FanDuel, DraftKings and other online gambling apps are facing tax hikes in other states. Those states are capturing the tax revenue and enacting the consumer protections that could just as easily happen in Texas, writes Joe Maloney.
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
Sports betting is hardly an unfamiliar concept to Texans. Most people understand what it is, how it works and the potential risks involved.
The real issue isn’t about whether Texans can recognize gambling when they see it. It’s about whether Texas should keep leaving sports betting in the shadows or let Texans decide whether the state should build a legal, regulated framework with rules, safeguards and accountability.
Today, millions of Texans place bets through offshore websites, illegal bookies and federally regulated prediction market platforms that operate beyond the reach of Texas law. Those companies don’t answer to Texas regulators, don’t pay Texas taxes and offer little recourse when consumers run into trouble, get scammed or seek information on resources to address problematic behavior.
Article continues below this ad
Meanwhile, neighboring states are capturing the tax revenue and enacting consumer protections that could just as easily happen at home. Whether you support or oppose sports betting, that’s the reality of the status quo, and it isn’t going away on its own.
The challenges for Texas are even broader when you consider what’s coming out of Washington. Today, federally regulated prediction markets allow anyone 18 and older with a phone to place a bet under federal agency rules, no matter whether their state permits or bans gambling. These markets operate under federal oversight, not Texas law.
So, while critics frame this as a simple choice between having sports betting and not having it at all, they’re missing the choice Texans actually face. Betting is already happening every day — in dorm rooms, break rooms and group chats across the state. A recent study estimates Texans wager $7 billion a year through illegal, offshore channels.
The question is whether Texas keeps letting those markets flourish or sets clear rules and protections for adults in Texas who may choose to participate.
Article continues below this ad
Reasonable people can disagree about gambling itself. Some will never support sports betting, and that view deserves respect. Others believe adults should be free to decide for themselves, provided real safeguards exist. What shouldn’t be controversial is this: Texas, not offshore operators or federally regulated prediction markets, should be the one setting the rules.
Critics are right that problem gambling is a serious concern. That’s exactly why regulation matters. States with legal sports betting have built responsible gaming programs featuring self-exclusion lists, deposit limits, age verification, behavioral monitoring, public awareness campaigns and dedicated treatment funding. An unregulated bookie offers none of it.
So, the real choice isn’t between a world with gambling and one without. It’s between regulated activity with safeguards and unregulated activity with none. That debate shouldn’t hinge on whether someone says “gaming” instead of “gambling” or “wagering” instead of “betting.” Texans are smart enough to see through slogans from either side.
The fundamental question is straightforward: Should Texas keep sending billions of dollars to offshore operators, neighboring states and illegal markets — or let Texans vote on whether to build a legal framework that protects consumers, creates accountability and keeps the economic benefits here at home?
Reasonable Texans may still reach different conclusions. But they deserve to weigh this on facts, not semantics.
Article continues below this ad
Call it sports betting. Call it wagering. Call it gambling. Whatever the label, let’s have an honest conversation about regulation, consumer protection and whether the status quo is truly serving Texas well.
Joe Maloney is president of the Sports Betting Alliance, which includes the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition of pro sports teams in the state, racetracks and betting platforms.
Have thoughts about this? Send a letter to the editor using our letters form or email letters@dallasnews.com. Letters should be no more than 200 words and include the first and last name of the writer and city of residence.