Legal Online Casino Texas
Playing at online casinos located in Texas is in violation of the state law. However, many residents play at “off-shore” casinos where the ages limit is 18.
Can You Play Online Poker in Texas?
Texas is one of the biggest and strictest states in the United States that has been a hotbed for poker for many years. It has been the birthplace of one of the biggest poker games — Texas Hold’em — and plenty of its famous historical figures. Ironically, it has always been a conservative state when it comes to gambling.
At present, real money online poker in Texas is illegal. Moreover, there are no solid efforts to legalize poker online yet. It seems that Texas will unlikely to join the state with legit online poker. Poker and casino players in Texas usually head outside the state for conventional casino-run poker rooms. However, they typically eat up plenty of spare time in travel. That is why more and more TX poker enthusiasts are opting to play internet poker.
History of Poker and Online Poker in Texas
Poker in Texas has a compelling history. Did you know the most famous poker form known as Texas Hold’em, originated in Robstown, Texas, in the 1900s? Poker in Texas became famous throughout the American West during the nineteenth century. It was not until the game was brought to Las Vegas in 1967 that the game became called Texas Hold'em.
The majority of the best poker players and the early winners of the WSOP were from Texas. Poker players have fought for legal poker in TX for many years, whether it’s Texas online poker rooms or brick-and-mortar set-ups. In 2012 - 2013, American politician and Senator Rodney Ellis introduced a casino bill - House Joint Resolution 49 - that incorporated the legalization of poker in Texas. However, Ellis got no support from his fellow lawmakers.
Since then, Texas businessmen took the initiative in opening many private poker clubs around Texas, mostly in big cities such as Dallas and Houston. Few poker-loving people in Texas started seeking a way to offer poker as a legal activity in 2015. At present, you will find more than two dozen clubs across the state. But there are no solid efforts made till yet for online poker in Texas.
Summary of Texas Gambling & Poker Laws
It is believed that gambling of all forms in TX other than authorized is contrary to state law. Things are always clear, as they might show as far as the law is concerned. But, one thing is true that the Texas Penal Code 47.02 makes gambling illicit in general.
In Texas law, gambling is defined as any bet based on the notion of losing or winning something based on chance. Anyone found guilty has committed a Class C misdemeanor that incurs a fine of $500.
Texas inhabitants are restricted from betting on roulette, poker, blackjack, and other casino games - both at brick-and-mortar casinos and online, as long as they reside in the state's property. Players will now have to wait for regulated and legal online poker in Texas to return to the state.
- Online Poker/Gambling - Real money online poker is not yet legalized in TX. Moreover, there is no legal casino in the state.
Live Poker You will only find live poker rooms in the state’s casino. They are found in the major cities in Texas. However, live poker operates in a legal gray area. - Casinos - Casinos are officially illicit in the state. However, you can head to the legitimate offshore online casinos to play games poker, blackjack, or other games safely and legally.
- Sports Betting - At present, land-based sports betting is not permitted in Texas. However, offshore sports betting is allowed.
- Fantasy Sports - Although users can play daily fantasy sports in Texas at FanDuel and DraftKings, there has not been a bill introduced to regulate it yet. A proposal to legalize DFS was proposed in 2017, but it ended in a committee.
- Esports - Esports is at present illegal.
- Other Gambling Options - Horse racing, lottery, charity bingo games, home poker games, horse and greyhound racing, lottery, on-track pari-mutuel betting, social gaming
Online Poker in Texas
Poker rooms, real money online casinos, and live casinos may be illicit in Texas officially. However, the state permits legal horse racing, charity bingo, and lottery. The present Texas law does not describe internet poker. It generally targets people profiting from operating gambling firms in Texas and not playing online.
Is Online Poker Legal in Texas?
Can you legally play online poker from anywhere in Texas? It is the most common question that strikes the mind of poker fans. Well, at present, real money online poker in Texas is not legal. Only a handful of states currently offer legal online poker, including New Jersey, West Virginia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Moreover, it does not look that online poker will come soon in the 'Lone Star' state.
You will get into trouble for playing online poker in Texas in public, cheating in some way, or operating your own poker website. Making illicit bets is a misdemeanor in Texas under Section 47.02. Those gamblers who break the law could face hefty charges.
According to Section 47.03, gambling promotion is also a misdemeanor and covers promoting, operating, processing bets, and selling lottery tickets. Under section 47.06, possession of a gambling device, paraphernalia or equipment is also a misdemeanor.
Best Casinos In Texas
Where Does Texas Offer Legal Online Gambling?
As stated before, Texas has quite a hostile environment or gambling of most forms. The law itself is comprehensive and states that gambling of any type is illicit in the state, except for few defenses to prosecution.
There are no traditional legal gambling and real money poker options in the Lone Star state for poker pros to enjoy for entertainment purposes. Casinos are officially illicit in the state. Betting for money on card games is stated as constituting an offense.
Will Texas Regulate Online Poker?
Texas lawmakers of land-based casino gambling faced a long fight earlier. As per our study, Texas online poker regulation seems to be far away. Typically, poker fans have two big roadblocks when it comes to online poker in TX. The first issue is that Texas is home to numerous residents who have serious ethical and moral issues with gambling itself.
Poker in Texas is also a major problem due to outside influences beyond the state borders. Billions of dollars cross the confines of Texas each year to visit casinos in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Gambling in these states lends financial support to Texas politicians on a regular basis.
It is hard to think that these opponents would support the expansion of gambling competition in the state. Even today, few powerful stakeholders do not want any kind of gambling expansion. These stakeholders include lawmakers and voting blocs in Texas.
US Poker Laws 2020 - Texas FAQ
Can You Play Online Poker in Texas for Real Money?
Poker players are curious about whether or not playing poker for real money online is legal under Texas law. Real money online poker in Texas is not legalized. Furthermore, there are no legal online poker sites in Texas.
Is PokerStars Legal in Texas?
Yes. It is legal to play on PokerStars from Texas. However, it is only for play money, not real money.
Which Form of Gambling is Legal in Texas?
Poker is not an underground activity in Texas. However, the state does not regulate online gambling activity of any form. However, the state regulates lottery betting and pari-mutuel bets on charitable gambling (raffles and bingo games) and racing. Tribal gambling is complicated.
Naskila Gaming (Livingston), Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino (Eagle Pass), and Speaking Rock Entertainment (Ysleta) - each run casino gaming. All three tribes are involved in year-long legal battles with Texas. However, social app poker gaming in a private area or regulated gambling activity is legit if the house mints no profit.
What Happens if I Play Online Poker in Texas Using a VPN?
Using VPNs to play online poker in Texas on international sites is not a good idea. If the platform discovers any player to violate their terms of service, all the profits will be confiscated.
The player will be removed from the gambling site, and recovering player funds may be uncertain. Gamblers may also face banking issues when accessing the sites from an unregulated jurisdiction.
Texas offers domestic brick-and-mortar casino gambling through tribal venues, poker gambling, bingo, pari-mutuel horse racing betting, lotteries, keno, and charitable gaming amusements. However, regarding Texas online gambling, there are no domestic state-licensed options for TX residents to take part in.
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.
| Site Name | Bonus | Rating | Type | USA | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Casinos | |||||
| $3000 | Casino | Visit Site Full Review | |||
| $5000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
| $5000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
| $9000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
| $10000 | Casino | Visit Site | |||
| $20000 | 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 | |||
| $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
- Bingo
- Poker
- Charitable gaming
- 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.
Is Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Legal In Texas?
This is complicated, 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.
Has Texas Looked At Legalizing Domestic Online Gambling?
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.
What About Texas Sports Betting?
Texas is a strong market for sports betting but the Lone Star state would need to pass legislation allowing domestic operations of sports gambling to reap legal brick-and-mortar and online/mobile wagering options. After PASPA was repealed in 2018, Texas have the option to introduce legislation to allow legal domestic state-licensed sports betting offers.
However, lawmakers have not introduced a legal sports gambling bill as of the 2018 legislative session. While Texas does not seem to be in a rush to roll out sports betting bills this could be because they don’t have the infrastructure to sustain a sports betting market. However, once the 2019 legislative session begins, we could possibly see a bill surface.
Do Offshore Gambling Sites Give Players Bonuses?
Bonuses are an integral part of licensed offshore gambling sites. These bonuses give gamblers additional funds to play with at no extra cost, simply for depositing funds online. Match bonuses give players additional funds on top of their deposits.
There are also available bonuses for mobile users, cryptocurrency bettors, and those looking to place live wagers or participate in live dealer games. TX players can claim a bonus by entering on the cashier page with the corresponding promo code. However, all bonus terms should be read thoroughly as these terms effect when a player can make a withdrawal.
Texas Online Gambling FAQ’s
What Games Can I Find On Online Casinos In Texas?
Various licensed offshore TX online casinos host slots, table games, and specialty games. Slot titles and variations are usually robust, table games often host baccarat, craps, and roulette games, and specialty games often offer bingo, keno, or scratch cards. Each of these games mentioned have their own variations and styling to provide hours of entertainment.
What Features Do Online Poker Sites Make Available To Texas Residents?
Licensed offshore online poker services usually offer robust features such as anonymous table play, multiple hands, zone poker, sit and go, note keeping, hand history, and tournaments. These features help any TX poker player find a table and game suited for them. In fact, depending on the licensed offshore online poker brand used, available features can increase.
What Sports Can I Wager On Licensed Offshore Sportsbooks?
Legal Online Casino In Usa
Licensed offshore TX online sportsbooks offer various wagering options and betting lines on numerous major, minor, and niche sports. Domestic and international leagues, teams, games, and events are all available to wager on giving TX bettors other unique betting lines. TX bettors can wager on specific events, futures, prop bets, money lines, and much more through licensed offshore online sportsbooks.
What Bingo Games Can I Find Online In Texas?
Legal Online Gambling Texas
Licensed offshore TX online bingo sites often host a variety of bingo games from themed games to different ball variations. Bingo games offered on these sites can be 30-ball bingo games, 60-ball bingo games, 75-ball bingo games, or 90-ball bingo games, but the options are not limited to these few variations. Every licensed offshore online bingo site is different and can host side games or bingo chat games to accompany their main bingo game selection.