Ex-Texas governor: “Time is right” for Texas sports betting legalization
Sports betting advocate Rick Perry affirms need to combat offshore market and provide revenue to Lone Star State in rallying cry interview
Ex-Texas governor Rick Perry has called on Texan legislators and voters to legalize sports betting, suggesting the “time is right” for the Lone Star State to open mobile sportsbooks.
Speaking in an interview with Texas-based TV station Fox 7 Austin, Perry, who served as governor of the state for 15 years, acknowledged the groundswell of sports betting states in the post-PASPA world, suggesting Texas should join this group.
“Other states already do this because the Supreme Court met and said, you know, you can’t ban this. This is a state issue, two-thirds of the states have already said, you know what, this is going to go on,” Perry said.
“Let’s regulate it. Let’s make sure that it’s safe. Let’s make sure that your information doesn’t get used by some nefarious platform somewhere. That’s why the time is right,” he added.
Perry has been recruited by the Texas Sports Betting Alliance (TSBA), an operator-funded group which works to advocate for wider sports betting legalization across the US.
The TSBA counts operators including BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Barstool among its membership as well as 14 other Texas-based sports franchises.
He continued: “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 safe, secure and that they know that if they do place that bet, that they’ll receive their winnings if they make the right bet and that their private information is not used in some form or fashion in ways that are not appropriate,” Perry added.
Perry was speaking less than a week after it was reported the TSBA would propose its own legislation, aiming to force through a statewide vote on whether to legalize sports betting by amending the Texas constitution.
Separate legislation has already been filed by Texas Senator Carol Alvarado, ahead of the 2023 legislative session, which aims to allow regulated retail casino gambling and which also authorizes sports betting in the Lone Star State.
Acknowledging the impending TSBA legislation, Perry outlined his support for the legalization occurring via a constitutional amendment and statewide vote to settle the issue.
“I think it’s totally the right way to do it. Go to the people,” Perry said.
“What we’re asking the legislators to do is listen, vote to allow your constituents the vote on this issue in the Fall via a constitutional amendment question.”
He continued: “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’ve 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,” Perry concluded.
Texas’ next legislative session kicks off on January 10, 2023.