Jim McIngvale

Hannah Ruhoff/The Sun Herald by the use of AP

Infamous sports gambler Jim McIngvale, “Mattress Mack,” got here out against the theory of his residence state of Texas legalizing sports activities playing.

McIngvale cashed out on a $75 million payday in November after the Houston Astros gained the World Series. In May just 2022, he placed a $3 million guess on the Astros at 10-1 odds earlier than he delivered extra wages to his guess because the season stepped forward. He also acquired into a firey altercation during World Sequence game three with Philadelphia Phillies lovers after leaving Voters Financial institution Park following an Astros loss.

But the well-known furnishings store proprietor and gambler told the Houston Chronicle that he now thinks the state of Texas must now not legalize sports activities having a bet.

“I’m known as one of the most biggest sports activities gamblers in the world,” McIngvale mentioned. “Everything I do, I bet legally. Driving to Louisiana for 2 hours will never be that a lot of an inconvenience. And I believe all that glitters isn’t gold. They’ve acquired to look at it as a result of I’m involved that the earnings estimates as far as what’s going to return into the state are method overblown.”

In 2021, McIngvale wrote an opinion piece for the Chronicle with the headline titled, “It’s time for the Texas Legislature to legalize sports activities betting,” and he cited the way it was a hassle for him to trip to Colorado to put a bet. Now, he has pivoted and has the polar opposite view on legalized sports making a bet.

“My alternate of coronary heart is that I do know myself, and I’ve seen the sunshine as far as impulsiveness on me to sports playing,” McIngvale mentioned. “As a result of I’ve obtained to pressure to Louisiana, it limits these impulses via a factor of 1,000. So I’m not in favor of sports activities playing in Texas.”

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Houston Astros owner Jim Crane, Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, and Houston Texans owner Cal McNair have all connected their names and organizations to the Texas Sports activities Betting Alliance. Former Texas Governor Ricky Perry (R) has become a spokesman for the team.

“Legalizing cell sports having a bet in Texas will finally permit the state to give protection to shoppers from unlawful offshore having a bet web sites whereas protecting the cash generated from having a bet in Texas to profit Texans,” Perry mentioned in the video on the Texas Sports activities Betting Alliance website online.

The put up Huh? Famed Sports activities Gambler ‘Mattress Mack’ Comes Out In opposition to Legalized Sports activities Playing: ‘I Assume All That Glitters Is Not Gold’ first regarded on Mediaite.