They say everything is bigger in Texas and that saying certainly applies to the sports betting appetite of Texas residents. As the second largest State in the USA, with nearly 28 million residents, it’s no wonder that Texas is considered a big market for sports betting in the United States.

Texas, like pretty much every State in the USA not named Nevada, does not allow sports betting within the State. This means if you’re a Texan who would like to bet on sports you will need to sign up an account to an offshore betting site that is licensed outside of the country.

On this page, I will outline the legality of betting on sports in Texas, as well as recommend my top rated offshore betting sites for Texas residents. I’ve also added some city specific pages, which you can find links to at the bottom of the page.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Texas?

Land-based Texas sports betting sites do not exist yet. Legislators can create and regulate legal betting in Texas. Thanks to the overturn of PASPA in 2018. Until that happens, the best option for Texans to bet in the USA is an internationally-based US sportsbook. 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. Texas Definition of Gambling. Texas defines a bet as agreeing to win or lose something of value based solely or partially on chance. This encompasses many different forms of gambling including cards, table games, betting on sports games, horse and dog races, slot machines, lottery, and scratch tickets. Texas state law currently prohibits sports gambling, and state leaders have shown resistance in the past to changing it. Author: Sierra Juarez (Texas Tribune) Published: 11:08 AM CDT May 14, 2018.

I have a two part answer to this question. First, I should point out that it is not legal to run a sportsbook operation (accept bets) in the State of Texas. This is because Texas does not license or authorize any sports betting operations within the State. If you do find a sportsbook, online or offline, that claims to be licensed by and operated in Texas you can be confident that the site is illegal and you should not place bets through that operation.

Now on to the second part of this question. It is NOT illegal for Texas residents to place wagers through offshore betting sites. Offshore sportsbooks are licensed, authorized and regulated by a different jurisdiction, outside of Texas. By being regulated outside of Texas (and the USA) it is legal and safe for Texas residents to place wagers at these sites.

Best Sportsbooks for Texas Residents

Here are our two favorite offshore sportsbooks for Texas residents.

Both of these sites are very large and widely used across the United States. Bovada, our top rated site, actually only accepts American residents, which allows them to fully cater their offerings to the American public.

Offline Sports Betting in Texas

There is currently no offline sports betting allowed in Texas. If you do come across an offline bookie within the State you should know that they are operating illegally.

The only way to currently bet on sports in the State of Texas is through an offshore sportsbook like the ones I’ve outlined above.

Even Texas casinos are unable to run sportsbooks on the premises. Currently the only State where offline sportsbooks are allows is Nevada.

Major Sports Teams in Texas

Texas is a sports hot bed with a huge variety of professional sports teams in the major cities. I’ve added a quick list of some of the major pro teams who call Texas home below. Click on the city name for more specific information about sports betting in that city.

• Austin FC

Sports Gambling Legal In Texas

• Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
• Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
• Dallas Stars (NHL)
• FC Dallas (MLS)
• Texas Rangers (MLB)

• None

• Houston Astros (MLB)
• Houston Dynamo (MLS)
• Houston Rockets (NBA)
• Houston Texans (NFL)

• San Antonio Spurs (NBA)

Horse Racing in Texas

Is Online Sports Gambling Legal In Texas

It is legal to bet on horse races at the track in Texas. Below I’ve listed some of the major horse tracks currently operational within the State.

**You can also place wagers on races taking place at each of these tracks at either of the sportsbooks I recommend above.

Major Tracks

• Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie
• Sam Houston Race Park, Houston
• Retama Park, Selma

Texas is one of the strictest states when it comes to gambling and its laws can cover a wide variety of activities. Under Texas law, (Penal Code §47.02) gambling is considered a criminal offense if someone:

• makes a bet on the partial or final result of a game or contest or on the performance of a participant in a game or contest
• makes a bet on the result of any political nomination, appointment, or election or on the degree of success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate; or
• plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, balls, or any other gambling device.

Is Sports Gambling Illegal In Texas

The law does provide for some exceptions such as participating in the state lotteryor placing bets on horse and greyhound dog races (sometimes referred to as pari-mutuel wagering). The law also provides for some affirmative defenses to prosecution:

• the actor engaged in gambling in a private place;
• no person received any economic benefit other than personal winnings; and
• except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risks of losing and the chances of winning were the same for all participants

Additional exceptions include if the person reasonably believed their conduct:

• was permitted under Chapter 2001, Occupations Code; (Charitable Bingo)
• was permitted under Chapter 2002, Occupations Code; (Charitable Raffles)
• was permitted under Chapter 2004, Occupations Code; (Sports Charity Raffles)

When Will Sports Gambling Be Legal In Texas

The first page of this guide will provide you with an overview of the Texas laws on gambling while the subsequent pages will discuss more specific topics like bingo, eight-liners and poker.