Much has been said about prediction markets taking over Texas betting, and not in a good way. For a while now, people have been using that loophole to sneak in their sports wagers, and plenty of eyebrows were raised when Texas previously wasn't going all-in to stop it. That has since changed, however, as Texas lawmakers are now considering pushing to ban prediction markets, which could end up being historic for the Lone Star State.

In recent weeks, there's been buzz that the frustration among Texas officials has reached a new level, which isn't a surprise. Now, it looks like different avenues are being considered to get this blocked. This decision wouldn't be a surprise, but the timing sure is. As things stand, sports betting is illegal in Texas and efforts to get things flipped have gone terribly wrong. Now, though, with prediction markets in full force, it only adds to the issues for the local government.

"Our job is to protect the consumer," Texas Senator Bob Hall said via an interview with FOX Austin recently. "This is not anti-business in any way at all. It's an evil business that hurts people, and that's what we're here for. Our job is to protect individual rights, to protect the people from predators and the gambling industry across the board is a predator."

Hall's comments won't inspire much hope that legalization for sports betting will be on the way soon, but he and others have clearly made it a point that these prediction markets are not welcome in the state either. As we said above, different ways of getting things banned are now being considered, with no set timeline in the works. However, Hall's comments have people talking, and it seems like Texas means serious business here.

What might be next for Texas banning prediction markets in the future?

A fair question to ask for a lot of people would be what might be next for Texas banning prediction markets in the future? For now, things are a bit unclear, but with the way officials are feeling, you've got to figure that the wheels might be in motion soon. However, that doesn't mean that things are going to be easy in terms of making that happen.

Elsewhere across the USA, we have seen other states get to the one yard line essentially in getting things banned, but then a judge has stepped in to fight things off. What hurts the efforts is that prediction markets are legal at a Federal level. With that, each individual state trying to ban them gets complicated, especially with the Trump administration on board with it.

"I would suggest considering suing in state court to get a court judge to secure an order kicking them out until this issue is ultimately resolved and then potentially looking at clarification language to make sure that this type of workaround to offer sports gambling in Texas will not be allowed," American Gaming Association Vice President Tres York told Fox Austin.

While on paper that would be a smart decision for Texas to sue in state court, a federal judge could put a halt to things there too. It's all tricky, but Texans are not happy for two reasons: for one that legal sports betting is not allowed, but No. 2 is that lawmakers are tired of these 'workarounds' being present. This fight could get ugly soon too.

Texas continues to miss out on NFL betting this time of the year

As for sports betting legalization efforts for 2027, it remains to be seen if things are going to get off the ground in the near future. However, no one can argue with the fact that Texas continues to miss out on NFL betting this time of the year, especially with such high expectations for the Dallas Cowboys.

This feels like a make-or-break year for Dak Prescott, who is yet to get Dallas even close to a trip to the Super Bowl. With CeeDee Lamb looking like one of the best receivers in the NFL as a whole, and no one wants his best years to be wasted. The defense adding Joey Porter Jr. feels big too, which is why the Cowboys are in the hunt to win the NFC East.

Still, that won't be good enough, as people are using the prediction markets to place futures bets on them potentially getting to the NFC title game. While their Super Bowl betting odds aren't overly high, it doesn't mean that they won't make noise this winter. Still, Dallas fans are stuck on the sidelines in terms of placing legal sports bets, which sucks - though the prediction markets are there... for now.