Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Backs Legalized Gambling in Texas

Legal gambling in Texas has a new backer this week after Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came out in support of a law change in one of America's most anti-betting states. 

Speaking on the 105.3 The Fan show before the weekend, Jones again voiced his support for gambling legislation arriving in the Lone Star State.

So far, Texas is one of the few U.S. states not to have regulated sports betting, despite the many attempts by lawmakers.

However, a changing of the guard in the midterms means a new approach to legal sports betting could be coming.

Jones: Betting in Texas ‘Does Go On’

Jones appeared on the 105.3 The Fan show Friday to speak about the Cowboys’ weekend game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Cowboys edged the game 27–23.

However, the hosts wasted no time in asking Jones about the future of legalized sports gambling in Texas, given the midterms results earlier in the week.

Jones recognized that Texas was one of a handful of states yet to legalize sports betting. However, he acknowledged that gambling “does go on” in Texas and should therefore be regulated.

Sports betting, he added, “gets the best result when everybody is on the same page.”

This isn’t Jones’ first rodeo when it comes to expressing an opinion on legalized gambling in Texas. He spoke out in 2024 at the prospect of the Lone Star State legalizing sports betting, saying it was only a matter of time until a law was passed. Jones said that “ultimately, [you’ll] have sports betting in state of Texas.”

Scrutiny and Control Decreases ‘Chance of Abuse’

The Cowboys owner was asked why the NFL has softened its stance on sports betting and prediction markets over the years.

It comes down, Jones added, “perception” and not wanting to have a situation where coaches and players were unduly swayed.

The more that betting is controlled and scrutinized, Jones said, the better for the sport.

Good Win for Goodwin Could Change Texas Gambling

The seismic shock of the 2026 midterms can’t be overestimated for the future of betting laws in states like Texas.

Texas turned blue, with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick – a longtime opponent of legal sports betting – removed. Vicki Goodwin joins Senator-Elect James Talarico and Governor-Elect Giba Hinojosa in the first Democratic clean sweep in Texas since 1994.

Goodwin now has complete control over which bills hit the Senate floor. While there’s no suggestion that she is a total gambling convert. However, few would be as anti-gambling as outgoing Lt. Gov, Dan Patrick.

Texas vs Sports Betting: How Dan Patrick Shut it Down

• 2025: HJR 134 legalizing sports betting dies in the House State Affairs.
• 2025: SJR 16 legalizing sports betting and creating a Texas Gaming Commission fails to receive a committee hearing.
• 2023: Texas House approves a constitutional amendment to authorize sports betting. However, the measure is never voted on in the Senate.

Wynn: ‘Texas is Fascinating’

It’s not journalists speculating on what the future holds for sports betting in Texas. During an earnings call last week, Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings said that Texas was a “fascinating market”, with other gambling chiefs also looking at how Texas could now open up its casino markets.

Billings noted that Texas gamblers must travel into other states like Oklahoma to access casino gaming. With a Democratic clean sweep in Texas, casino bosses, NFL chiefs, and prediction market operators will remain eagle-eyed.