Can I Bet Online In Texas
Texas, like the majority of US states, have not yet regulated its online sports betting market. Fortunately, there are still a number of incredible sites operating here that provide odds on just about every major sport. There are a few important features that every sports betting site should always offer. Yes, bettors in Texas can place bets online at Bovada Sportsbook without violating any domestic gambling laws. Bovada operates legally within the industry under the credentials of its parent company, Bodog. There are no state or federal laws that prohibit Texans from placing bets at Bovada. While Texas laws don't specifically state that online gambling is legal, they also make no mention of online gambling being illegal either. In fact, the Texas statutes under penal code 47.02 state that it is a defense to prosecution for placing a bet if “the actor engaged in gambling in a private place”.
With the exception of fantasy sports, no sports betting is permitted inside the state of Texas. Online sports betting is illegal under state law. However, a recent pair of Texas House bills do include a provision for online wagering. So, were they to pass in their current form, online sports betting would be. Texas doesn’t address internet gambling in their criminal code. Furthermore, they don’t mention the words “computer,” “internet,” or “online.” But this doesn’t mean that internet gambling is legal here. In fact, the state’s broad laws make it illegal for offshore gaming sites to operate within their borders.
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 29 million residents, it’s no wonder that Texas is considered a big market for sports betting in the United States.
Texas, like the majority of states in the US, 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?
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.
- Built for American bettors
- Wide variety of competitive betting lines
- Easy to navigate betting platform
- Accepts players worldwide
- Competitive betting lines
- Fast & easy deposits and withdrawals (including Bitcoin)
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.
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.
Is It Legal To Bet Online In Texas
- Austin FC
- 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
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
Bonus | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% $2,000 | |||
| 100% $500 | |||
| 100% $1,000 | |||
| 200% $1000 | |||
| 100% $1,000 | |||
| These Two Aren't Recommended | |||
Internet gaming in the U.S. has been legal and has enjoyed ever-widening popularity, since 2002.
Poker is the Grandaddy card game of chance, and United States gaming sites can be so “game-specific” in specialty so as to be excellent for one variation on play Texas Holdem online while being weak on others. Play Texas holdem poker, a variation on the classic game, and you’ll be learning one of the more unique poker variations, with not only community cards but the possibility, when you play texas hold em poker, of play ending several times prior to when it is inevitable. As betting can occur multiple times throughout the hand, it can be very lucrative, and it is quite exciting, so it is common for internet gamers to play Texas holdem poker.
According to the popular online gaming “blog” and advice site, Hold’em, the 3 best online sites for Texas Holdem are Ignition, Bovada, and Intertops. I’ll talk about the particular strengths of each site below.
Ignition…”Know when to fold Em…”
Like some other sites, Ignition will actually teach you the rules to play their options before your first hand. You can play at Ignition in real U.S. money, and they may, as they claim, have the best online gaming software of any site out there.
Ignition roots its online table card games in philosophy which perhaps best, of all sites, facilitates internet recreation of actual, physical table games. As the company expresses this philosophy on their website, “Life is not a destination: It is a journey.”
The pride Ignition takes in its expertise and class shows through at every level, and it is a fantastic site to play Texas hold em online.
Bovada: “Know when to walk away…”
Where some sites write out the rules of the game, (Bovada does this as well, in fairness), Bovada goes a step better by writing out a few crucial tips for how to bet. In the online text which addresses this, Bovada’s rich appreciation of poker lore and milestones comes through loud and clear. Texas Hold ’em runs through Bovada’s blood.
Bovada is under the umbrella of Bodog gaming, which has been an industry leader since 2004. Because of this affiliation, online players have access to the entire player pool of the PaiWangLuo Network.
Bovada is a powerhouse, a potential poker proving grounds, and can be a thrilling place to play Texas poker. (Just be sure you can hear it when the voice in your head tells you to hold Em.)
Intertops: “And, know when to run….”
Intertops has been around a while, and longevity in this business means you are doing things right. Intertops started in 1996. The site specializes in poker and is quite at home hosting Texas Hold Em games.
Intertops has one special feature which is especially nice: You have one account for any gaming you do at the site. This means that your funds can apply at any game you engage in there, and winnings go to one locale.
Can I Bet On Sports Online
The integrity of Intertops games is steadfastly guaranteed by proprietary gaming software. The software guarantees a fair shake for all players within the limits of all possible outcomes.
- “Great hand…what to do with Em..?”
- “With Em?”
- “Hold…” “Hold…”
- $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
The excitement and benefits of internet gaming have made it increasingly “HOT” since its advent in the early nineteen nineties: In 2018, it was a $50,000,000,000.00 enterprise.