Jerry Jones pushes for legalisation of sports betting in Texas after November 3 vote
Jones backed reform after GOP losses that removed key obstacles to legislation
Key Takeaways
- Jerry Jones said Texas could legalise sports betting after the November 3, 2026 elections that unseated long-standing Republican leaders.
- Vikki Goodwin defeated Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who had repeatedly blocked gambling bills by controlling Senate agendas.
- Any legalisation will require text approved by the Texas Legislature and the governor's signature.
- Jones has argued for years that Texas loses tax revenue to neighbouring jurisdictions and in 2024 called the missed opportunity "huge amounts of revenue."
Jerry Jones said Texas could finally legalise sports betting after the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, which ended decades of Republican control in key state offices. Jones voiced his support in an interview with radio station 105.3 The Fan in Dallas the Friday after the vote. "It is a plus in my mind with the best place in the world for sports, Texas, for us to have the gaming and hopefully the new turnover, you might say, in the politics will see it that way," he said.
Electoral changes that open the door
Democrat Vikki Goodwin defeated Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick in the November 3, 2026 election; Patrick had been the main obstacle to legalisation for years because, as lieutenant governor, he controlled which bills reached the full Senate and he systematically opposed gambling proposals. Goodwin has previously argued that Texas voters should decide on sports betting, although she has not personally endorsed legalisation.
The elections also recorded Gina Hinojosa's victory over Governor Greg Abbott and James Talarico's win for a U.S. Senate seat. Those results reshape the state's political landscape, but any legalisation will require approval from the state legislature.
Jerry Jones's continuing stance on legal gambling
Jones has for years argued that Texas is losing tax revenue while neighbouring jurisdictions collect money from regulated wagers. In 2024 he described the missed opportunity as "huge amounts of revenue." In 2021 he suggested sports betting would eventually be normal in Texas. In a January 2023 interview with KRLD he explained how gambling tax revenue could fund public services: "The benefits can go in Texas, could adhere to the right kind of people, or some property tax," he said. "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."
Jones added that the state's football is ahead of partisan politics and justified his interest by the impact on the Dallas Cowboys and on game attendance and television audiences.
Finances and personal donations
Despite having donated more than $1 million to Republican causes, including Donald Trump MAGA Inc. and Attorney General Ken Paxton, Jones said: "I'm really apolitical. I really can't afford to be a party because our fans are all parties." He also contributed $10 million to the Clinton Foundation recently. His donations show his political activism has not been exclusively one-sided.
Current status of betting in Texas
Texas remains one of 11 U.S. states without legal sports betting since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban in 2018. Any change will require legislative text approved by the state legislature and the governor's signature.
"When I have something that will help the Cowboys, then I'm all in. But it's all about the Cowboys," Jones said of his motives, reiterating that his priority is the team.
Regulators and legislative processes and the sports betting market will be key if a bill is filed and advances to allow wagers in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Jerry Jones say about sports betting in Texas?
Jones said Texas could legalise sports betting following the November 3, 2026 elections and expressed support in an interview with 105.3 The Fan, arguing the state would benefit financially and that the political turnover could make it possible.
Who defeated Dan Patrick and why does that matter for sports betting?
Vikki Goodwin defeated Dan Patrick in the November 3, 2026 election; Patrick, as lieutenant governor, controlled which bills reached the full Senate and had repeatedly blocked legalization efforts, so his defeat removes a key barrier.
Does Texas have legal sports betting today?
No. Texas is still one of 11 U.S. states without legal sports betting since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban in 2018; any change requires state legislative approval and the governor's signature.
What revenue has Jones cited to support legalisation?
Jones has pointed to lost tax revenue that neighbouring jurisdictions collect; he described the missed opportunity in 2024 as "huge amounts of revenue" and has said gambling taxes could fund property tax relief and education.
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About the author
Renata Quiroga
Betting Markets Correspondent
Renata Quiroga covers sports betting and prediction markets — sportsbook launches, odds technology, event contracts, and the regulatory calls that decide what can be bet on and where. The reports open with the product or the ruling, name operators and platforms precisely, and explain the mechanics without needless jargon. When a book enters a Latin American market or a prediction exchange lists a contested contract, Renata Quiroga reports what changes for the bettor.
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