Texas Sports Betting: When Will TX Sportsbook Apps Launch?

Texas sports betting isn’t legal yet, but the Lone Star State remains a great untapped market for regulated sportsbooks. 

Approximately one in 11 US residents reside in Texas (population nearly 30 million). However, the state has not legalized online or retail sports betting apps.

State lawmakers fumbled their latest chance to bring sports betting to fans in 2023. Although there were signs that Texas sports betting legalization could happen, lawmakers missed the deadline when the legislative session ended without action.

That doesn’t mean Texas sports fans have no legal options. Daily fantasy sports are a fun, challenging alternative that lets you join the action and contests for your favorite sports leagues. Social sportsbooks represent another choice for would-be sports bettors.

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Affiliate Disclosure: If you place a bet at a sportsbook through one of our links, we may earn a commission. 

Is Sports Betting Legal in Texas?

No, sports betting is not available in Texas. In 2023, the Texas House of Representatives approved legislation allowing voters to decide whether to legalize sports betting. The proposal needed 100 votes and received exactly that. This was part of House Joint Resolution 102 in 2023.

However, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, in his role in that chamber, denied a request to call HJR 102 to the floor of the Senate. As a result, Patrick halted any potential for sports betting to become legal in Texas.

Gambling legalization would require amending the Texas constitution. Constitutional amendments need approval from two-thirds of the House and Senate and then a majority of Texas voters on the ballot.

Several prominent figures in the Texas sports industry support sports betting in the Lone Star State. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks, and the Texas Rangers have formed a coalition. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who defeated Democrat challenger Beto O’Rourke in November 2022 to gain re-election, said he is open to expanded gambling options in Texas.

When Will Sports Betting Be Legal in Texas?

Not until 2025 at the earliest. The Texas legislature only meets during odd years.

In Texas, gambling is illegal due to a constitutional provision, not a regularly passed law.

As a result, passing any bill will be quite difficult. Legalization would need not only two-thirds support in the House of Representatives and Senate but also approval from voters.

What's Happening in Texas Sports Betting News Right Now?

  • September 25, 2024:

    Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Dallas Stars president and CEO Brad Albert voiced their support for the legalization of Texas sports betting at the Sports Business Journal AXS DRIVE event.

  • August 21, 2024:

    A monthly report on sports betting in the U.S. by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming has removed Texas from its list of states “likely to legalize sports betting in 2025,” the Nevada Independent reports. The firm believes ramped-up gambling opposition will keep the state on the list of states without legal sports wagering.

  • July 29, 2024:

    Gaming Today reports that the North Texas Commission is asking city leaders to join a gambling exploratory committee to study the potential impact of casino destination resorts in the state.

  • June 18, 2024:

    Aristocrat Gaming, a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of regulated land-based slot games across the globe, and the Dallas Cowboys announced a multi-year partnership naming the company an Official Partner of the Cowboys. Additional features include in-game promotions, digital integrations, and game-day activations at AT&T Stadium.

  • May 15, 2024:

    The Texas state legislative season concludes without action on sports betting, online casinos, or retail casinos in the Lone Star State, which features a population of over 30 million. Only California has more residents and no legal sports betting market.

  • May 8, 2024:

    DraftKings CEO Jason Robins, speaking on an earnings call, says he remains optimistic that Texas could legalize sports betting in 2025.

  • March 29, 2024:

    The Las Vegas Sands Corp. files a petition to bring legalized casinos to Texas.

Texas Sports Betting Bills

The Lone Star State is conservative regarding sports betting, which is currently illegal in Texas. A couple of initiatives gained steam in 2023 but were ultimately quashed before reaching the Senate.

HB 1492, HJR 102: Legalization and Regulation of Sports Betting

In February 2023, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) and Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) filed HB 1942 and HJR 102 to legalize and regulate mobile sports betting in Texas. The legislation was supported by the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, which is made up of Texas professional sports franchises, sports leagues, racetracks, and betting platforms.

“Senator Kolkhorst and Representative Leach understand the voters of Texas want the chance to vote whether to legalize mobile sports betting,” said former Gov. Rick Perry, spokesperson for the Texas Sports Betting Alliance. “Revenue from legal mobile sports betting in Texas could bring in more than a quarter billion in the first biennium alone. Our neighboring states are cashing in on Texans’ bets, and a smart, efficient legal framework will keep that revenue here to go towards much-needed property tax relief.”

Supporters and critics of HB 1942, which would permit regulated sports betting, testified before lawmakers in a House committee hearing on March 22, 2023. Testimony was also heard regarding HJR 102, the companion bill to allow the legislature and citizens to vote on a constitutional amendment to permit Texas mobile sports gaming.

TX Sports Betting Legalization Timeline

HJR 102 and HB 1492 see bipartisan support in the House. HJR 102, which would have proposed a constitutional amendment putting sports betting on the November ballot, passed in the House 100-43. But before it could be voted on by the Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, in his role as President of the Senate, stopped the body from voting on it. The legislative session closed without action on sports betting.

The legislature put forward five items regarding sports betting. HJR 97 proposed a constitutional amendment on sports betting. It did not advance out of committee. HB 2070 looked at regulating sports betting. It stalled in committee. HJR 68 proposed a constitutional amendment on sports betting. It was referred to the State Affairs Committee. SB 736 looked at the regulation of sports betting. It wound up in the Business & Commerce Committee. HB 1121 was another bill related to sports betting regulation. It ended up in the State Affairs Committee.

A 15-page bill called HB 1275, championed by Rep. Eddie Lucio III, was brought to the Texas legislature. It included provisions that would authorize both online and mobile wagering for Texas residents. The bill stipulated further measures: The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation would oversee the resulting gambling industry; there would be a 6.25% tax rate imposed for any sports wager; sports bettors could wager on both professional and college sports. The bill would require a referendum to amend the Texas Constitution.

Key Players in the Push for Legal Texas Sports Betting

The Sports Betting Alliance supports efforts to legalize expanded gaming in Texas. The Alliance is made up of professional Texas sports teams, racetracks, betting platforms, and fans. Here are some key stakeholders.

  • Austin FC
  • Dallas Cowboys
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Dallas Stars
  • Dallas Wings
  • FC Dallas
  • Houston Astros
  • Houston Dynamo FC
  • Houston Dash
  • Houston Rockets
  • Houston Texans
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Speedway Motorsports
  • Texas Rangers
  • PGA Tour
  • BetMGM
  • DraftKings
  • FanDuel
  • Fanatics
  • Penn National Gaming Inc.

Other Types of Gambling in Texas

With the timeline for the future of sports betting uncertain, Lone Star State residents can sate themselves with other gaming options. Social sportsbooks are one such alternative. The football-crazy state can also partake in Super Bowl squares for the big game.

💰DFS✅ Yes
💸 Lottery✅ Yes
🐎 Horse Racing (Pari-mutuel wagering)✅ Yes
🪙 Fliff Social Sportsbook✅ Yes
🪙 Rebet Social Sportsbook✅ Yes
♠️ Online Poker❌No
🤑Online Casinos❌No

Social Sportsbooks in Texas

Fliff Sports Betting allows users to place traditional sports betting wagers (moneyline, spreads, point totals, prop bets, etc.) but with free currencies. If you win enough, you can redeem one of these currencies for cash prizes. Because you technically aren’t playing with real money and because it is totally free to play, Fliff is legal in Texas.

The Fliff app is simple to navigate and operates the same way as most popular sports betting apps. Its clean and smooth interface makes jumping from league to league and game to game easy. Fliff’s “betting” markets are impressive and similar to those of many of the big names.

Double your Fliff Coins and Fliff Cash at Fliff Social Sportsbook

The Rebet Social Sportsbook app is another available social sportsbook. Community members compete for virtual currency (Rebet Coins). Winners can earn Rebet Cash, which can be traded in for real cash or prizes.

Texas Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Sites in 2024

Daily fantasy sports is a popular option for Texas sports fans. These apps are legal in Texas because DFS is classified as a skill-based game instead of a game of chance. As a result, DFS is not gambling in the same sense as a slot machine.

There are two giants in the DFS industry: DraftKings and FanDuel. Both specialize in draft games. Other operators, such as Underdog Fantasy and Betr, focus on peer-to-peer games and have emerged with their mobile DFS games. Follow the links below to learn about these operators.

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Betting on Horse Racing in Texas

Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering are legal in Texas, but the state does not allow online or off-track betting. The Texas Racing Commission regulates all aspects of horse and greyhound racing activities to ensure the safety, integrity, and fairness of scheduled events and associated pari-mutuel wagering activities. There are a handful of horse racing tracks in Texas, including Sam Houston Park in Houston, Retama Park in Selma, and Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie.

View: Horse racing betting apps

Lottery in Texas

The legislature approved a constitutional amendment permitting lottery sales on Nov. 5, 1991.

Texas has several games available, including Lotto Texas, its primary product. Customers pick six numbers from 54 balls drawn twice a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays), with a minimum jackpot of $5 million. Another twice-weekly game offered is Texas Two Step (Mondays and Thursdays). It uses a 4+1 matrix of two sets of numbers 1-35. You select five numbers from set 1 and a bonus ball from set 2.

Several other daily games and scratch-off tickets are offered. Texas players can also participate in Powerball and Mega Millions.

How To Bet in Texas After Legalization

For now, players cannot place any online bets in Texas whatsoever. That means both sports bets and casino wagers are out. However, knowing how to bet in Texas if and when online sports betting becomes a reality will be helpful. Here’s the basic process.

1

Pick A Sportsbook

You’ll need to choose the online sportsbook you want to use. There will likely be at least a handful of sportsbook operators at launch, including big companies like DraftKings and FanDuel.

Fortunately, these big sportsbook operators provide robust mobile sports betting experiences and high-quality opening bonuses. You should check out the best sports betting bonuses to determine which sportsbook best suits your wagering style and to take advantage of extra betting credit right off the bat.

You should also pay attention to how those bonuses are fulfilled. Some require promotional codes, while others have time limitations. Here’s more about sportsbook bonus terms and conditions.

2

Download A Legal TX Spotsbook App

Once you choose a sportsbook, you’ll want to download its app. You can utilize the direct links on the sportsbook’s website or search for it in the App Store for iOS users or the Google Play Store for Android users.

Geolocation software will also be installed to track your location and make sure you don’t place sports bets outside of Texas state lines.

3

Register, Create Your Account

Next, you’ll need to register for the sportsbook you chose. Registration might have an in-person requirement component. In this case, you need to finish the registration process by visiting a retail casino partnered with your sportsbook pick.

If registration does not require in-person visits, you’ll need to provide contact and identifying information, such as phone number, address, and Social Security number. You will likely have to provide a photocopy of your ID when you make your first withdrawal to verify your identity.

4

Fund Your Account

Most major sportsbooks allow you to fund your account in a variety of ways. Common deposit methods include credit and debit cards, direct bank links, PayPal or Skrill electronic wallet deposits, and ACH transfers. That said, each sportsbook has different account funding methods.

Here’s more on the best deposit methods for online sportsbooks.

5

Place A Wager

Once your TX sportsbook account is funded, you’re all set. You can navigate through the app of your choice and place wagers on any upcoming or current sporting events.

Sports To Bet on in Texas

Texas sports fans are blessed with a bevy of professional and college teams to watch and support. There are 11 in-state pro teams from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS. 

When Texas sports betting becomes legal, fans will have many in-state team wagering options.

NFL Betting in Texas

🏆 Texas Sports TeamLeague
🏈 Dallas CowboysNFL
🏈 Houston TexansNFL

Dallas Cowboys: America’s Team is really Texas’ team. The Cowboys have won five Super Bowls and eight NFC Championships. Dallas is a perennial playoff contender and is looking to claim an NFL crown for the first time since 1995.

Houston Texans: The Texans are relatively new on the scene, arriving as an expansion team in 2002. They replaced the Houston Oilers, who played in the city from 1960 to 1996. That franchise moved to Nashville and became the Titans. Since their inception, the Texans have made seven playoff appearances, most recently in 2023. Quarterback C.J. Stroud has brought hope to the franchise.

View: NFL odds

MLB Betting in Texas

🏆 Texas Sports TeamLeague
⚾️ Texas RangersMLB
⚾️ Houston AstrosMLB

Texas Rangers: The franchise won its first World Series in 2023. The Rangers have claimed the American League pennant three times to boot.

Houston Astros: The Astros have been a postseason mainstay of late. They won the World Series in 2017 and 2022. Houston claimed four American League pennants and one National League crown (2005) before moving to the AL in 2013.

View: MLB odds

NBA Betting in Texas

🏆 Texas Sports TeamLeague
🏀 Dallas MavericksNBA
🏀 Houston RocketsNBA
🏀 San Antonio SpursNBA

Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks won their only NBA Championship in 2011. They advanced to the NBA Finals in 2024 against the Boston Celtics. Dallas has claimed three NBA Western Conference titles.

Houston Rockets: The Rockets have fallen on hard times of late, but they have a rich history. They won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995 and won the NBA Western Conference two more times in the 1980s. 

San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs are steeped in NBA history and are currently rebuilding under big man Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio has five NBA Championships (the last in 2014).

View: NBA odds

NHL Betting in Texas

🏆 Texas Sports TeamLeague
🏒 Dallas StarsNHL

Dallas Stars: The Stars won their only Stanley Cup in 1999 but are a consistently competitive squad. They won three NHL Western Conference crowns, the last in 2020.

View: NHL odds

Other Professional Sports Teams in Texas

Major League Soccer: FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo FC, Austin FC

WNBA: Dallas Wings

Texas College Sports Teams

Texas is a big state for college sports, especially football. It’s home to 12 Division I colleges, ranging from Texas and Texas A&M to Texas State and Texas Tech. Each of these colleges fields numerous football, basketball, and baseball teams, all of which are popular options for sports betting enthusiasts.

On a cultural level, college sports are treated as a favorite pastime for Texans and a major source of professional and scholastic achievement. However, we’ll have to see how Texas’ future sports betting legislation treats college betting before making any predictions.

Some states have seriously limited collegiate sports betting for both in-state teams and any games that take place within state lines. That leaves collegiate betting for out-of-state teams and games only, which would be a major blow for Texas sports bettors.

However, Texas may not impose these restrictions due to the popularity of college sports already.

View: College football odds

Types of Bets To Expect at TX Sportsbooks

Assuming Texas sports betting becomes legal, bettors will find many kinds of wagers at TX online sportsbooks. Nearly every sportsbook app provides the following bet types.

Moneyline

Simply pick the winner on the moneyline or what’s also known as a straight bet. Odds will dictate the return on your stake.

Point Spread

In spread betting, you are effectively wagering on the margin of victory or defeat for the selected team. If you bet on the Dallas Cowboys as -7 favorites, they have to win by more than seven points for you to collect.

Total (Over/Under)

Over/under bets are based on determining the total points scored in a game. Will the total land over or under the number set by the book? 

Parlay and SGP

With parlays and same-game parlays, the wagerer must correctly forecast the outcomes of two or more bets to cash. The more legs of a parlay, the bigger the payoff, but you have to get them all right to win anything. 

Futures

Futures bets are trying to determine the outcome of an event or season-long performance of a player or team. For example, betting on the Houston Texans to win the 2025 Super Bowl would be a futures wager.

Sports Betting Apps That Could Launch in Texas

At the moment, there are no Texas sports betting sites. However, sports betting is becoming more popular throughout the country, and many major operators would likely leap at the chance to take sports wagers in Texas.

DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel, Fanatics, and ESPN BET are all partners in the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, meaning each would be among the leading candidates to launch if Texas sports betting is legalized.

Let’s break down the most popular sportsbooks that we hope to see in Texas. 

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM is very popular among sports betting apps. It features deep betting odds on a wide range of sports and a tremendous live-streaming interface that elevates its game to another level. The rewards program for active bettors also helps BetMGM get its nickname as the “King of Sportsbooks”.

  • Top features: Same-game parlays, live streaming, daily prop specials
  • Live streaming? Yes
  • Access: iOS and Android
  • Ratings: Apple 4.8; Google 4.5

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars boasts a top-shelf loyalty program and consistently competitive odds. Customers rave about enticing odds boosts. Live streaming is available.

  • Top features: Quick payouts, lucrative SGP, odds boosts
  • Live streaming? Yes
  • Access: iOS and Android
  • Ratings: Apple 4.6; Google 4.3

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel gains points with its intuitive iOS or Android apps. This sportsbook’s in-game wagering and live streaming are second to none, and varied depositing and withdrawing options are a nice convenience.

  • Top features: In-game betting, early cash outs, online betting guide
  • Live streaming? Yes
  • Access: iOS and Android
  • Ratings: Apple 4.9; Google 4.6

bet365 Sportsbook

The Bet365 app is relatively new in the US but offers tremendous variety in sports. Generous welcome offers and frequent opportunities for bonus bets are staples.

  • Top features: Early cashouts, odd boosts, frequent bonus bets
  • Live streaming? Yes
  • Access: iOS and Android
  • Ratings: Apple 4.8; Google 4.6

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings shines with a smart interface and a bevy of available markets. DraftKings offers all the bets, including player props and SGP, that customers crave.

  • Top features: SGPs, easy interface, odds boosts
  • Live streaming? Yes
  • Access: iOS and Android
  • Ratings: Apple 4.7; Google 4.6

BetRivers Sportsbook

The BetRivers app is an up-and-coming sportsbook that challenges the big dogs. The variety of sports offered is industry-leading. From tennis to EPL soccer to MLB and NFL, BetRivers shines with competitive odds.

  • Top features: Early payouts, in-game betting, SGPs
  • Live streaming? Yes
  • Access: iOS and Android
  • Ratings: Apple 4.4; Google 3.4

What To Look for in TX Sports Betting Apps

Sports betting in Texas will not occur before 2025. Nevertheless, studying future mobile apps for security and must-have features will help heighten your betting experience.

Gaming Today experts look at the following qualities when rating the top legal sportsbooks.

  • Intuitive navigation  and smooth interface
  • Best odds and betting lines
  • Bet types variety
  • Strong security features
  • Ease, speed of deposit and withdrawals
  • Competitive welcome offers and bonuses

 TX Sports Betting Future

The sports betting legalization effort in Texas has been slow-moving so far. Opposition from the President of the State Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and other influential Republican lawmakers should continue to temper Texas sports bettors’ hopes. 

Even so, various big players in the sports industry, including Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones, and Tilman Fertitta, have all voiced their support for Texas sports betting and own many of the state’s major teams.

How Texas Sports Betting Compares To Other Markets

Texas is a big sports state. Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio all have massive major league teams, and two colleges boast the top 10 biggest stadiums on the planet by capacity (Texas A&M is 6th and Texas is 9th).

Texas’s history might be considered relatively wild or frontier-oriented compared to many other states. But in the modern-day, Texas remains a stalwartly conservative state on most major social issues, including gambling. This is becoming even more true as southern states, including Arizona, Louisiana, and even Florida, have moved more quickly to introduce legal sports betting.

Pros and Cons of the Texas Sports Betting Industry

With limited gambling options available in Texas, there isn’t much progress to call out.

Texas Betting Successes So Far

Texas technically allows casinos on tribal-owned lands. Three Native American casinos have existed in Texas so far, but only two remain. One is the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle along the Mexican border, and the other is Naskila Gaming outside of Livingston.

As a result, Texas compares pretty poorly to other states in terms of its current gambling opportunities. Players can only participate in gambling by visiting one of the two above-mentioned tribal casinos. 

However, Texas does have legal poker rooms, many of which are located in and around major cities like Dallas and San Antonio.

How Texas Sports Betting Can Do Better

The state of Texas could improve its online gambling industry by enabling it in the first place. At the time of this writing, no online gambling activities are permitted whatsoever, even on tribal land. The tribal casinos are pretty limited in terms of their activity options, too.

For bettors, the best course of action would be for Texas lawmakers to legalize online sports betting while authorizing multiple in-person casino locations simultaneously. We’ll have to see if that needle finally moves in 2025. 

Texas Sports Betting Revenue Projections

Texas sports betting could produce revenue numbers similar to those in New York, according to one industry expert. See our sports betting revenue page for a state-by-state look.

New York saw $1.6 billion bet on mobile sports betting sites during its first month of operation. With a 51% tax rate, the state of New York received nearly $58 million in tax revenue that month alone.

“Texas would be right up there [with New York for tax revenue from sports betting],” Ben Fawkes, the vice president of digital content for the Vegas Stats and Information Network, told KCENTV. “It would be in the top three for sure and then probably one or two depending on adoption, but it’s such a massive population base, it’s gonna be one of the biggest markets.”

TX Sports Betting Impact Could Be in the Billions

Based on the parameters of HB1942, which would grant mobile gaming licenses to Texas’ professional sports teams, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming estimates a mature online sports betting market in Texas would generate approximately $2.37 billion in gross annual gaming revenue. That revenue would result in approximately $180 million in direct annual tax revenue to the state. Legal sports betting also has the potential to create hundreds of direct jobs and thousands of indirect and induced jobs in Texas.

Texas Is a Potential Sports Betting Jackpot

With 29 million residents, Texas has the second-largest US state population after California. The current biggest sports betting market in the US is New Jersey, where online sportsbooks handle close to a billion dollars per month. New Jersey’s population is 8.88 million, which is less than a third of Texas’ population.

It’s easy to see how Texas online sports betting apps could handle at least a billion dollars or more per month. If we go strictly based on New Jersey, Texas sportsbooks would handle over $3 billion per month or $36 billion per year. That’s a lot of revenue, which translates to a ton of tax dollars for the state.

Texas Responsible Gaming

With most forms of gambling illegal in Texas, the state recommends educational assistance and guidance for those needing help. Some key resources include: For more information, see our responsible gaming page.

National Council on Problem Gambling: www.ncpgambling.org

(800) 522-4700

Gamblers Anonymous: www.gamblersanonymous.org

  • Austin (512) 860-2958
  • DFW & West Texas (817) 371-0624
  • Houston (855) 442-7105
  • San Antonio (210) 705-4429

Texas Sports Betting FAQ

No. No sports betting is legal in Texas, including at the two currently active tribal casinos.

No. But it may be possible in the future if sports betting is legalized. It’s unclear whether Texas will allow betting on in-state college sports.

If online sports betting is legalized in the state, no. You’ll have to be at least 21 years old and physically located within state lines. Residency will not be a requirement.

Yes, if the online sportsbook app is regulated and licensed. Licensed sportsbooks have high-quality digital security and have been investigated by an authoritative body before launching. Therefore, you can trust that your personal information and funds are safe.

Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico are the closest legal sports betting states to Texas.

Yes and no. DraftKings DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) is available in Texas. However, DraftKings Sportsbook is not available in the Lone Star State, which hasn’t legalized any form of legal sports betting.

If sports betting comes to Texas, you’ll need to be 21 or older. This is the standard age for gambling activities throughout the country. While a few states allow 18 and up, Texas will likely not be one of them.

No, Bovada and MyBookie are offshore sports betting operators that are not legal or licensed to operate in Texas. We do not recommend using them. Offshore sportsbooks might create their odds randomly, leading to an unpleasant or unsatisfying overall sports betting experience. You also can’t trust them to handle your money fairly.

Recent Texas Sports Betting News

About the Author
Dan Holmes

Dan Holmes

Writer and Contributor
Dan Holmes is a veteran writer and contributor for Gaming Today. He has written three books, including The Ballplayers: Baseball’s Greatest Players Remembered, Ranked, and Revealed, which will be released in 2024. Holmes has previously worked for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Major League Baseball.

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