Texas GOP group: Wagering ‘dead on arrival’
It appears the November election didn’t turn out well for the future of gambling expansion in Texas. A group of anti-gambling Republican lawmakers newly elected in the state replaced some who previously supported the idea, according to the Texas Tribune. In addition, three GOP senators who supported a gambling expansion in 2023 say they now oppose the idea. The Texas legislature meets only in odd-numbered years.
In addition, opposition to a casino complex in the Dallas suburb of Irving has been mounting. According to KERA News, “thousands” have signed a petition against converting a 1,000+ acre parcel that was the site of the old Texas Stadium, into a mixed-use entertainment development. The project by Las Vegas Sands could ultimately crumble without a casino.
House state affairs committee chairman Ken King received a letter from the GOP lawmakers 11 March. In it, they wrote they would oppose “any attempt to expand gambling.” The letter was sent a day after Democratic Senator Juan Hinojosa’s constitutional amendment that would send the decision of whether or not to legalise sports betting was assigned to the state affairs committee.
SJR 65 would allow the state’s professional sports teams to be licensed for sports betting, as well as golf courses that host PGA Tour events. The bill does not specify if in-person or digital sports betting, or both, would become legal.
The referendum language would be:
The constitutional amendment authorising the legislature to legalise wagering in this state on certain sporting events.
Legal wagering in Texas has been fraught issue
A similar constitutional amendment was filed earlier this session in the house. Neither bill has had a hearing.
Given Lt. Governor Dan Patrick’s past comments, it seems unlikely that SJR 65 – or any other gambling expansion proposal – will gain any traction. Patrick, also the president of the senate, has previously said he’ll call for votes only on legislation that has the strong backing of the Republican Party.
In their letter to King, a dozen GOP senators wrote, “We are confident this legislation does not have the votes necessary to pass the Texas House this session. Given the certainty of its failure, I urge you not to waste valuable committee time on an issue that is dead on arrival.”
The issue has been fraught in Texas for multiple sessions, despite heavy lobbying efforts headed by Las Vegas Sands. That casino company spent $13 million on lobbying ahead of the 2025 session. Owner Miriam Adelson last year purchased a majority share of the Dallas Mavericks and wants to build out an entertainment complex around a new home arena.
A University of Houston poll has reported that 60% of Texans support legalised sports betting and 73% support adding destination resort casinos.
But given Patrick’s strong opposition and the new makeup of the legislature, it does not appear that 2025 will be the year for a gambling expansion in the second-biggest state in the US.
Alberta market to open early next year?
Ontario remains the only legal digital sports betting and igaming market in Canada. Stakeholders have long been saying Alberta would be next. Canadian Gaming Association executive director Paul Burns confirmed at the Next.io conference that Alberta is now on track for an early 2026 launch.
Canadian Gaming Association CEO Paul Burns just said at the NEXT NYC conference that there is a plan now in Alberta for a new regulated iGaming market, was approved by government two weeks ago. Structure will be Ontario-like, possible for a launch a year from now, in Q1 2026.
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) March 13, 2025
Missouri applications available 15 April
The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) this week posted on its website that sports betting applications will be available beginning 15 April. It’s unclear from the update what the timeline will be for approval, or if there is a deadline to submit an application. Rules won’t be in force until 30 August, after secretary of state Denny Hoskins denied the MGC’s request for emergency rules.
In other states, regulators have not issued licences until the rules are in force. But making the applications available means operators can begin work on them and have them ready whenever the deadline is set. The MGC also wrote in the update that live digital sports betting is on track to launch by 1 December.
Most major wagering platforms, including BetMGM, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook and FanDuel, already have market access in Missouri. Per a November interpretation of the statute from the attorney general, every land-based casino will be entitled to one skin. In addition, five professional sports teams are eligible for licences and there will be two stand-alone mobile licences available.
Another Southern California sports bettor indicted
A Southern California man was indicted 10 March on four counts of tax evasion. He allegedly used corporate funds to pay for sports betting losses. According to a press release from the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Edwin Michael Greer used some of the funds to pay off debts to illegal bookmakers Wayne Nix and Ken Arsenian.
Per the US Attorney’s Office, Greer owned an insurance salvage company from 2017-20. During that time, he allegedly used company funds to pay off gambling debt and “concealed these personal payments in the company’s business records, and in many cases directed the payments to be recorded as business expenses to reduce the company’s income.”
If convicted, Greer would face a potential maximum of five years in prison for each count.
Nix in 2022 pled guilty to a federal tax fraud charge and running an illegal sportsbook. But he has not been sentenced. Arsenian also pled guilty to running an illegal sportsbook, money laundering and two other federal charges. He agreed to pay $1.1 million in back taxes and forfeited $341,459.
DraftKings getting into prediction market?
According to The Closing Line on 10 March, DraftKings has registered the name “DraftKings Predict” with the National Futures Association. The filing indicates that DraftKings could be exploring a prediction market product. The filing shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. In November, DraftKings founder and CEO Jason Robins alluded to his company’s interest in prediction markets during the company’s third-quarter conference call.
“I do think there could be a place for it outside of elections,” Robins said. “We’ll have to see where it fits in the priority list, but it is something we’ll plan on looking at ahead of next election, for sure.”
Flutter Entertainment CEO Peter Jackson didn’t outright dismiss getting into prediction markets during his company’s Q4 earnings call. He called prediction markets “an interesting opportunity” at that time. He also said that he believes that such markets don’t have the energy or excitement of a “true sportsbook.”
Americans to wager $3.1 billion on March Madness
The American Gaming Association (AGA) 13 March projected that Americans will wager $3.1 billion on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. March Madness begins 16 March with Selection Sunday, and games begin 18 March. The estimate is up from $2.7 billion last year.
As part of its announcement, the AGA offered a reminder to bettors to wager responsibly. The trade group highlighted its “Have a Game Plan. Bet Responsibly” responsible gaming campaign. The industry group recently rolled out a new pillar to its campaign, “‘Keep Your Cool.” The new pillar encourages players to “keep betting fun and respect the game.”
Could Rhode Island open its market?
A bill filed late last week in Rhode Island would prohibit the state from renewing its contract with IGT. The company currently has a monopoly on sports betting in the state. Instead, it would open the market to a minimum of five wagering platforms. SB 748 was referred to the senate labor and gaming committee, but no hearing has been set yet. Rhode Island doesn’t have a crossover deadline and the session is set to close 30 June.
IGT’s contract is set for renewal 1 July 2026. Prior to that date, the regulator would be directed to open an application window for additional operators.
Rhode Island was the second state to launch digital sports betting after the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in 2018.
In other news …
Penn Entertainment launched its stand-alone Hollywood Casino igaming app in New Jersey 11 March. Bettors can directly access the app or login using the ESPN Bet credentials. New Jersey is third market in which the app is available behind Pennsylvania and Michigan.
ICYMI on iGB
Hawaii digital betting begins its march in senate
Mississippi legislature makes digital wagering a political football
In Maryland, no vote on sweeps ban and HHR bills
SAFE Bet Act updated, introduced again
Opponents of digital sports betting come out in force in Nebraska
A year in, NC wagering in line with similar-sized states
