Texas Online Gambling Laws
If you are looking for the best Texas online casinos for real money games, then you’ve come to the right place. With online gambling becoming increasingly popular, Texas residents are eager to find a trustworthy casino to play at.
Is Online Gambling Legal in California? These days, the United States is one of the more confusing countries in the world when it comes to online gambling laws, with dozens of states having different rules and nuances of how they treat the topic. When it comes to California, it is perhaps the unique exception. Complete guide to online poker and casino gaming laws in every state throughout the US, with regular updates as the regulatory landscape changes. Texas Gambling Laws. A 2016 opinion from Attorney General Ken Paxton stated online fantasy contests meet the state’s definition of gambling and are.
We’ve compiled a list of the best real money online casinos and gambling sites for Texas, so you don’t have to waste time looking for a place to play casino games online. Below is our list of the top recommendations for Texas residents. These sites and apps are some of the most user friendly and safest online casinos that we have found for Texas.
Alabama Online Gambling Laws
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For more information about TX casino websites, you can refer to the rest of this page as your go-to guide.
What Makes These the Best Online Casinos in Texas?
Texas Gambling inmation, facts, laws and regulations. Which online casinos offer the best games and customer support Texas residents? LegalGamblingTexas.com explores the options for legal online gambling in Texas and Texas online gambling law. Poker, sportsbooks, and casinos for Texas players are included.
We promise that we don’t just pick these sites at random. Actually, we spent hours testing and researching dozens of sites in order to find the ones that meet our high standards. Here are some of the criteria a site must meet to be considered one of the best Texas online casinos.
Safe and Secure Online Gambling Experience
These real money online casinos all make your safety a top priority. Sites should offer a full-time security team, an up-to-date SSL site encryption, a third-party company to hold them accountable, solid relationships with banking establishments, and a proven track record of keeping their players safe.
If a site fails to have the necessary tools in place to fully protect their players, then they will automatically be taken off our list of recommendations. We hold the safety and security of players in high regard. We want you to be able to have peace of mind knowing that both your funds and your personal information are protected.
Feedback from Texas Gamblers
One of the first things we did while searching for the best real money online casinos accepting Texas players was to check out those casinos’ user reviews.
After spending several hours scouring different review sites, we discovered there was predominantly positive feedback. Users seem to enjoy themselves while playing at these Texas gambling sites, and most importantly, they feel safe there.
Diversity of Available Casino Games
We dedicate a massive chunk of time to playing the online casino games offered at the Texas online gambling sites we visit. Not only are we checking the quality of the games we play, but we’re also looking to see how diverse their game selection is.
Do the best TX online casinos offer poker? Do they have a wide variety of slot games? Do they offer ample ways to win money? These are just a few of the questions we ask ourselves while analyzing the casino’s value at hand. The more types of games we see offered at a casino, the more confident we become that they’ll have something for every player that comes their way.
Banking Methods Offered
Obviously, your money matters. That’s why we pay close attention to what banking methods are available at the best online casinos in Texas.
We also check to see how long it takes for both deposits and withdrawals or any additional fees or limits enforced by the casino. We take all of this and more into consideration when determining which sites we’ll recommend.
Top-Notch Customer Service Team
Another thing we are looking for from the best online casinos accepting TX players is a high-quality customer service team. We ask various customer service reps several different questions to see how kind and knowledgeable their staff is.
We also note how their staff can be contacted, the amount of time it takes to get a response, and whether or not they can be reached 24/7. We only recommend sites that go above and beyond in these areas.
The Legality of Online Gambling in Texas
At this point, you are probably wondering about Texas online casino laws. Here is everything we know.
In 2006, when the United States passed the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act), many sites closed their doors to American players. Through this legal document, the USA made it illegal to “knowingly accept payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet.”
As a result, Texas created its own laws on the subject. Texas Penal Code 47.02 states that a person is at fault when he or she knowingly “plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, balls, or any other gambling device.” Since real money online gambling in Texas would fall under this description, it is technically illegal.
However, there are still plenty of opportunities to participate in Texas casino gambling online. While there aren’t any US online casinos that accept Texas players, there are casinos in Costa Rica and other parts of the world that will take Texas players with open arms.
What Are the Penalties for Gambling Online in Texas?
Again, according to Texas Penal Code 47.02, participating in Texas online gambling would be considered a Class C misdemeanor, and it could cost you up to $500 in fines.
If you have any concerns about the legality of online casinos in Texas, then we recommend you reach out to a legal professional who is more educated on the subject and who will be able to answer your questions about TX online gambling more thoroughly.
Real Money Casino Apps for Texas Residents
If you love playing at online casinos on the go, you should definitely consider checking out real money USA casino apps. We love playing our favorite casino games on our phones. It gives us the flexibility to enjoy them anywhere we go!
If we’re stuck in traffic, waiting in line at the DMV, or on break at work, you’ll probably find us playing poker or our favorite slot game right on a mobile device. Texas gambling apps online give us the flexibility to make mundane activities more exciting. Plus, they give us the chance to earn some extra cash!
Despite our enthusiasm for real money Texas gambling apps, we always feel obligated to mention something to our readers when we are on this topic. As with other online casino apps, Texas gambling apps may not offer the same number of games as their desktop counterpart. This is simply a result of compatibility issues.
Luckily, as technology advances, we run into this issue less and less. Expect to find most of the games you want to play offered on TX casino apps, but not all.
Online Sports Betting in Texas
Many TX gambling sites offer online sports betting. You’ll have the opportunity to place real money wagers on baseball, basketball, boxing, football, golf, hockey, and just about any other sport you can think of. Yes, even esports doesn’t get left out.
Types of bets you might find offered at TX sports gambling sites include:
- straight bets
- total line bets
- money line bets
- parlay bets
- teaser bets
- head-to-head bets
Why Should I Play at Texas Online Casinos With Sportsbooks?
Betting with money on your favorite teams can make watching your favorite sporting events even more exciting, as you’ll have the chance to earn some extra cash! Plus, most online casino sites with sports gambling allow you to place your first bet for free, so there’s no risk involved.
Land Based Casinos in Texas
Texas Online Sports Gambling Laws
Like many other states, US brick and mortar casinos are illegal in the state of Texas; the only exception to this rule are casinos built on Native American reservations. Casinos owned and operated by Native Americans don’t have to follow Texas casino laws, so they are 100% legal. There are only two brick and mortar casinos in Texas at this time.
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino
- Website: www.luckyeagletexas.com
- Address: 794 Lucky Eagle Dr, Eagle Pass, TX 78852
- Phone #: (830) 773-2255
- Number of games: Over 3300
This is the oldest casino in Texas, as it opened its doors in 1996. While there are no table games offered here, they do have just about any slot game you can think of. Stay at any of their 249 high-quality rooms and indulge at any of their four gourmet restaurants for a wonderful experience.
Naskila Gaming
- Website: www.naskila.com
- Address: 540 State Park Rd 56, Livingston, TX 77351
- Phone #: (936) 563-2946
- Number of games: 793
Naskila is a newer casino, having only been around since 2016. They have a mix of slot games and video poker games to choose from. Members will enjoy a private lounge and three fine-dining restaurants. There are no hotel rooms connected to this casino at this time.
In addition to these casinos, Texas also has several racetracks and bingo halls growing in popularity. We’ll make sure to update this section as land-based gambling in Texas hopefully expands in the years to come.
TX Online Casinos FAQ
How Can I Have A Safe Experience While Gambling Online in Texas For Money?
Since we have already researched where to play casino games online in Texas and have selected ones that offer a safe and secure environment, sticking with our list of recommendations is the most important thing you can do.
Here are other things you can do to ensure your safety at real money Texas online casinos:
- Use a unique password and change it regularly (every couple of months or so should be sufficient).
- Refrain from logging onto your Texas online casinos from a public computer.
- Choose high-quality antivirus software to put on your computer and update it as needed.
- Avoid gambling online with more funds than you can afford to lose.
How Can I Make A Deposit/ Withdrawal at Texas Online Casinos?
All real money online casinos have slightly different banking options. Most online casinos accept major debit/credit card companies like Discover, Mastercard, and Visa. eWallets like Neteller, Paypal, and Skrill are also commonly accepted. Some sites even allow you to use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin. Which method you choose is entirely up to you!
You’ll have to enter your payment method and answer a few security questions to place your deposit or withdrawal. Depending on what banking option you choose, your request could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to process.
What Casino Games Are Available at the Best Texas Online Casinos?
When it comes to playing at real money Texas online gambling sites, there is a wide selection of games to choose from:
- Table games
- Keno and bingo
- Slot machines
- Sports betting
- Scratch-offs
Almost all real money Texas casinos online can be played on a mobile device. This wasn’t the case ten years ago, but it is the case today. Thanks to breakthroughs in technology, more and more online casinos are mobile compatible. While some casinos have a dedicated app, others can only be accessed through your device’s web browser.
At What Age Can I Play at Real Money Texas Casino Sites?
Most United States gambling apps and casinos won’t let you create an account on their site unless you’re 21 or older. They ask for your ID as part of the withdrawal process, so there’s no way to get around this rule, either. Waiting until you’re old enough can be frustrating, but it will be worth it.
What Should I Do If a Texas Online Casino Site Tries to Rip Me Off?
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do here. Since online gambling is an unregulated market in America, there’s no one local to report these discrepancies too. That’s why we cannot stress enough how important it is to stick to our list of recommended casinos, as these casinos are safe and trustworthy.
Despite its free-wheeling, Wild West, anything-goes reputation, Texas is not particularly gambling-friendly.
The state offers domestic brick-and-mortar casino gambling through a single tribal venue, non-banked poker gambling, pari-mutuel horse racing betting, a lottery, and charitable gaming amusements (bingo, raffles). As such, regarding Texas online gambling, there are no domestic state-licensed options available to TX residents.
This guide primarily focuses on TX gambling laws governing domestic gaming options, domestic online gambling options, and licensed Texas online gambling platforms. With our guide, you don’t have to go it alone in the Lone Star State!
Is Online Gambling Legal In Texas?
Yes. However, domestic online gambling is not permitted due to lack of state legislation authorizing its operation. This means state-based unlicensed and unauthorized gambling sites are in violation of local gambling laws.
That said, Texas gambling laws do not forbid the access TX players have to licensed offshore online gambling sites. In addition, the Federal government makes no prohibitions against their use. This allows reputable international gambling sites to cater to TX players at 18 and up, legally and safely.
Top-Rated Gambling Sites For Texas Players
The table below is made up of the best USA online gambling sites which accept TX residents.
Each of these brands is legitimately licensed and regulated, offering specializations in casino gambling, online poker, sports betting, online bingo, online horse betting, and more.
Since everything’s bigger in Texas, you should play only with the biggest real-money betting sites on the Internet. You’ve got to stay true to your roots, after all!
Site Name | Bonus | Rating | Type | USA | Visit Site |
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$3000 | Casino | Visit Site Full Review | |||
$5000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
$5000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
$9000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
$10000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
$8000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
Online Sports Betting Sites | |||||
$250 | Sportsbook | Visit Site | |||
$1000 | Sportsbook | Visit Site | |||
$1000 | Sportsbook | Visit Site | |||
$1000 | Sportsbook | Visit Site | |||
Online Poker Sites | |||||
$500 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
$1000 | Poker | Visit Site |
Other Texas Gambling Pages
Which Forms Of Gambling Are Legal In Texas?
While Texas may be more restrictive than one might think, there are still numerous gambling types for residents to take advantage of. The following domestic gambling options are all legal under Texas law:
- Texas Lottery
- Casino gambling through tribal-owned venue (Class II)
- Pari-mutuel horse betting and greyhound betting
- Keno
- Poker
- Charitable gaming (bingo, raffles)
- Online gambling through licensed offshore sites
Are There Brick-And-Mortar Casinos In Texas?
Yes, but only one: the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel. This venue is the premier casino gambling establishment in the state. It is located in Eagle Pass, Texas, and is operated the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas.
The Lucky Eagle functions as a limited Class II casino with slot-like VLTs (video lottery terminals), a massive bingo hall, and tournament poker entertainment. There are no Class III or commercial casinos in TX.
Can I Play Online Casino Games In Texas?
Yes, as long as you use a reputable offshore gambling site like those listed here. Texas does not offer traditional casino action within state borders, but you can play online slots, online blackjack, online roulette, online video poker, and other casino games when you gamble with the top international sites.
You can visit our dedicate Texas online casinos primer for more information about all your options.
Can I Bet On Sports Online In Texas?
Domestically, there are no sports betting options in the state, whether via brick-and-mortar casinos or via online mobile betting portals.
However, if the sportsbook you choose is licensed and regulated outside of US and TX jurisdiction – as are all the legal Texas sports betting sites we suggest on this page – then you are free to legally place real-money sports bets with any such operator.
Can I Play Online Poker In Texas?
Absolutely, yes. Texas legal online poker is available to all TX players aged 18 and up so long as they play with sites operating outside of the United States. These operators offer the full gamut of live poker tournament game types, including Texas Hold ‘Em (duh!), Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo.
Additionally, these highly regarded poker sites offer cash table play, Sit ‘N’ Go poker events, and major online poker tournaments with thousands of players vying for massive final table payouts that can reach well into six figures!
Can I Play Online Bingo In Texas?
Sure can, pard! Bingo, while legal in TX, is limited due to its charitable gaming and Class II casino status. That means you’ll only get small payouts and limited retail access to actual Texas bingo halls.
However, all the international gambling sites we recommend here offer plenty of Texas online bingo action 24/7, and you won’t even have to worry about getting a big red blotch on your nice new shirt. Polka dots and cowboys definitely don’t mix!
What Is The Minimum Legal Texas Gambling Age?
In Texas, most amusements are available to those aged 18 and up (except at the Kickapoo casino in Eagle Pass, where the venue restricts access to those aged 21-plus). However, there just aren’t that many amusements to choose from.
Fortunately, you can play any real-money gambling game and participate in literally every real-money betting market possible when you play with a legitimate US-facing gambling site that operates overseas.
When you gamble online in TX, the world is your oyster. And no, we’re not talkin’ prairie oysters, here, either!
Do Offshore Texas Gambling Sites Offer Players Bonuses?
Bonuses are an integral part of licensed offshore gambling sites. These bonuses give Texas online gamblers additional funds to play with at no extra cost, simply for making deposits into their betting accounts.
Bonuses are limited to their respective betting markets, however. This means that even if a site offers all types of gambling under one roof, you will need to select the specific bonus for your preferred pastime (i.e. casino bonuses, sportsbook bonuses, poker bonuses, etc.).
You can also score refer-a-friend bonuses, mobile sports betting risk-free bets, live betting risk-free bets, select no-deposit gambling bonuses (when offered), and more. For those depositing with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, enhanced bonus free-play limits are usually offered for all of the above.
Will Texas Legalize Online Gambling In The Future?
There have been multiple efforts to legalize domestic online poker gambling in the Lone Star state. Bills were introduced in 2013 that would have pushed domestic online poker through, but these were killed in committee.
Sports betting legalization is also being discussed in the Texas state legislature, though there has been little progress on this front since the 2018 overturn of PASPA.
In 2020, HJR 61 was put before the state congress in an effort to get sports betting on the November ballot, but it didn’t make the cut, and the future is reportedly dire given the outcomes of the state elections.
Other than these efforts, few domestic online gambling expansions bills have been introduced to the Texas legislature. Therefore, residents can utilize licensed offshore gambling sites to enjoy legal online gambling.
Texas Online Gambling FAQs
What games can I find at legal online Texas casinos?
Various licensed offshore TX online casinos host electronic slots, table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat, etc.), video poker, bingo, keno, and specialty games.
The number of different online slots are staggering, and dozens of dedicated table games and video poker selections mean you’ll never run out of fun ways to win real money when gambling online in Texas.
What features do online poker sites offer to Texas poker players?
Licensed offshore online poker rooms offer robust features such as anonymous table play, multi-table play, zone poker, Sit ‘N’ Go poker, and all kinds of pot-limit and no-limit online poker tournaments.
You can play the most classic poker game variants like Texas Holdem, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo, and you have access to all kinds of tools, like poker guides, poker strategy charts, poker hand calculators, and more.
Everything is at your fingertips, but be careful not to tip your hand!
What sports can I bet on at Texas online sportsbooks?
Licensed offshore TX online sportsbooks offer various wagering options and betting lines on numerous major league, minor league, college, and niche sports.
Domestic and international leagues, teams, games, and events are all fully represented, including robust lines and in-game bets on every prominent Texas club.
With these legal online sports betting sites, TX bettors can wager on specific events, futures, prop bets, spreads, totals, straight money lines, and so much more, 24/7/365. You can even bet on politics, entertainment odds, eSports, and virtual sports (or sports sims) when your favorite leagues are in the offseason!
What bingo games can I find online in Texas?
Licensed offshore TX online bingo sites often host a variety of bingo games. You’ll be able to play real-money bingo across multiple themed titles, and you can enjoy 30-ball bingo games, 60-ball bingo games, 75-ball bingo games, or even 90-ball bingo games around the clock.
But the options are not limited to these few variations. Every licensed online bingo site is different and can host side games or bingo chat games to accompany their main bingo game selections.
Is Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) legal in Texas?
This is a gray area, as according to the Texas Attorney General, participating in DFS entertainment is illegal in TX. However, there are no concrete laws stating this, and both FanDuel and DraftKings are actively accepting Texas residents.
To date, no charges have been brought against any DFS operators or individual players using DFS sites, though you must proceed with caution.