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If there is any mouthpiece for advocating legalized sports betting in Texas, it's one Jerry Jones, owner of the beloved Dallas Cowboys.
"There’s a huge amount of gaming going on in and around sports at this time. And, so, to have all the benefits or all the control over it, it needs to be recognized and parameters put on it and discipline put in it," said Jones. "Then, also, the benefits can go in Texas, could adhere to the right kind of people, or some property tax. Certainly help educate our great state’s children. All of those things can be enhanced by something that’s presently going on in a big, big, way."
As noted earlier this week, there are two hurdles to legalization of sports wagering in Texas.
For starters, the Texas senate is way too conservative under Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and he's probably not going anywhere for a while.
"It's really hard to imagine, either Patrick letting a bill be voted on in the senate, or seeing it pass," Southeast Texas Political Analyst Tom Taschinger said.
Even if legislation somehow gets through the senate (we doubt it), Texas voters must approve any measure through an election day referendum.
While early efforts in states such as Arkansas or Colorado were met with success - just barely passing with 51% approval in Colorado - two similar ballot initiatives in California failed miserably this past November.
