- Charlotte Jones, co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys, is in-favor of legalized Texas sports betting
- In a recent CBS News Texas interview, Jones spoke on the dangers of unregulated sports betting and how it targets underage customers
- The Texas legislature will likely discuss legalized sports betting in the 2025 session, but its chances remain fairly slim
A co-owner of America’s Team is pushing hard for Texas to legalize sports betting to keep its kids safe.
Charlotte Jones, co-owner and chief brand officer of the Dallas Cowboys, spoke on the need for legalized sports betting regulation to provide an influx of tax revenue and to stamp out the black market that target underage individuals in the Lone Star State.
“We’re hoping to get back in there and really bring it to voters. It’s our decision as Texans, to decide how our state is regulated. In this case, when we’re usually against regulation, this is about the safety of our kids, the safety of our teenagers, and this is why we need this regulation now,” she said in a recent interview with CBS News Texas.
Keeping Underage Texans Safe
While millions would likely come into the state through sports betting tax revenue, Jones said regulation would most importantly help keep underage Texans safe and prohibit them from engaging in the form of gaming.
The unregulated sports betting markets, which are easily accessible in the Lone Star State, directly target the youth by allowing them participate on their apps without verifying their age, Jones said.
“There are actually apps that are targeting our college kids, our high school kids, and they’re going directly to them and allowing them to participate in this gambling where they don’t have to prove their age, they don’t have to verify anything, and then they find themselves in a trap they can’t get out of. Not only is there no tax income off of this gambling, most importantly they’re getting taken advantage of by these actual apps set up offshore,” she said.
Regulation would “take out the bad actors,” she noted, and the sports betting revenues captured through taxes would “benefit our communities.”
Jones’ father, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, spoke out on the issue back in 2021 during an interview with the Hang Zone on The Ticket Sportsradio 1310 AM/96.7 FM. Jones noted that the “handwriting is on the wall” for sports betting’s presence in Texas. Legalized and regulated Texas sports betting, he noted, could be a boon for the game of football and for the state itself.
Is This Possible in 2025?
While Jones is making a push for Texas voters to decide the state’s sports betting fate in the November 2025 general election, the issue is not one that has gone unnoticed by Texas politicians. The legislature moved amendments through the House of Representatives to the state’s constitution to allow for legalized sports betting in the 2023 session, before efforts eventually stalled out in the Senate.
In 2023, the House of Representatives approved a referendum to put a Texas online sports betting question on the general election ballot and let Texas voters decide its fate. A companion sports betting bill, which was also approved, would have allowed for the legalization of online sports betting through Texas professional sports teams. Under the bill, WNBA, MLS, MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL franchises in the state would have been eligible for online sports betting licenses.
Sports betting would have been limited to those who were 21-years-old and taxed at a rate of 10% of adjusted gross sports betting revenue.
Despite the House approval, the issue was never brought up in the Senate for a vote. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) is not a proponent of sports betting and has said he will not bring the issue up for a vote in the Senate unless there is majority republican support.
With the Senate being republican controlled yet again in 2025, sports betting remains a longshot for approval during the state’s legislative session.
Dallas Cowboys co-owner, Jerry Jones, has recently come out in support of the legalization of sports betting in Texas. Jones, who has been a vocal advocate for the expansion of sports betting in the state, believes that legalizing sports betting could bring in much-needed revenue and help boost the economy.
In a recent interview, Jones stated that he believes that legalizing sports betting in Texas could generate millions of dollars in revenue for the state. He pointed to other states that have already legalized sports betting, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and have seen a significant increase in revenue as a result.
Jones also believes that legalizing sports betting could help create jobs and stimulate economic growth in Texas. He argues that by allowing sports betting to be regulated and taxed, the state could benefit from the additional revenue generated from the industry.
In addition to the economic benefits, Jones also sees the potential for sports betting to enhance the fan experience. He believes that legalizing sports betting could create new opportunities for fans to engage with their favorite teams and players, and could help drive interest and excitement in sports events.
Despite Jones’ support for the legalization of sports betting in Texas, there are still many hurdles to overcome before it becomes a reality. Currently, sports betting is illegal in Texas, and any efforts to legalize it would require approval from the state legislature.
However, with Jones’ backing and growing public support for sports betting, there is hope that Texas could join the growing number of states that have already legalized sports betting. As the debate continues, it will be interesting to see how the issue unfolds and whether Texas will ultimately embrace sports betting as a way to boost its economy and enhance the fan experience.
