The Texas House Committee on State Affairs voted 9-4 on April 22 to advance HJR 134, the constitutional amendment that would authorize mobile sports betting statewide. It is the furthest a Texas mobile betting bill has progressed since the 2023 session — and the strongest signal yet that the country's largest non-betting state may finally be on a path to legalization. But several procedural hurdles remain before bettors should expect to see DraftKings or FanDuel apps go live in Austin or Dallas.
What HJR 134 actually does
HJR 134 does not legalize sports betting on its own. As a constitutional amendment, it authorizes the Texas legislature to pass a regulatory framework, and authorizes Texas voters to approve that framework via a 2026 November ballot initiative. The companion enabling bill, HB 2843, sets the actual licensing structure: an estimated 8-12 mobile licenses tethered to professional sports franchises and Class III gaming venues, a 10% gross gaming revenue tax, and a regulator housed inside the Texas Lottery Commission.
The path forward
For mobile sports betting to be live in Texas in 2027, four things have to happen in sequence: (1) HJR 134 must clear the Texas House by a two-thirds supermajority — far from guaranteed, given the slim margin in committee; (2) the Texas Senate must pass its companion bill, SJR 17, which has not yet had a committee hearing; (3) Texas voters must approve the constitutional amendment in November 2026; and (4) the Texas Lottery Commission must publish licensing rules and award licenses, a process that has historically taken 12-18 months in other states.
Operator implications
If Texas legalizes, it would be the largest single-state launch in US sports betting history. With approximately 31 million residents, conservative handle estimates land at $8-10 billion in year-one mobile handle, generating $700-900 million in operator gross gaming revenue. DraftKings and FanDuel — both already partnered with multiple Texas pro franchises — are the prohibitive favorites for top licenses. ESPN Bet (via the Houston Texans), Caesars (Cowboys), and BetMGM (Mavericks) round out the likely contenders.
Why this version may pass when previous bills failed
Previous Texas sports betting efforts (2021, 2023) died in the legislature before reaching a floor vote. Three things have shifted: the major Texas pro sports owners — Jerry Jones, Tilman Fertitta, Mark Cuban — are publicly aligned in support; the political opposition from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has softened in recent statements; and 2026 polling shows Texas voter support for mobile sports betting at 56%, up from 47% in 2023. None of this guarantees passage, but the political math has clearly improved.
What it means for bettors
If you live in Texas, the practical near-term answer is: nothing changes in 2026. Even in the most optimistic legislative scenario, mobile sports betting would not go live until late 2027. For now, Texans betting legally must continue to use the limited tribal-affiliated daily fantasy products available in-state, or wait for legalization. Offshore sportsbooks remain illegal under Texas law and are not recommended.
Tracking developments
HJR 134 has a Texas House floor vote scheduled for May 12, 2026. We'll publish a follow-up after the vote. In the meantime, bettors in already-legal states can compare current welcome offers via our bonus finder and read our operator reviews for the books most likely to launch first in Texas if the bill passes.
More industry news · strategy guides · operator reviews · 2026 industry report.