Jerry Jones Backs Regulated Sports Betting in Texas After Midterms

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says the November 3 midterm results could open a new path for regulated sports betting in Texas. Jones said new faces in state government might see the issue his way.

He was also open about his motive: helping the Cowboys. Texas still hasn’t regulated sports betting, and changing that requires lawmakers and voters to approve a constitutional amendment.

What Jerry Jones Said About Texas Sports Betting

Jones spoke during his weekly Friday interview on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. The K&C Masterpiece show hosts opened by asking whether Tuesday’s election results could leave Texas more open to regulation. Jones said he hoped so. He suggested turnover in the Legislature and governor’s office could help make regulation happen.

“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,” Jones said.

He framed regulation as a matter of oversight. Betting “does go on,” he said, and it “does have its best result when everybody’s on the same page and you’re controlling and watching for any of the issues that are involved with gaming.”

How the 2026 Midterms Shifted Texas Politics

Texans embraced Democrats for the first time in decades in the 2026 midterms. Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Governor Greg Abbott.

The election replaced the state’s governor and lieutenant governor. The second office matters to betting supporters. Under Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Senate did not take up the proposal the House passed in 2023, and another push stalled in 2025.

New leadership doesn’t guarantee a different result. It does change who leads the Senate, where the 2023 bill died.

Fact Check: Is Texas One of Only Two States Without Regulated Betting?

Jones told listeners that “Texas is one of maybe two, and I could be off maybe some there, but not much, that does not have regulated sports gambling,” per the Dallas Sports Journal. That undercounts by a wide margin. The San Antonio Express-News reports that Texas is one of 11 states that completely ban sports gambling.

Jones also said betting happens anyway “because cell phones or phones cross state lines.” That point needs context for Texas bettors. Texas has no state-regulated sportsbooks.

Jones Admits the Cowboys Come First

Jones made no effort to hide his self-interest. “I’m really apolitical. I really can’t afford to be a party because our fans are all parties,” Jones told the station. “When I have something that will help the Cowboys, then I’m all in. But it’s all about the Cowboys.”

He added: “That’s my 99 and nine-tenths percent reason for doing anything.” Our Texas guide notes that the Cowboys belong to the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition that also includes the Mavericks, the Rangers, and sportsbook operators.

His recent giving has gone in more than one direction. Jones donated $250,000 to a joint fundraising committee for Ken Paxton. He also recently gave $10 million to the Clinton Foundation.

This isn’t a new position. Jones said Texas was losing “huge amounts of revenue” by banning betting. In 2021, he said gambling could eventually become common in the state.

Why Regulated Sports Betting in Texas Is Still Years Away

Texas needs a constitutional amendment to regulate sports betting. That requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate, followed by a statewide vote, as our guide explains.

A simple majority isn’t enough. Recent attempts show how proposals have stalled:

The Texas Legislature holds regular sessions in odd-numbered years. If lawmakers pass an amendment in 2027, November 2027 is the earliest realistic chance for voters to approve it.

What Jones’s Push Means for Texas Bettors

Jones carries real weight in Texas sports, and his comments put regulation back in the conversation after a major political shift. The obstacles haven’t moved. Lawmakers still need two-thirds support in both chambers, and voters get the final say.

For bettors, that means no state-regulated sportsbooks in Texas until at least late 2027, and only if lawmakers and voters both approve.

The 2027 session will show whether Jones’s optimism holds up.