Betting on the Texas Rangers
Despite the team’s struggles over the years, the Rangers have had no shortage of great players. They are one of just a handful of franchises without a World Series title.
Texas Rangers Franchise History
After originating as the Washington Senators in 1961, the franchise endured some hard times, including posting 100-plus losses in each of its first four seasons.
The franchise relocated to Texas in 1972, but success remained elusive. The team would not make the playoffs until 1996, when it lost in four games in the ALDS. Despite failing to win a playoff series in the ‘90s, the decade proved to be the most lucrative one in franchise history.
Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez led the team, from behind the plate, to three playoff appearances and three division titles from 1996-99. The team struggled in the early 2000s despite the arrival of all-time-legend Alex Rodriguez and the return of all-star Rafael Palmeiro.
That group never reached the playoffs together, but the Rangers re-tooled and geared up for a pennant run in 2010. Outfielder Josh Hamilton led the way for the Rangers on their way to their first ever World Series appearance.
Devastatingly, the Rangers, who had never appeared in the World Series before 2010, lost back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011. Hamilton, along with Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler, gave Texas its best shot but ultimately came up just short.
Betting on the Rangers in Texas
As it stands, sports betting is illegal in Texas, and it could be for a little while longer.
The Lone Star State would undoubtedly be a massive addition to the legal US market if it launched online betting, but 2022 is out of the picture.
The goal at this point is a 2023 legalization, but even that timeline is overly optimistic to some. The next Texas state legislative session begins in 2023, and sports betting supporters will make their case for legalization.
Unfortunately for them, Dan Patrick, a known anti-betting proponent, won the GOP nomination for Texas Lieutenant General in early 2022.
Major professional sports teams in Texas, including the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones, have expressed support for legal sports betting. If the legalization push fails in 2023, Texans may not see legal sports betting in their state until 2025.
Updated on: 11/28/2022
New players only, 21+. Available in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY only. Full T&C apply.
When that day eventually comes, Rangers fans and bettors can expect to see something like this at their sportsbooks or on their apps:
- Texas Rangers +1.5
- Houston Astros -1.5
Above, the Rangers are underdogs on the runline against the Astros in this hypothetical Lone Star Series game. That means Rangers backers need the team to either win the game or lose by fewer than 2 runs.
