Texas Casinos

Texas Gambling History

The following are the important landmarks of the gambling journey in Texas:

• 1933 – The state legalized pari-mutuel betting to help raise revenue during the Great Depression. The year saw four (4) tracks operating until 1937 when a special legislative session banned the activity.
• The 1980s – Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and several court decisions gave the rights of Indian tribes to operate gambling activities in the state.
• 1987 – Texas residents voted to legalize pari-mutuel betting once more in the state through a referendum that also saw the Texas Racing Commission created. 
• 1991 – The state legalizes simulcast wagering on the tracks
• 1992 – The Texas Lottery begins offering TX residents scratch-off and drawing games. Among the games included Powerball and Mega Millions.
• 1993 – Speaking Rock Casino launched in El Paso by the Tiguas. The casino offered a high-stakes bingo hall and expanded to include poker and a blackjack variant (non-banking). In 1996, the casino expanded further to incorporate slot machines. However, the state shut Speaking Rock Casino down in 2002 after a suit against the tribe by Republican John Cornyn.
• 1996 – Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino launched in Eagle Pass, Texas. The facility offered its own blackjack variant, a poker room, bingo, and electronic pull-tab dispensers that operated similarly to the slot machines. Kickapoo Casino survived several lawsuits and is still one of the operating land-based casinos in Texas.
• 2001 – The Alabama-Coushatta tribe opened its entertainment center, which featured poker, slots, and blackjack. The center was closed in 2002, but the tribe launched Naskila Gaming in 2016.

Is it Legal to Gamble Online in Texas?

Can I gamble online in Texas? The simple answer is no if it is for real money. Texas lays it strict and straightforward for all players who would wish to gamble online in TX. Unlike other states that give some reprieve to other online activities such as daily fantasy sports (DFS) and racing events such as horse racing and greyhounds, Texas doesn’t permit mainstream online gambling activities. 

However, it is important to keep in mind that Texas doesn’t mention online gambling in its gambling laws. This has led to several interpretations, with some viewing online gambling as an activity not criminalized albeit not legalized. However, Texas criminalizes gambling on devices in its laws, and others can interpret this as computers or phones.

Online Casino

Online casinos for real money are not legalized in Texas. However, Texas doesn’t restrict the activity if TX players wish to play on social casinos online. They can join and play online slots, table games, among other casino games, without any real money. The other highlight is that Texas has two (2) land-based casinos in operation that casino lovers can hop in to play. So, how is the future looking? The future is outrightly not positive as it seems.

Online Poker

The same restriction extends to online poker. Poker online gambling is not legal in TX. However, some licensed offshore online poker sites operate in Texas, allowing bettors to play several poker variants. A point to keep in mind is that offshore online poker sites offer little consumer protection. However, the previous years, especially in 2012/2013, have seen Sen. Rodney Ellis introduce some casino bills to legalize online poker. 

Online Sports Betting

Online sportsbooks are other products not legalized in Texas. The same applies to the Texas land-based casinos that do not include sports betting products. Important to note that in 2018, the US Supreme Court legalized sports betting and gave the mandate of the states to legalize sports betting. So far, 26+ states have legalized sportsbooks (either online or offline). However, Texas is not one of them, and few pointers are there to signify any future change.

One of the pointers is the bill introduced by Republican Eddie Lucio that would see sports betting authorized and regulated in the state. The bill would also involve online and mobile betting. 

Online Lottery

Online lottery is another gambling option not legalized in Texas. While they are no avenues to participate in online draws, TX players can access various physical locations and buy tickets to participate. The results of the draws will be published online on the Texas lottery website.

Online Bingo

No online bingo sites are available in Texas currently. However, the state legalizes offline bingo and doesn’t place any direct law restricting licensed offshore online bingo sites. On offline bingo, the state categorizes bingo under charitable gaming, which non-profit organizations and other community groups operate with a license offered by the Texas Lottery Commission under the Charitable Bingo Operations Division. 

Online Horse Race Betting

Online horse race betting is also not legalized in Texas. However, the state has authorized in-person horse racing betting on the regulated racetracks. Those wishing to bet on online horse racing events can only do so on offshore racebooks that accept US players.

Online Sweepstakes

Online sweepstakes are legal in Texas. The online sites offer sweepstakes where players can buy gold coins (virtual currency) and play online games such as blackjack, slots, roulette, and baccarat. The virtual coins let users play the games, and if they win, they can redeem them for cash prizes. 

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports were legal in Texas until a scandal involving a DraftKings employee winning $350,000 on FanDuel through ‘insider trading knowledge’ erupted. As a result, Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, issued an opinion that it was illegal to bet on DFS. DraftKings challenged the decision, and to date, the matter is pending in court. Today, the current standing is that it is not legal to play DFS, but most DFS sites, including DraftKings and FanDuel, accept TX players.

Gambling Age Law

Many US states allow online gambling to players aged above 18. However, this is different with Texas. While the state doesn’t legalize online casinos, poker, or sportsbooks, Texas online gambling laws require that players be aged 21+. The same age requirement is also placed on the land-based casinos. A point to note is that if an offshore casino states the age requirements at 18+, Texas residents should ensure they are above 21-years-old to avoid risking any arrests, fines, or any other action taken by law enforcement.

However, there is an exception when it gets to lotteries, charitable bingo, raffles, scratch-offs, pull-tabs, and thoroughbred and greyhounds. The age requirement is at 18+.

Most Reputable 18+ Online Casinos for Texas Players

Remember that the only real money Texas online casinos are the legal offshore casinos accepting Texas users. Additionally, it is essential to note that the casino gambling age is at 21+ in Texas. Therefore, players should ensure that they are 21+ even if the offshore online casino accepts players aged 18+.

We have listed the most reputable online casinos that accept Texas players aged 18+ on our guide. So, choose one easily, create an account, deposit, and get going!

Can You Play Slots Online in Texas?

Currently, online casinos for real money are not regulated in Texas. Therefore, players cannot spin the reels on the slots for real money. The only online slots TX available for real money are those offered on licensed offshore online casinos that accept Texas players. Besides allowing their members to play for real money, they also enable them to access the online slots TX for free on the demo mode.

In addition, TX players can also access a wide range of online slots from the state’s available legal, social casinos. While the functionality is similar to that of a real-money online casino, no real money is involved in the social casinos.

The top online slots are provided by software developers such as:

• Play’n Go – Known for its action-packed themes on the slots, among other features, Play’n Go is a leading software provider with favorable payout percentages and massive prizes on their jackpots.
• Betsoft Gaming – Known for their heavy investment in quality graphics, Betsoft is another provider with a good range of slots to provide, including animated 3D slots.
• Yggdrasil – Yggdrasil is known for top video slots featuring a unique approach to the themes that make them stand out. Besides that, most of their games are medium to high volatile.
• Relax Gaming – Armed with high-quality slots that feature various unique themes, high volatility, and impressive payouts, award-winning Relax Gaming is another huge player in the online slots space. 

Will Texas Regulate Online Gambling in The Future?

As it stands, chances of any form of real money TX online gambling are looking slender. Several states have legalized online casinos and poker, with many legalizing online sports betting. Others, such as California, are in the process of voting for legalization. However, this is not the case with Texas. Few bills have come up over time, with some failing to reach the floor of the chamber. 

If they were to pass and the residents are required to vote, the high chances are that they will pass the legalization bill. This is according to a news story that showed 57% of Texans supported the legalization of casinos. 

Land-Based Casinos in Texas

Texas is one of the US states with the least traditional casinos. This is one state painted initially as one that loves gambling, but it is not the case when it gets to the land-based casinos.

Only three (3) land-based casinos have operated in Texas, with only two (2) currently running after the Speaking Rock Casino shut down in 2002. The two land-based casinos currently in operation are:

Casino Games for Real Money in TX

The best licensed offshore online casinos should provide a diverse quality and quantity selection of games. The rule of thumb is to try the games in demo mode first before committing real money to play. Most of the games provide a paytable that lists the bet sizes to help users match up while making real money deposits. Moreover, the top online casinos will offer a mobile platform accessible through the site or mobile app. The experience is the same, but many users prefer TX online casino apps for how easy it is to navigate on them and the clarity in graphics. Among the casino games available for play in Texas are:

Poker

Video poker games are highly rated. Coincidentally, Texas Hold’em poker started in Texas and is another game one can play for real money on the TX online casinos. Besides that, players can use their skills to get one over the house on other video poker titles such as Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, Aces and Faces, among others.

Roulette

Most bettors view an online casino as incomplete without any Roulette game. The best online casinos in TX will be home to different Roulette variations, including American, European, Advanced, 3 Wheel, and Roulette Royale. Different bet sizes favouring both small-stake and high-stake players should be on board.

Lottery

Lottery is made easier online with players able to buy tickets online and participate in the draw. What’s more, they can view the results online. Among the popular lottery games include Mega Millions and Powerball.

Other Online Casino Games

The fun gets better through more table games ushering players to various blackjack and baccarat variants. Moreover, slot lovers can look to spin a wide range of classic, video slots, MegaWays, or jackpots with huge grand prizes, and finally, instant wins await TX players on the scratch card games.