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- Texas Gambling Laws Despite the popularity of Texas Hold 'Em, gambling is strictly prohibited in Texas except for dog and horse racing. This page summarizes gambling laws in the Lone Star State. Texas Sexual Assault Laws Basics of Texas sexual assault (or rape) laws, which prohibit the commission of sexual acts against an unwilling partner.
- The Legal Status of Gambling in Texas Outside of the lottery and exceptions for private, charitable, and carnival games, no traditional forms of gambling are legal in the Lone Star State.
Oh, Lone Star State. I have a bone to pick with you. This is a touchy subject, too, as I’m a proud citizen of the great state of Texas.
I love your food; I love your diverse cultures and climates. I love that you can be country and hipster all at the same time.
But.
I want to know why you hate gambling.
This is a heart breaker for this gambling Texan girl.
Why are almost all forms of gambling illegal in my home state?
Why do you want me to take my hard-earned dollars out of state to spend on my favorite hobby?
I don’t want to give that taxable revenue to Louisiana, Oklahoma, or Nevada. I want to go to the Gulf Coast and let my family enjoy our warm waters.
Then I want to gamble.
Why are you keeping this from me?
Did I do something wrong?
Why Is Casino Gambling Illegal In Texas
Why are you so mad at gambling?
So many questions.
Let’s see if I can answer some of them.
The History of Gambling in The Lone Star State
Texas, much like its neighbors to the east and west, has changed hands many times of the course of its history. It was once even its own sovereign nation. Texans often refer to the Republic of Texas.
Texas was originally part of multiple native tribes, but we know how this goes. It changed hands between the Spanish (Tejas is the Spanish spelling), American, Mexico, and even the French.
Texas has the strictest real money gambling laws in the United States.
I would’ve guessed our Mormon friends in Utah would be a no go on gambling, but no.
It’s Texas.
This was huge swing from the Wild West attitude of the 1800s. Texas is the home of many outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jesse James. Let’s not forget that Bonnie and Clyde were Texas residents, too.
This is not a neat or prim and proper state. We like to be left alone, not told what to do, and keep to ourselves.
The Prohibition Era ushered in a clamping down of the above vices to almost do a 180 from the torrid, wild past of the state.
So, when did the State of Texas make gambling illegal?
It’s a long drawn out answer. I wish it were easier. I wish it were something simple like 1920.
But no, it was a slow suffocation of the hobby.
The state would see local governments outlaw vices in their regions starting in the Reconstruction Era of the post war South. The nail in the coffin was the passage of the 18th amendment to the United States Constitution. This made alcohol and gambling illegal throughout the country.
Once this amendment was overturned, many states started to reopen racetracks and saloon or bars. Texas dug its heels in the ground on the topic of gambling.
The legality of gambling has wavered throughout the state over the years, but one thing has stayed true.
Texas doesn’t condone most forms of gambling.
Texas has 2 casinos. We are number 2 in size and population in America. We are last in gambling.
And it doesn’t look like the legislature is going to budge anytime soon.
There are some obscure loopholes in our gambling laws, and the lottery is a big government business.
What Type of Gambling Are Legal in Texas?
There are a few types of gambling that are legal in Texas.
Most of these are weird – except for the lottery.
The Texas State Lottery
The State of Texas legalized a state lottery in July of 1991. That was a big win. I remember when my parents got together with their friends to go in a ton of tickets. My siblings and I started seeing scratch off tickets in birthday and holiday cards from our grandparents.
Playing the lottery in Texas is a big deal. An estimated 68% of Texan play some form of the lottery. With almost 40 million residents, that is a lot of money.
I am from Austin, the capitol of the state. Downtown they used to live film the drawings and we would watch through the window on our way to the bar when I was in college at University of Texas at Austin.
I don’t know anyone who hasn’t played the lottery. When my husband and I were young and broke we would buy scratch off in hopes to win enough to cover our bills
The Texas lottery is as common as a rodeo or going 2 stepping after a meal of Mexican food or BBQ.
The state makes billions off the proceeds. This money is allocated to schools and wildlife and land protections. Texans are big hunters which makes them conservationists by default.
Horse and Dog Racing
Under the pari-mutuel racing rules, Texans can participate in dog and horse betting. There are 3 class 1 racetracks in the entire state.
This type of gambling was legalized in Texas in 1978. Texas was about 30 years behind the rest of the country.
I didn’t grow up with adults going to the races because of the old hold over of prohibition and the Progressive Movement.
Native Tribe Casinos
Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the 3 recognized native tribes of Texas were granted the right to open gaming establishment.
The Kickapoo Tribe has the Lucky Eagle Casino. It’s found in Eagle Pass, in far West Texas on the Mexican border. It’s a long hot drive from almost anyone in the state except Laredo.
The Tigua Tribe owns and operates the Speaking Rock Entertainment Center.
You’ll find it in El Paso on their native lands. El Paso is the 5th most populated city in the state, but it’s still a 9+ hour drive from the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex.
Are you seeing a trend?
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe offers gambling, too – at Naskila Gaming.
That’s located in Livingston, just north of Beaumont, Texas. It’s only a 3-hour drive, but there’s not a lot to see once you get there
The Naskila Gaming and Speaking Rock Entertainment have been wrapped up in red tape and legal disputes for years and may not be able to survive. This is against trend for other native casinos in other states.
You’ve heard of WinStar?
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Texas
The largest casino in the world?
It is a native owned casino and has its own economy. It’s literally an hour drive from my house over the Oklahoma border.
What gives?
What Are 8-Liners and How Do They Work?
If you’re not from here, you’ve probably not seen these shady little machines. They’re the video poker looking machines in gas stations and dive bars.
They are gaming machines that offer noncash prizes of less than a $5.00 value. I have played these at a now closed bar (probably because they didn’t ID people).
Nowadays I see them mostly in underserved communities. It’s always a slimy gas station. The state legislature has been trying to outlaw them since the 80’s.
They argue that they qualify as in-person gambling and don’t follow that state guidelines of approved gambling.
That’s not the type of hobby gambling I’m look for in my home state, are you?
Casino Cruises
This one is tricky. I’m impressed to be honest. These one day “cruises” take people to a cruise to essentially nowhere.
They stop in international waters so that there is no jurisdiction to say, “Quit it!”. It is pretty genius but expensive.
The cost has caused many startups to fail or rebrand with more failure. They leave out of a Texas port with mostly Texas passengers.
The problem is most of the Texas ports are a short drive to Louisiana, our eastern neighbor. Louisiana is very pro gambling.
See the problem?
Why would I get on a day cruise and risk sea sickness when I can take my entire family to the Golden Nugget Lake Charles Casino and Resort for an all-inclusive resort vacation?
Conclusion
It’s not good. Texas has even made friendly wagering illegal in the state. If I host a poker night with real money, I could serve some prison time.
When will Texas catch up and join the 21st, heck even the 20th, century?
I don’t know.
Every year it’s on the state legislature’s docket.
Every session it fails.
Maybe other states have made it too easy for Texans to come visit.
I see it as a missed opportunity for tax revenue for the state. And tourist dollars. Texas is so big that driving from Dallas to the coast is considered being out of state in other parts of this country.
Austin has 100s of 1000s descend on it every March for the SXSW festival.
Why not also make some tax venue off them with gambling?
It just doesn’t make sense.
But this state likes to do things the hard way because that’s how it’s always been. For a long time.
I would love to hear your thoughts and questions. Please leave a comment below.
Texas is one of the strictest states in the US when it comes to gambling. Only a few types of gambling are technically allowed within the state, and online gambling isn’t one of them.
However, some Texas legislators are attempting to amend the standing legislation. It’s possible that Texas may allow online gambling in the near future. However, exactly what this will look like remains to be seen.
When Will Legal Online Gambling Come To Texas?
Online Sports Betting In Texas
At the moment, Texas is behind most other states when it comes to legalizing online gambling, and this includes online sports betting.
However, there are five sports franchises in Dallas and four in Houston. So, with interest groups in the area, it’s possible that online sports betting will become a reality sometime soon. With nearly 30 million residents, Texas represents a huge market for sports betting and similar online gambling opportunities.
There are currently two bills within Texas’ House of Representatives aiming to legalize sports betting and other types of online gambling. But there’s no exact timeline for when they may (or may not) be passed.
Online Casinos In Texas
As mentioned above, online gambling for real money is not allowed in Texas. However, there are several online sweepstakes casinos available to state residents. These casinos allow you to exchange digital coin winnings for sweepstakes prizes, which can include real money.
Currently, the Texas House of Representatives is considering a bill that would legalize casino gambling.
Online Poker In Texas
It is not currently legal to play online poker for real money in Texas. However, sweepstakes online poker is an option. In fact, it is quite popular in the state given Texas residents’ proclivity toward this card game.
What Online Gambling Options Are Allowed In Texas Today?
Sweepstakes Online Poker
As previously mentioned, Texas does not currently allow online real money poker games. Poker options are limited to recreational (no money) games or online sweepstakes. Sweepstakes games are legally distinct from gambling. They essentially operate under a loophole and are allowed to persist despite the state’s regulations against gambling for money online.
How Online Sweepstakes Poker Works
Global Poker is a great example of an online poker sweepstakes site. It allows you to play poker legally all across the United States and win prizes along the way. Even better, the software is browser-based and compatible with most modern mobile devices or computers.
In a nutshell, on Global Poker you bet using “Sweeps Coins”, which you can later exchange for cash prizes. New users start out with a free sign-up bonus of $20 worth of coins.
To sign-up, all you need to do is fill out a relatively simple form. You don’t even have to verify your information until you’re ready to cash out. When that time comes, you can get paid out through Visa, Mastercard, or Skrill e-wallet, with more options arriving soon.
Global Poker Online Games, Bonuses, And Tournaments
Another reason why Global Poker is a good choice is that it has a leaderboard and challenges system. Essentially, if you play poker at a certain time or hit certain challenge specifications, you can win free Sweeps Coin bonuses.
There are also weekly and monthly tournaments you can take advantage of at Global Poker. These give you the opportunity to win top-tier sweepstakes prizes. Other tournaments feature cash winnings.
At Global Poker, you can play No-Limit Texas Hold’em, Fixed-Limit Texas Hold’em, and Pot-Limit Omaha. Six-player and nine-player tables are available, and it’s usually pretty easy to find them populated even during reduced traffic hours in the afternoon or evening.
Online Sweepstakes Casinos
You can technically play at online casinos for money on Chumba Casino and LuckyLand. Both of these sweepstakes providers offer cash prizes for player redemptions.
Chumba Casino Online Sweepstakes
Chumba Casino features both slot and table games, and you play with virtual Gold Coins. However, if you want to earn cash prizes while playing their games, you’ll go after Sweeps Coins. You can get these for free when you sign-up or purchase a Gold Coins package. They are the currency you need to enter sweepstakes games and win cash prizes.
Signing up for Chumba Casino is pretty easy. It only takes a few minutes and doesn’t require ID checks. The website is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, and game options are easily accessible. Its collection of 36 games can be browsed in just a couple of minutes, as everything is presented cleanly on a single page.
Players have their choice of either a blackjack table or a “Jacks or Better” poker table. The other 34 games are slot machines, three of which are progressive jackpot slots. They aren’t particularly flashy or innovative, but they’re fun options and one of the few ways to play online casino games in Texas.
LuckyLand Slots Online Sweepstakes
Texas residents have a second option for playing casino games online: LuckyLand Slots. Players can purchase virtual currency packages that are bundled with Sweeps Tickets or Coins. They can use the Sweeps currency to enter sweepstakes contests and later exchange their winnings for cash prizes.
The games are entirely browser-based, making them easily accessible and compatible with almost every computer or mobile device. High-speed Internet is a must-have if you want the site’s full experience. The LuckyLand Slots online casino app is now available for Android users, with an iOS version on the way.
Once you’re on the site, you can enjoy 19 slot games, each of which is exclusive to this site. The gameplay is robust and exciting, and all games feature excellent 3D graphics and good sound effects. There are different games for different styles of play, and a variety of cash prize options.
Fantasy Sports
Fantasy sports, also called daily fantasy sports (DFS), are games in which participants assemble imaginary teams of digitized avatars based on real professional sports players. Simulated games are then carried out based on statistical data points gathered from the real-life actions of the sports players.
For that reason, DFS games aren’t entirely games of chance. They can be won through intimate knowledge of players and statistics. As such, there’s an open debate about whether or not DFS games should be considered gambling. Of course, whether or not they are classified as such has legal implications in Texas.
History of Fantasy Sports In Texas
Currently, Texas allows DFS games through a couple of different online providers including DraftKings and FanDuel. FanDuel only recently returned to Texas in 2018. The opinion of a standing Attorney General had led to a hostile environment for the sports gambling provider. To avoid possible legal complications, it left Texas for a short two-year period.
Prior to 2016, DraftKings and FanDuel had teamed up to convince Texas legislators that winning at DFS is more about skill than luck. Thus, such competitions could not be classified as actual gambling and should remain legal. When the campaign did not prove fruitful, FanDuel left Texas only to return two years later. DraftKings remained and continues to offer DFS gaming to Texas residents.
With FanDuel now back and both providers currently operating in Texas, legislation could swing in either direction. Time will tell whether the standing Attorney General is successful in his bid to get rid of daily fantasy sports.
Fantasy Sports Offerings In Texas
Both DraftKings and FanDuel provide access to DFS games via online or mobile apps. You can play for real money through these websites or applications, all the way up into the thousands or millions of dollars.
Both providers offer a robust and thorough selection of daily fantasy sports offerings. They allow you to participate in DFS contests across multiple sports and organizations including the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Participants can enter into various contests with potentially millions of dollars on the line.
Betting On Horse Races
Currently, betting on horse races is legal on eight different racetracks in Texas. However, these tracks only allow wagering on the racing site itself, meaning you have to be physically present at the race. Off-track betting (OTB) is not allowed in Texas.
Online Lottery Options
Texas law currently forbids buying or redeeming lottery tickets online. The Texas Lottery Commission clearly outlines that “state laws and regulations do not permit the sale of tickets by mail, phone or Internet”. Residents of Texas may purchase State Lottery, Powerball, and Mega Millions tickets in person only. However, if legislation is passed, online lottery ticket purchases may become possible.
What’s Holding Texas Back From Legalizing Online Gambling?
In a nutshell, Texas isn’t likely to legalize online gambling anytime soon. Currently, the state has stringent laws when it comes to gambling and doesn’t even allow retail casinos. This stands in stark contrast to what many people believe to be a state of rebels and outlaws, particularly because of Texas’ unique iconography and history.
Although poker is almost synonymous with Texas itself, playing poker for money in Texas will only net you a misdemeanor charge. Similar charges are possible if you are caught gambling online. Texas’ penal codes restrict any form of gambling, which is defined in this state as, “a bet based on the notion of winning or losing something based purely on chance”.
Gambling On Native American Reservations
There are three casinos operating on Native American reservations either within or just outside the Texas border. Texas residents can theoretically gamble in these territories, since they are not subject to state law.
Only federal laws regarding gambling apply within these reservations. This means that Texas residents, when on Native American land, can fully participate in these casinos’ online gambling platforms or websites that would otherwise be illegal within Texas state territory.
Current Online Gambling Legislation In Texas
Recently, Texas representative Eddie Lucio filed H 1275, a legislative bill that would both authorize and regulate various sports betting operations (including in-person and online variations). An additional bill, House Resolution 61, is currently being debated though it has not yet made it to the floor. House Resolution 61, if passed, would authorize betting on collegiate and professional sports.
Two-thirds of Texas’s House of Representatives and Senate will need to vote in favor of the bills in order for them to pass. In essence, Texas legislators and the people will need to amend the state constitution in order for any headway toward legalizing online gambling.
It’s likely that the legislation will eventually pass, though it might not be anytime soon. Other states are collecting enormous amounts of tax revenue from online gambling, and Texas will at some point want to embrace the opportunity.
Legal Online Gambling In Texas FAQs
Can you play at online casinos in Texas?
It depends. The only online casinos that are legal in Texas are those that allow you to play for sweepstakes, through which you can get real cash prizes. There are no online casinos that allow you to gamble with real money available to play in Texas at this time.
You can technically access online casinos that are not based in Texas or registered with Texan organizations. However, most of these online casinos use geolocation technology. This technology will detect that you are from Texas and block you from accessing the website.
Can you legally bet with sportsbooks in Texas?
No. It is not legal to bet with sportsbooks in any context in the State of Texas, whether it’s online or in-person.
Where’s the nearest state to Texas where you can participate in legal online sports betting?
Oklahoma is the closest state for many Texans looking to get their gambling fix. Technically, Oklahoma doesn’t have any laws allowing or prohibiting people from playing online games or using a sports betting interface. It’s a bit of a gray area. Other nearby states that allow gambling include Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Is DraftKings available to play in Texas?
Yes. DraftKings allows Texas residents to play daily fantasy sports, and it allows you to play for real money. Note that you will not be allowed to access its other online gambling options because its geolocation technology will detect that you are in Texas.
Is FanDuel available to play in Texas?
Yes. Texas residents can play daily fantasy sports through FanDuel’s online website and app. Similar to DraftKings, gambling options will not be available because of Texas laws against these activities.
Will this year be the one that Texas legalizes online casinos and sports betting?
Perhaps. As mentioned earlier, Texas representatives are currently putting forward bills that may amend the state constitution and allow for certain types of gambling to be regulated. However, this may take some time. Even if the bills are passed this year, they will take time to implement.
Online casinos and sports betting organizations will need to create infrastructure to bring these activities to Texas residents. Residents should not expect online casinos or sports betting to become available for at least another year, and it will likely be longer.