Former Governor of Texas Rick Perry is calling for the Lone Star State to legalize sports betting to combat illegal wagering and provide additional tax revenue to the state.
Currently, there are only a few forms of gambling legal in Texas – the state lottery, charity gaming, and limited tribal bingo.
Perry, who is part of the Sports Betting Alliance which supports legalizing mobile sports betting in Texas, believes now is the right time for sports wagering to be regulated as well.
Speaking to Fox 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski, Perry said the Sports Betting Alliance wants Texas to capitalize on the estimated $8.7bn in bets that are being placed illegally through unregulated, offshore operators each year.
Perry stated: “I want to say about $8.7bn worth of bets last year in the state of Texas. I mean, sports betting is not going to go away.
“My point is, it’s here. It’s going to stay. Let’s make sure that Texans are that they’re safe, secure and that they know that if they do place that bet, that they’ll receive their payment, if they make the right bet and that their private information is not used in some form or fashion, and that’s not appropriate.”
Perry added that several sports teams in Texas are supportive of sports wagering, and despite being against the expansion of gambling in the past, the former state Governor said regulating sports betting doesn’t do that as it is already happening illegally in the state.
The Sports Betting Alliance is looking to legalize the industry in the state through a constitutional amendment, putting the regulation of sports betting to a public vote in the fall of next year.
Perry said: “I think it’s totally the right way to do it. Go to the people. And what we’re asking the legislators to do is listen. Vote to allow your constituents the vote. On this issue in the fall on a constitutional amendment question.
“Totally biased, I think. And at that particular point in time, it’s pretty hard to argue that the people of the state of Texas are not in favor of it. Now, if they vote against it, then we got the answer on that side as well. But I think that Texans, once properly educated about the regulation, about the safety of their private information, will vote and I think pretty overwhelmingly in favor of mobile sports betting.”
Officials believe legalized sports betting could generate more than $250m a year in tax revenue for the state. Perry added that he would like to see any taxes earned from sports wagering placed in the state’s general revenue fund.
Last month, State Senator Carol Alvarado pre-filed a joint resolution to amend the state constitution to allow for Texas casinos as well as the legalization of sports betting in the Lone Star State.
Alvarado’s proposed resolution would put casinos, horse racing, and greyhound racing on the ballot, and while sports betting is mentioned briefly at the end of the resolution, details on what that would involve were limited.
