Sports Betting Bills “Adjourned Sine Die” In The Lone Star State — What Is Next For Texas?
June 20, 2025 | By Blake Hart
If you have been tracking the saga of sports betting legislation in Texas, you probably know that the 2025 legislative session has come and gone without delivering the long-anticipated green light. That’s right — as of June 2, 2025, the Texas Legislature adjourned sine die, meaning all pending bills that did not pass are officially dead…at least for now.
The Current Status of Texas Sports Betting Legislation—Adjourned Sine Die
Despite multiple bills filed this session — including high-profile constitutional amendment proposals in both the House and Senate — sports betting remains illegal in Texas. There is no regulated mobile or retail sports wagering in Texas, and legislation to change that is no longer under review by Texas lawmakers.
This is because Texas wrapped up its 2025 legislative session with several sports wagering bills on the table — including proposals for mobile betting tied to professional sports teams and broader casino-style gaming expansions. While some bills made noise and even picked up support from key stakeholders (think major sports franchises and hospitality groups), none of them made it to the finish line.
Both the House and Senate introduced constitutional amendment resolutions that would have allowed voters to weigh in on legalizing sports betting. But politics — particularly in the Senate, where conservative leadership remains hesitant to expand gambling — stalled the effort yet again. As such, Texans will not be voting on whether to bring sports wagering to the Lone Star State in local elections this time around.
When is the Next Chance to Legalize in Texas?
Frustrating to many local supporters of legalized sports wagering, Texas only holds regular legislative sessions every two years, and bills related to gambling require a constitutional amendment. Due to the constitutional amendment prerequisite, it is necessary that the proposals garner the support of both two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate, as well as a majority of Texas voters at the ballot box.
As noted above, it will be another two years before the next regular legislative session, and likely the next time legalized sports betting will be considered in Texas. Therefore, unless the Texas Governor calls a special session — which is rare and unlikely for gaming issues — the earliest we will see another real opportunity for sports betting legislation is January 2027.
What This Means for the Industry
If you are an operator, affiliate, tech vendor, or investor looking at Texas as the next big market — you are not alone. Texas remains one of the largest untapped sports betting markets in the country. But for now, it is all about playing the long game.
In the meantime:
- Stay engaged with Texas-based leagues, teams, and advocacy coalitions.
- Track potential ballot campaign efforts — public support is growing, even if lawmakers are not quite there yet.
- Consider compliance, licensing, and partnership strategies now, so you are ready when the opportunity opens.
The momentum is there and the demand is clear, but in Texas, politics move on their own timeline.
What About DFS?
Like the sports wagering bills, proposed legislation addressing daily fantasy sports (DFS) also failed to gain traction before the Texas legislative session adjourned. In the absence of legislative action, DFS operators continue to offer contests in Texas under the theory that these games constitute skill-based competitions rather than gambling. As a result, DFS remains unregulated at the state level, with operators functioning in what many often refer to as a legal gray area without formal oversight or licensing requirements.
Our firm regularly advises clients on a wide range of corporate gaming matters, including licensing, compliance, business structuring, and transactional issues across regulated and emerging markets. We will continue to watch for legal developments in Texas as we head toward 2027, and we will be ready to help clients seize the opportunity in our home state when the window opens.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions about Texas gaming law, legislative strategy, preparing for licensing, or to join our gaming newsletter mailing list. We are here to help.
About the Author(s)
Blake Hart
Blake is a senior attorney at Vela Wood. She focuses her practice on contract drafting, review, and negotiation on behalf of sports and entertainment individuals and enterprises.
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