling lobby to garner support, but also a curse as it means that Texans won’t have legitimate gambling options at home, prompting keen sports bettors to turn to look elsewhere.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Texas is not very likely to see sports gambling launched until the mid-2020s, with further possible delays expected depending on how the legislative makeup changes in the House and Senate. 

Texas is also under pressure to move quickly as other states around it are already offering legitimate gambling solutions. Louisiana launched sports gambling earlier this year. All other neighbors seem to be keen on moving forward or already support betting on sports in some form. Arkansas authorizes in-person retail sports betting, which is not ideal, but it’s how the law operates there. 

Jones’ enthusiasm about sports betting is not a chance occurrence as he owns a stake in DraftKings, leading sports and fantasy betting platform in the United States. Yet, Jones is not the only person to want sports gambling to arrive sooner rather than later. 

Similarly, the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, and FC Dallas have all called for an expedited legalization framework that would allow the Lone Star State to start accepting legal wagers. 

Morgan Stanley’s prediction that Texas would be one of the 12 states legalizing some form of sports gambling in 2021 came short, though, as lawmakers failed to garner the necessary support to see them move through. 

Texas proposed to legalize its sports and casino gambling industry and launch both retail and online options. Now, the Lone Star State will have to wait another several year before it can make these plans a reality. Casino resorts may indeed arrive sooner, however, not least because of Las Vegas Sands’ lobbying efforts. 

BetMGM Continues to Expand Gambling Clout with Marshawn Lynch Signage 

BetMGM is looking to expand the scope of its ambassadors with the latest signing of former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch as its new brand representative. Lynch will be featured in various BetMGM campaigns and promotions right ahead of the new season in September and the Big Game in February.

Responding to the partnership, the NFL star said that he was excited to be joining the BetMGM family alongside many established names such as Barry, Gretzky, and Jalen. It’s “kind of a good company,” Lynch added.

Lynch’s career trajectory in the NFL went one way – up. His moniker in the league was “Beast Mode” because of his running style and strong physique. After 12 seasons as a professional footballer for various franchises, including the Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills, Lynch has earned his retirement.

While not actively playing in the sport, he is still very active in the sport, and the BetMGM partnership is a testimony to that. Just like Lynch helped the Seahawks steal their first Super Bowl title, the hopes are that he can help BetMGM’s team establish an even better connection with sports bettors around the country.

BetMGM is one of the leading three sportsbooks in the country, currently trying to dislodge DraftKings and FanDuel from their dominant positions in the US market. After only two years of operation, BetMGM has been able to surpass the brands in some states.

BetMGM CRO Matt Prevost welcomed the addition of Lynch.

“Lynch is both an incredible athlete and larger-than-life personality. The impact he has made on the game of football, coupled with his status as an electric superstar, makes him a tremendous addition to the BetMGM team,” 

The executive said.

The company is established in both the iGaming and sports gambling segments, making definitive strides in securing the lion’s share of both in each state it enters.