San Antonio Spurs owner Peter J. Holt has endorsed sports betting legislation filed by Texas Sen. Lois Kolkhorst and state Rep. Jeff Leach.
The measures, Senate Bill 715 and House Bill 1942, would legalize online sports betting in Texas. All Texas professional sports teams and organizations within the sports industry support the measures, as do many owners.
“Texas has the best fans in the country,” Holt said in a press release from the Texas Sports Betting Alliance. “Legal sports betting is an exciting new way for Texans to engage with their favorite teams. Sen. Kolkhorst’s bill will provide Texans the same opportunity that sports fans across the country now enjoy – the chance to utilize mobile sports betting in a responsible manner.”
Spurs boast five NBA titles and over five decades of history
Established in 1967, the Spurs began their journey to the NBA as the Dallas Chaparrals in the American Basketball Association. The Chaparrals were sold to a group of businessmen in 1973, relocated to San Antonio and renamed the Spurs.
The team went on to win NBA championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.
Center David Robinson joined the team in 1989. The NBA draft’s first overall pick, Tim Duncan, came aboard in 1997. The “Twin Towers” went on to win the team’s first championship in 1999. Robinson ended his career on a high note after the team won another championship in 2003.
Duncan was joined by rising stars Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker under the leadership of highly respected coach Gregg Popovich. The team won championships again in 2005 and 2007, then hit a drought until 2014.
Spurs partner with bet365
In anticipation of the legalization of sports betting in Texas, some professional sports teams have partnered with sportsbooks. The Spurs have teamed up with bet365.
Since sports betting is not legal yet, bet365 has found a way to interact with Spurs fans until then by way of a free-to-play game. Launched on Oct. 20, users play “Call Your Shot” to earn credits to enter raffles to win prizes.
Some prizes include Spurs jerseys and courtside seats to basketball games.
Mark Cuban is neutral on sports betting bills
Holt joined Houston Rockets owner, Golden Nugget owner and restaurateur Tilman Fertitta in endorsing 2023 Texas sports betting legislation. That leaves Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban as the lone Texas NBA owner yet to show vocal support for current legislation, although the Dallas Mavericks are a partner with the Texas Sports Betting Alliance.