LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Right now, spectators may be placing their bets for Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Whether fans are doubling down on former Red Raider quarterback Patrick Mahomes, or to see a new champion, they need to make sure gambling doesn’t take them out of bounds.

While Mahomes, the three-time Super Bowl champion isn’t concerned what the final score looks like, as long as it’s in the Chiefs’ favor, spectators betting on the game are hoping for just the right numbers. Gambling is illegal in Texas, which is why some fans may be turning to Super Bowl “squares,” to take a chance on the game with their family and friends.

Neal Burt is the Lubbock County Civil Division Chief of the Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. He says if fans plan to purchase a square or organize a game, they need to make sure everyone has the same chance to win.

“If it is distributed to those individuals playing rather than the house taking $10, $100, five percent, 10 percent off the top, whatever the case may be, yes, there are parameters that make that ok. But once the house takes, all bets are off. No pun intended,” he said.

To stay within the parameters of state law, Super Bowl “squares” also has to be played in a private place.

“If it’s a group of friends watching the game and the benefit is received by them and it’s not a public place, where folks come and go at their pleasure, then yes, there is a defense to gambling and that type of square activity could go forward,” Burt said.

A private place means someone’s home, not a gas station or a game room. Those are a more serious concern law enforcement is looking out for. Burt says the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, the Tax Assessor-Collector and county commissioners just met to discuss rolling out the game room ordinance in Lubbock County.

“That is an area which we are certainly committed to on a full time basis to regulate illegal gaming and gambling. But, factoring in the the legislature’s allowance for certain game rooms to operate within a county that has proposed these ordinances,” he said.

Gambling outside these guidelines in Texas could hurt fans’ records on and off the field. Burt says they could be charged with a misdemeanor and face a fine.

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