Sports Betting Legal In Texas

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Sports Betting Legal In Texas 3,7/5 2338 votes

Sports betting for Texas residents is available through online sportsbooks only at this time. Texas has not managed to pass any legislation to bring land-based sportsbooks or regulated mobile sportsbooks to the Lone Star State. Thankfully, online sportsbooks can legally operate in Texas as there are no state laws that ban online sportsbooks from operating. This allows Texas residents to bet on their favorite teams across multiple sporting leagues. Texas is home to several sports teams including the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Houston Rockets, and several collegiate programs. Sports betting fans are able to wager on all Texas teams, as well as any other team across all sports.

  • Illegal sports betting is already happening in the state, with one South Texas group taking in millions over a five-year period before they were convicted in 2019. Give Texans an easier, legal.
  • Since all betting is currently illegal in Texas, there are no legal mobile sports betting apps available despite what they might say. Any sportsbook offering to take bets from a bettor within Texas’ border is an offshore operator.
  • Considering the difficulty of legalizing fantasy sports in Texas, we can only imagine how hard it will be to get the politicians on board with legal sports betting. What makes things a bit confusing is that Ken Paxton, Texas’ Attorney General, was supporting legalized sports betting in the Supreme Court.

Legal Texas sports betting and gambling laws are some of the least progressive in the United States. Almost from its inception as a state, all forms of gambling with the exclusion of small-stakes card games and horse racing were illegal in Texas. Gambling on sports was of course among the prohibited wagering activities. Currently standard forms of sports betting such as betting on dog and horse races, are legal as well as Casinos on native land, owed by the tribes. Texas does offer Casino Cruises, taking passengers on international waters to avoid gambling laws completely. In February 2019 a Bill regulating sports betting in Texas was introduced.

While retail sports betting is not available, lawmakers could be tempted to launch such a market following the losses the state suffered following the COVID-19 pandemic. Texas lawmakers could potentially follow many other states who were vehemently against launching legal sports betting but changed their minds during the pandemic. Lobbyists are currently working on a bill that would allow local sports teams to hosts their own licensed sportsbooks in their stadiums. HB 2070 is the bill signed by Republican Rep. Dan Huberty and If passed could see legal sports betting launch in January 2022.

While this is still a while away from bringing sportsbooks to the Lone Star State, local sports betting fans are still able to place action as the legislators work things out. In addition to online sportsbooks, Texas is surrounded by states with legal sports betting. New Mexico and Arkansas have already launched sports betting, and Louisiana passed sports betting in its legislation, although they have not launched yet. The future For Texas sports betting is still up in the air, with the bill in its early stages.

However, local sports betting fans can still wager on all of their favorite franchises both local and out of state thanks to online sportsbooks. Texas sports betting is legal, and there is a multitude of options available to players. Sports betting fans do not need to wait to bet on sports as there is a seemingly endless supply of sportsbooks legally able to offer sports betting within the state. The future outlook for a Texas sports betting market is a promising one, with local lobbyists pushing a new and promising sports betting bill.

Legal Texas March Madness Betting

College basketball is already big and there are many fans who wish they can be at some of these intense games. The fact that March Madness is around the corner only excites players and lets them know that money will be everywhere for them to win. Online sportsbooks will have all the games that will be going on as they always have and this will mean that players will have many options per usual. It is known that Texas is one of the best teams that will have a chance to win the NCAA title and players here will be taking their chance on this team. The fact that the legal online March Madness sportsbooks in Texas will have all types of betting like prop bets, parlay bets and others.

Legal Sports Betting Sites Accepting Texas Residents

Now, while you’re waiting for land-based Texas sports betting to open up, there’s no reason to miss out on any of the action. There are hundreds of legal sports betting sites accepting Texas residents right this minute. That being said, you don’t just want to pick one and be done with it – there are things to take into consideration, like the variety of games and wager types available, as well as betting limits and added perks like signing bonuses and mobile betting.

We’ve gone ahead and done the research part of this for you. After having personally tested a plethora of online sportsbooks, we found the top four for you. These sites have the largest selection of games covered, meaning you’ll have more options than you know what to do with. You’ll also find additional perks that make each of these sites unique – from live betting to mobile apps, these sites truly are the best of the best when it comes to sports betting in Texas.

Can’t choose just one? Keep an account at all of these books. This will allow you to shop lines and ensures that you find the absolute best payout for each and every game you wager on. No matter if you have one or four accounts, these legal sports betting sites accepting Texas residents are the best choice for you.

Bovada - Fastest Sportsbook Payouts For Texas Residents

It’s all about speed when it comes to Bovada sportsbook. Whether you’re looking for the fastest payouts or the fastest lines during live betting, you’ll find them right here at Bovada. You have several withdrawal options with Bovada, and none take longer than two weeks to reach you. If you choose to conduct transactions using cryptocurrency, your payout could reach you within 24-48 hours of your request being processed.

You’ll also find the faster live lines at Bovada than any other sportsbook. Fans of live betting know that it’s all about speed. The faster those lines are presented, the more action you can get in on. Live betting is just one of the many perks that make Bovada a world-class sportsbook. You’ll find tons of wagering options available for you at the pace that you prefer.

SportsBetting - Sign Up Through Your Smartphone + Bet

SportsBetting.ag knows that you’re a busy person, and trying to find the time to sit down at a computer and create an account can sometimes be impossible. That’s why this online sportsbook allows you to create your account on your smartphone or tablet, as well as on the computer. You’ll be able to access SportsBetting wherever you are and place your bets whenever is most convenient for you.

As if that weren’t enough, SportsBetting also provides players with a $25 free play credit for using their mobile app. So not only can you benefit from the convenience of setting up your account on the go, you’re essentially getting paid the first time you play on your mobile device. SportsBetting is known for its incredible betting opportunities, and you won’t be disappointed by the many other benefits they offer their players. What are you waiting for? Get online today to begin the best sports betting in Texas you’ve ever experienced.

BetOnline - Everything But Betting On Texas HS Football

When it comes to betting on sports online, why not go with the site that’s literally named after the name of the game? BetOnline sportsbook has been providing legal, fun sports betting opportunities to Texas residents for years. Not only will you be able to find lines on professional sports, but you’ll also find betting opportunities on more college games than you’ll know what to do with. BetOnline has some of the most incredible wagering of any online gambling site period. When you’re at BetOnline, it doesn’t matter if it’s your first time betting or your thousandth time. They’ve got something for everyone, and a fully trained staff that can be reached 24/7 to help you if you really need it.

When it comes to betting, it’s not just about the games that are covered. It’s also about the wager types available and the betting limits you have to operate within. At BetOnline, you’ll find the largest selection of traditional and exotic wager types around. Additionally, betting limits are adjustable, which means you play at whatever level you’re most comfortable with. We’ve just barely covered the tip of the iceberg, so head over to BetOnline to find out what other goodies they have in store for you, like signing and deposit bonuses, free plays, and much more.

MyBookie - A Top Tier Texas Sportsbook

MyBookie is an excellent sportsbook for all kinds of bettors, and in a state as large as Texas, that’s a wide net to cast. MyBookie prides itself on providing all sorts of odds, from the latest moneylines on the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans to the most recent Houston Rockets spread to wagers on who will win the 2020 presidential election. Whatever you want to wager on, you can find it at MyBookie.

MyBookie also offers live and mobile betting, and these two can be used in concert to great effect. MyBookie’s wagering allows you to place bets from anywhere, using almost any device, and wager on almost any game. Shoot, forget about just games, you can wager on almost any event! All of these factors combine to make MyBookie one of the premier sportsbooks for Texas bettors.

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Is Sports Betting Legal in Texas?

Land-based sports betting in Texas is not currently legal, and more than likely won’t be for a long time. Despite the fact that Texas lawmakers lose out on close to two and a half billion dollars annually to casinos in neighboring states. There is no indication that they plan to expand gambling in the Lone Star state. As neighboring states begin to legalize sports betting, expect that deficit to grow even larger.

The heavily conservative mindset in the Texas legislature right now is going to carry over into the 2019 legislative session. Lawmakers who do introduce sports betting bills likely will not have the support needed to pass a law that would legalize Texas sports betting. That being said, anything can happen, and so we will diligently keep an eye on what happens during the next legislative session. Optimistically, there could be legal sports betting in Texas within the next year. Realistically, expect it to roll out within the next 3 to 5 years. It’s going to take a lot to make sports betting legal in Texas.

While we wait for old-fashioned lawmakers to come around on the activity, there are still sports betting options in the state. Online, offshore sportsbooks do not fall under the jurisdiction of state laws, and can legally offer sports wagering to Texas residents. Additionally, because there are no laws on the books when it comes to dealing with online, offshore sports betting, TX residents are free to wager as much as they like at online sportsbooks that are based in overseas countries.

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What Cities In Texas Have Sportsbooks?

While sports betting in Texas has not been given the green light to operate at land-based locations yet, we know that lawmakers will eventually have no choice but to legalize it eventually. When that does happen, we believe that it will likely be housed at a Native American casino. There is currently one Class II casino and one High-stakes bingo hall operating in the state. These seem to be the most likely venues for Texas sports betting.

The Casino – called the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino – is located in Eagle Pass, Texas. This city is on the Texas-Mexico border, located just east of the Rio Grande. You’ll find bingo, video gaming terminals, and live poker at this establishment. The bingo hall is located across the state in Livingston, Texas. Just an hour outside of Houston, Livingston has plenty to do for everyone. The bingo hall is called Naskila Gaming. If more sportsbooks are allowed to open in Texas, we will update this list to include all of the cities in Texas that have sportsbooks.

Southern Texas Region:

South Eastern Texas Region:

Legal NFL Betting In Texas

With two professional teams of their own and one of the largest collections of fans in the world, is it any surprise that Texas residents are some of the biggest supporters of legal NFL betting in their state? While you won’t find any action at bars or casinos in the state, you will definitely find thousands of TX residents participating in sports betting on any given Sunday afternoon. For legal sports betting options in Texas, you’ll want to head over to an online, offshore sportsbook. These websites provide legal NFL betting in Texas, as well as an overwhelming amount of other legal sports betting opportunities.

Whether you’re backing the Cowboys, routing for the Texans, or want action on an out of state team, these online books have you covered. All of the operators offer a mobile site so that you can take the action with you, whether you’re at the game or watching at home. When you’re ready to put your money where your mouth is, head over to an online, offshore sportsbook for legal NFL betting in Texas.

Mobile Sports Betting in Texas

Unfortunately for sports bettors in Texas, the state is unlikely to pass bills legalizing in-state mobile betting in the near future. Doing so would require an amendment to the state’s constitution, which will be difficult to pass. Despite this, placing bets with online sportsbooks is still perfectly legal, as these online books are not subject to the Wire Act of 1961. The majority of these overseas books feature dedicated mobile websites optimized to provide a full range of betting features, including live betting, to their mobile users. If you want to wager on the Dallas Cowboys from your mobile phone, the best thing you can do is use one of these mobile websites from an offshore sportsbook.

Legal College Football Betting

Football is practically a religion in the Lone Star State, and with 23 NCAA Division I football teams calling Texas home, there’s no lack of action to be found when it comes to legal college football betting. Whether you’re a Longhorns diehard or a loyal Aggies supporter, you’ll be able to find coverage on any Texas college football team at online, offshore sportsbooks. These are currently the only books legally able to offer action on college football. However, with the college football season likely in jeopardy, many college football bettors are turning to the NFL for future action.

The state of Texas sports betting is likely to change when Texas lawmakers legalize sports betting at land-based facilities in the state. But as we’ve said earlier, sports betting in Texas has quite a few hills to climb, and more than likely won’t be making an appearance on the books for several years. Once gambling in Texas is finally taken out of the dark ages, you’ll be able to find legal College football betting all over the state. Until such a time, use one of the online, offshore sportsbooks we recommend. These sites give you access wherever you are, making them the best Texas sportsbooks around.

Texas Sports Betting & Gambling Laws

There are a couple of federal laws that directly influence sports betting in all fifty states, not just in Texas, that you should be aware of. These are the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The federal Wire Act prevents people from taking wagers over state lines. The UIGEA prevents banks and financial institutions from processing gambling transactions made online in the US. This doesn’t prevent the usage of online sportsbooks, it just makes it a little tougher for credit cards to be accepted as deposit methods.

Now, when we’re looking for state laws, there’s really only one that talks about sports betting. Found in Texas Penal Code 47.01, Texas state law prevents gambling on the outcome of sporting events. Until this changes, you won’t be seeing sports betting anywhere in Texas.

The good news for avid sports betting fans is that there are still legal options available to you. Online, offshore sportsbooks like the ones recommended on this site are perfectly safe and lawful options because they operate out of countries where sports betting has already been legalized. As they are regulated by gaming commissions and a set of laws, you can rest assured that you are participating in legal Texas sports betting.

Click the following link to learn more on Texas Sports Betting Laws

Legal Gambling Age For Texas Residents

The Legal gambling age for Texas residents is 21. Whenever sports betting in Texas does get the green light, don’t expect the legal age to bet on sports to be any different. Online sportsbooks are explicit about enforcing the legal gambling age in your area when you join, so be sure that you’re not creating an account until you are 21 years old. It doesn’t matter whether the sportsbook has a different age listed - you must follow the laws of the land. So remember - when you want to place a bet on the Houston Texans in Texas, you have to be 21 or over.

Land Based Gambling In Texas

Currently, land-based gambling in Texas can take place at two locations – Eagle Pass and Livingston. In Eagle Pass, you’ll find the only Casino in the Lone Star state, the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino. This gambling venue is able to offer Class II gaming, which includes video table games, slots, and bingo.

Naskila Gaming in Livingston is currently just a high-stakes bingo hall and video gaming facility. It is presently embroiled in a court battle with the State of Texas, as lawmakers do not believe that the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas has legal right to open a gaming facility under the 1987 federal restoration law. The Tribe believes that they do have this right, under the more recent 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Naskila Gaming is able to operate while the court battle ensues, though we will be updating this page as the situation develops

Now that PASPA has been repealed, Texas Casinos and Bingo Halls would be the easiest place for Texas sports betting to open. That being said, with such an overwhelming majority of lawmakers vocally against expanded gambling in the state, it may be a while before you see any more land-based gambling in Texas.

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FAQ About Online Sports Betting In Texas

1) Where are the federal gambling posted for me to read?

There are two federal sports betting laws currently on the books in the United States: The Wire Act, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, otherwise known as the UIGEA for short. These laws can be found with a simple google search, using their names or the keywords “federal sports betting laws”. An overview of UIGEA, for example, can be found (* here https://www.fdic.gov/news/financial-institution-letters/2010/fil10035a.pdf *). You can also look at the legal code of the United States, under the year that the laws were passed for the complete verbiage. The Wire Act was passed in 1961, and the UIGEA was passed in 2006.

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2) What about the gambling laws written by the Texas Legislature?

If you visit www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us you can search for the laws directly. You will need to know what the names of the laws are, or what year they were passed in to help narrow the search down. Every Texas gambling law can be found on its legislative website.

3) Is Bovada legal in the state of Texas?

Yes, Bovada is legal in the State of Texas. This well respected online sportsbook is a fantastic choice for Texas residents, as it provides some of the best and fastest lines for sports betting in the country. You’ll find everything you could possibly want at this online sportsbook. Texas sports betting never looked as good as it did on Bovada.

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4) Are there any caveats to depositing with a credit card?

Using a credit card to make deposits at online sportsbooks is usually convenient, but sometimes fail. This is because of the UIGEA, a federal sports betting law that prevents US banks from processing gambling transactions. Because of this, we recommend using prepaid cards for deposits. The funds have already been processed and transferred to the card. So long as the card is enabled to make online purchases and overseas transactions, you will not be subject to any further trouble depositing into your account.

5) How many sportsbooks can I join from this list?

You can join each sportsbook if you so choose. There are no limits on how many different sportsbooks you can join. What there is a limit on is how many accounts you have with a single sportsbook. You are only allowed to have one account per book, so that you’re not cheating and driving odds up or down, or trying to accept extra bonuses.

6) How fast can I receive my winnings from these sports wagering sites?

The speed with which you receive your winnings depends entirely on what payout method you choose. In the ever-changing digital world we live in, you can now be paid by these online sportsbooks using cryptocurrency. If you choose this method, you’ll receive your payout within 24 hours of the request being processed. If you choose a more traditional payout method, like a check in the mail, it will take a little longer. No payout should take more than 14 business days to reach you unless specifically stated when you choose that method. If it takes longer than that, contact customer service.

7) How secure are these sports betting sites?

We have personally tested these sites ourselves, and find that they are extremely safe. They not only use the most up to date security software, but they also use encryption software that keeps your personal information between you and the person processing your payments. The sites we recommend are highly secure, offering the safest online sports betting in Texas.

8) Has a Texas bettor ever been arrested for gambling on sports over the Internet?

No, a Texas resident has never been arrested for gambling on sports over the internet. This is because of the way that federal sports betting laws have been written. The two current sports betting laws, the Wire Act and the UIGEA, both penalize the person or persons taking the bets, not the person placing them. Unless you are operating a sportsbook, you will not get in trouble for betting on sports online in Texas.

9) Who authorizes and regulates the betting sites to be found here?

The sites that we recommend are regulated and authorized by the governments of several countries. We recommend sites that operate out of Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, and the United Kingdom, as they have been operating legal sports betting the longest. These sites accept US bettors legally and safely under the guidance of their own gaming commissions, which have been given operational powers by their local government.

10) What about taxes? Must they be paid on the gambling winnings I earn from these online sportsbooks?

Taxes are, unfortunately, one of the only unavoidable things in life. Yes, you will have to pay taxes on the gambling winnings you earn from these online sportsbooks. You can itemize them or report them as income, depending on how much you earn. You’ll need to file a form called W2-G, as well.

This website was built with help from USAOnlineSportsbooks.com. Check out their website if you live somewhere other then the great state of Texas.

Gambling options are minimal in the Lone Star State.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned on May 14, 2018. Courts voted to allow each state to propose and create their own laws and regulations for sports betting. However, Texas had outlawed most gambling many decades before PASPA.

So while Texas is free to legislate legal sports betting, they have been slow to do so.

Gambling in Texas is limited to the state lottery, horse and greyhound racing, bingo, and various charitable games. Gambling on tribal lands is exempt from state law. As such, tribes can offer all your traditional casino-style games like slots, cards, and table games. However, there are only two such tribal casinos in the entire state. And their locations, one on the Mexican border and the other in Livingston, make them nearly unreachable for most of the population.

The one exception is private poker clubs; 18 are fully operational in Texas. Private poker clubs found a loophole and have taken advantage of a legal technicality. Lawmakers frown upon the gaming, but no legal action has been taken to stop them from happening.

When it comes to daily fantasy, lawmakers deemed the activity illegal in 2016. However, there’s been nearly no action taken by any state in the US against DFS players where these games are deemed illegal. So playing these games in Texas falls into a grey area.

Until Texas legalizes sports betting, neighboring states of New Mexico and Arkansas do offer legal sports betting.

When Will Sports Betting Be Legal in Texas?

In 2019, there were some positive developments for sports betting and gambling in the state. Two bills were created to legalize sports betting in House Joint Resolution 61 and House Bill 1275. Another, House Bill 3043, was put forth to build 12 casinos in counties that voted in favor of doing so were introduced. Unfortunately, none of the bills gained any traction.

No current bills are being discussed in 2020. Should a future bill be introduced, it would need to gain a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate and then be put to a referendum vote to amend the state constitution in a later election. With Texas being a historically conservative state, the move to accept legal sports betting may not be in the cards anytime soon.

Should sports betting continue to expand in the US, the potential market may be too big to ignore. Texas is the second-most populous state in the country and is home to numerous high-profile major sports teams.

Texas is home to the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo, Houston Rockets, and soon to be MLS expansion side Austin FC. Additionally, Texas is a hotbed for college and high school sports and ranching and rodeos, with sports heavily ingrained in the state’s culture.

According to Dallas News, estimates say Texans spend approximately $2.5 billion a year at border casinos in other states, an astonishing amount for lawmakers to allow to continue to be spent elsewhere.

Texas Sports Betting FAQs

Is sports betting legal in Texas?

Currently, sports betting is not legal in Texas, whether that be in-person or through mobile wagering. However, horse racing and pari-mutuel betting are legal in the state, and there are tracks throughout where gamblers can make wagers.

Are there any casinos in Texas?

In the entire state, only two tribal casinos operate to serve gamblers in Texas. One is in Livingston, and the other is in Eagle Pass.

Sports betting legal in texas

What are the professional sports teams in Texas?

Texas is home to a ton of pro sports teams. The Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs of the NBA, Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers of the MLB, FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo of MLS, the NHL’s Dallas Stars, and the WNBA’s Dallas Wings all call Texas home.