Where To Bet On Sports In Houston, Texas
Any proud Texan can tell you that sports are a way of life in the Lone Star state. And any sports fan will tell you that the best way to spice up a slow game is by placing a few bets on it. Until very recently, sports betting was only legal in a handful of states in the US, making the idea of using a Houston Sportsbook to spice up a game just wishful thinking. But this all changed when the Supreme Court removed the federal restriction on sports betting.
I know what you must be thinking - now that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is repealed, you’re probably wondering why a Houston Sportsbook isn’t under construction right this minute. While the Supreme Court decision to repeal PASPA did do a lot to remove some of the roadblocks to legal Texas sports betting, it didn’t actually legalize sports betting in Texas. What the SCOTUS decision actually did was open the door for lawmakers to legalize sports betting. And due to the biennial schedule of the Texas state legislature, lawmakers won’t do anything about legalizing Houston Sportsbooks until 2019 at the earliest.
In order to help you keep track of legal sports betting in Texas as well as Texas racetracks that are opening sportsbooks, we’ve put together this anticipatory Houston Sportsbooks page. Here, we’ll follow the legislature that comes to light when session meets, explain where and how you can bet on sports in Houston, and everything there is to do while waiting for Houston Sportsbooks to open.
Who Can I Bet On In Houston, Texas?
If you live in Houston, you’re probably no stranger to the popular professional teams that play there. With an NBA and MLB team situated in your backyard, and a state full of other professional teams, you know that you’ll always have a hometown favorite to back if you want to at a Houston Sportsbook. But sometimes, bettors may be under the misconception that they should bet on their home team or favorite team every time they wager, which just isn’t true. While there’s nothing wrong with betting on the home team, it might not be the best decision for your wallet.
When you go to place your wagers at a sportsbook in Houston, don’t go in blindly. Make sure you do the research you need to in order to make the bets that are going to win you some money. The operators of Houston Sportsbooks aren’t going to favor a team just because they’re based close by, and you shouldn’t either. Sportsbooks in Houston are going to be able to offer lines on every professional team in every professional sport throughout the country. Make the best bet, not the hometown bet.
Houston Sportsbooks will also be allowed to cover NCAA Division I teams, which means you’ll get an array of lines on football and basketball, as well as probably some baseball. Again, make sure you’re making the bet with your brain, and not with your heart.
A Little Bit About Sam Houston Race Park
Houston Sportsbooks will more than likely open at the historic Sam Houston Race Park. The Sam Houston Race Park is actually the first that was allowed to open in the state of Texas in 1994. Like its counterparts, the Sam Houston Race Park offers two racing seasons over the course of any given year – a thoroughbred season and a quarter horse season. From late January to the end of March, you’ll be able to bet on live thoroughbred events, and from the beginning of March to the middle of May, you’ll find quarter horse racing available for wagering.
The Sam Houston Race Park has both a dirt and turf track. In addition to live racing events, Sam Houston Race Park is open year-round for simulcast wagering. You can watch events from any one of their 8 bars, as well as visit the concessions scattered throughout the grandstand for a quick bite to eat. If you’re looking for a sit-down option during racing season, there are two restaurants available to choose from with tiered seating so that you can see everything happening while you enjoy your meal.
When it is not being used for racing, the Sam Houston Race Park is a popular event and concert venue. They also host two of the cutest races you’ll see in your lifetime – A wiener dog race in February, and a corgi race in April, which are both available to wager on. Perhaps when the Houston Sportsbooks open there, they’ll have lines available for this event.
When Will A Sportsbook In Houston Open?
We should expect to see a sportsbook in Houston open as soon as they are legally able to. Right now we can only guestimate how long it will be until Houston Sportsbooks become legal, and according to leading experts on the topic, it may be a long time coming. This is because gambling in Texas is extremely limited. Traditionally, the conservative lawmakers in the state have steered away from expanding gambling due to the risk of increased crime rates and for fear of alienating their conservative constituents.
Most legal experts have concluded that Texas will have legal sports betting within the next five years or so, which is bad news for people who wanted to use a Houston Sportsbook for the upcoming football season. They believe that when lawmakers see the increase in revenue in neighboring states, as well as the number of Texas residents who are crossing state lines to gamble in other states, it will finally push lawmakers to expand betting at home.
Until Texas sportsbooks in Houston are able to open, there are other legal avenues for Texas residents. Online, offshore sportsbooks will allow you to wager on any sporting event you want, from the comfort of your own home. With a combination of varied wager types, diverse lines, and a wide range of betting limits, sites like Bovada are perfect for Texas sports bettors. The pairing of simple deposit methods and speedy payouts will have fans continuously going back for more, especially after they check out the mobile betting options. If you don’t want to wait five years to use a Houston Sportsbook, head over to an online, offshore sportsbook today. They really are the best available option for you.
What Is There To Do In Houston, Texas?
As one of the most populous cities in the United States, Houston has plenty for everyone to do when you’re not betting on sports. At the Sam Houston Race Park, you can wager on thoroughbred and quarter horse races. Throughout the year, the track is used as a popular concert and event venue. It’s home to both the Guitars N’ Cars Auto Show and the ZiegenBock Music Festival.
The city of Houston is also home to the NASA Space Center, a zoo, aquarium, and the Museum of Natural Science. There’s so much that this city has to offer. If the Houston Sportsbook has a mobile app, you’ll be able to go all over the city without missing out on any action. In fact, you can actually do that right now, with any online, offshore sportsbook. Just create an account and use your smart phone’s browser to place your bets. Houston Sportsbooks are going to be a perfect addition to this booming metropolitan area.
