Beyond that, supporters say legalizing sports gambling would protect bettors by shifting regulation from potentially unscrupulous foreign groups to the state. Gambling supporters say those options are not only burdensome, but block the state from a reliable income stream.Įstimates produced at Wednesday’s hearing show Texas is missing out on $180 million a year in tax revenue from lost bets that could be used for education or public safety. Although 35 states have passed laws to legalize sports gambling, Texans who want to get in on the action are limited to placing an illegal bet through a bookie or an offshore account.
