Dallas Cowboys Co-Owner Charlotte Jones Backs Sports Betting Legalization in Texas

Charlotte Jones, the co-owner of the National Football League franchise the Dallas Cowboys, has insisted that Texas ought to move forward with a plan to legalize online sports betting to help protect youths against the pernicious influence of black-market gambling.

By Not Regulating Gambling Texas Is Failing Young People

CBS News interviewed Jones, who sees a potentially legalized market as the opportunity to excise “bad actors” from Texas, which are already operating without having to observe any regulation or uphold responsible gambling rules.

Bill Jones, a CBS News journalist and anchor, shared her interview. Jones spoke with the influential businesswoman and picked her brain on sports gambling. During the interview, Jones expressed concern with the number of unregulated gambling apps that are allowed to operate in Texas.

Jones’ remarks ring familiar and come at a time when states are increasingly considering prohibiting certain unlicensed operators from encroaching on the regulated sports gambling market in the United States.

Bovada, a popular online gaming and sports betting platform, has been issued more than 15 cease-and-desist letters over the past months and years alone, and more states are likely to follow suit.

Jones, though, remained concerned with the sort of illegal gambling apps that were as of right now targeting “schoolkids” in Texas. She added:

They’re going direct to them in this black market and allowing them to participate in this gambling where they don’t have to prove their age, and they don’t have to verify anything.

Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys co-owner

Black market operations though are not the only reason why Jones pushes for the legalization of sports gambling in Texas. Much like other prominent figures, including Miriam Adelson and her Las Vegas Sands Corp, Jones sees the business rationale behind backing a legalized gambling market in the state, with its immense potential to bring in tax dollars.

The Business Rationale Behind Legalizing Gambling in Texas

She cited Pennsylvania’s gambling tax haul of $650 million and suggested that Texas could fare similarly. Yet, the outcome of a potential legalization of sports gambling in Texas is still a toss-up.

There seems to be strong opposition as of right now, but lobbying efforts, plus the help of prominent community leaders, could sway lawmakers to move ahead with the legalization of not just sports gambling but also casino resorts.

A recent report by the Beaumont Enterprise suggested that Texas could be losing at least $300 million in tax revenue to neighboring states due to the lack of sportsbook and casino options at home.