By But wait, there is a way to bet on sports inside of Texas, and it’s online too. We’re talking about offshore online sportsbooks. You’re going to want to keep on reading because this is must-know information if you’re looking to gamble inside the state but not so sure how. Believe us, there’s an easy way to not miss out on the fun AND money or betting.
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Quick Texas Facts
| State | Texas |
|---|---|
| ⚖️ Sports Betting Laws | ❌Not Available |
| 👫 Population | 30 Million |
| 👶 Minimum Gambling Age | 21 Years Old |
| 🏙️ Retail Sports Betting | ❌Not Available |
| 🌐 Online Sports Betting | ❌Not Available |
| 📱 Mobile Sports Betting | ❌Not Available |
| 🐎 Online Horse Betting | ❌Not Available |
| 🏆 DFS | ✅ Available |
Is Sports Betting Legal In Texas?
No, sports betting is NOT legal in Texas. Not only that, but it doesn’t appear that’ll be changing anytime soon.
In 2023, a betting bill made it out of the Texas House for the first time ever — so actual progress compared to years past. However, it was stifled quickly in the Senate by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who reiterated his opposition to legalized wagering. This means no new betting propositions can’t be proposed until 2025.
But here’s the thing, Patrick remains a massive roadblock to any future bills. Patrick — who leads the Senate and is one of the state’s highest-ranking officials — is vehemently against betting of any kind. Vehemently, we say, because he hasn’t minced words on the issue. Until he loses his spot atop the Senate, we don’t see a world where things change in Texas.
That’s why Texas-based bettors are better off at offshore betting sites. Since they’re offshore — as in located far away from the United States — these sites aren’t applicable to U.S. or Texas regulations. For bettors in Texas, that means you can bet here without issue. In fact, as we’ll argue later in this guide, these offshore sites might be even better than the commercial operators you’re accustomed to hearing about (e.g. FanDuel).
Latest Texas Legal Betting Updates
Dec 17, 2024 08:38 AM
Sen. Carol Alvarado filed Joint Resolution 16, proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize sports betting and casino gaming at designated "destination resorts" within the state.
Texas Sports Betting Timeline
Despite sports betting not being pushed through the door in Texas, there's been no shortage of attempts to change things. With this much money on the line, all the big influences are in full force to get the state to change it's mind. Here's a small timeline of what's transpired as of late as it pertains to legalized sports betting:
Best Sportsbook In Each Category In Texas
| Best overall |  |
|---|---|
| Best bonuses | |
| Most unique bonuses | BetNow |
| Top VIP program | MyBookie |
| Best reputation | Bovada |
| Best sportsbook | BetOnline |
| Best casino | Everygame |
| Best mobile app | XBet |
| Best for live betting | Everygame |
| Best for new players | Bovada |
| Best up-and-coming sportsbook | XBet |
Top 7 Texas Sports Betting Sites
Look, we get it — there’s way too many offshore betting sites out there. That’s why we’ve whittled it down to the seven best bookmakers for Texas bettors. If you’re going to bet, start here:
- BetUS - Best promotional bonuses in the business.
- Bovada - User-friendly interface and reliable mobile betting experience.
- BetOnline - Competitive odds and early line releases.
- XBet - Excellent mobile app for on-the-go betting.
- BetNow - Generous promotional bonuses, plus a wide variety of options.
- MyBookie - Innovative rewards programs offering.
- Everygame - Long-standing reputation and multi-language support for international bettors.
#1 BetUS
BetUS Texas Pros & Cons
- Massive free-play bonuses
- Deep betting menu
- 7-day expiration period on free play
- High rollover requirement
Texans will take a liking to BetUS because they embody the state’s ethos: bigger and better. BetUS outshines the competition in more ways than one, but none is more obvious than its promotion department. Simply put, BetUS is the undisputed leader in free-play bonuses.
We say undisputed leader specifically when it comes to the size of the dollars as in dollar value because let’s face it, that’s what the average bettors cares most about. Welp, at BetUS, bettors stand to gain thousands of dollars in free play from playing on site.
Let’s first call out the sign-up bonus. This one can change, but as of our writing, it goes past $3000 in max value. That top-end value blows away most competition which might offer $1000 if you’re lucky. Yet, BetUS easily triples that deals
It gets better though. BetUS offers rich deals like these far beyond new sign-ups. Take the refer-a-friend promotion. If maxed out, this referral offer reaches $6000 in free play. That’s an insane sum of money that’s, not even kidding, unheard of elsewhere.
Beyond bonuses, BetUS stacks up well with competitors too. The sportsbook is deep, the casino is also well-stocked, the mobile app is easy to pick up, and so much more. Texas bettors would be smart to start at BetUS to get their gambling needs filled (at free prices thanks to those bonuses).
Our score ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#2 Bovada
Bovada Texas Pros & Cons
- Very reputable
- Simple user experience
- Dated-looking design
- Cheap sportsbook promotions
Let’s address the elephant in the room: can you even trust these offshore betting sites? That’s a fair question since the word “offshore” can be sketchy to start with. The answer is yes, so long as you follow our recommendations. No doubt, there’s some “bad apples” in the marketplace, but Bovada is the furthest thing from that.
In fact, Bovada has been in the sports betting business longer than many of the operators you probably recognize (e.g. DraftKings). They’ve been leaders in the offshore space around a decade now. That type of success wouldn’t be possible if they were doing something right. Actually, a lot right.
What impresses us most about Bovada is just the user experience. There’s a way the site and app both work that just clicks — whether you’re used to betting online or you’re completely new. In fact, for the latter crowd, we suggest starting with Bovada because of how easy and simple this platform is built.
Other bookmakers can end up muddling their playing experience with flashy (but unwarranted) features, over-done design, and so on. Not Bovada though. Here, it’s all about betting and nothing but betting. It makes for a quick-loading site that rarely errors out.
Bovada is high up on our list because of its decade-long reputation in the space. That’s an eternity in this competitive market, and it just speaks to how Bovada has continually outdone themselves over the years. That’s a good trend to be on as a bettor.
Our score ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#3 BetOnline
BetOnline Texas Pros & Cons
- Massive sportsbook selection
- Classic promotional offerings
- Needs more interesting contests
Bonuses are great and so is a solid playing experience. But at the end of the day, we’re here to bet on sports, right? If so, the quality of the actual sportsbook menu should matter. In that regard, BetOnline is tough to displace as a top option for Texas bettors.
This sportsbook is loaded to the brim — and we mean loaded. This isn’t just about offering all the sports and leagues. Though, that’s definitely the case on BetOnline. This sportsbook offers cricket, curling, IndyCar right next to the usual NFL, NBA, and Olympics betting, among others. You’ll likely get your sports betting fill here without having to go to another sportsbook.
However, for all these sports, BetOnline also offers a diverse set of betting markets for it all. Moneylines, spreads, and over/unders are the norm. However, it’s props and futures bets where BetOnline really separates itself from the competition. These markets are deep on-site, which really adds to the betting experience.
But what really impresses us are the betting prices routinely offered by the platform. BetOnline is consistent with the top sportsbooks with their odds, and even on some occasions, you’ll get discounted prices at the site. BetOnline could easily improve their margins by offering worse odds, but it doesn’t take that route at all.
These three characteristics are the trifecta of what makes a good sportsbook. But the cherry on top? BetOnline posts betting lines super quick too. Right when one game ends, odds for the next are up within minutes (or maybe an hour max). All of this creates one of the best sportsbook menus on the planet.
Our score ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#4 XBet
XBet Texas Pros & Cons
- Great mobile-betting experience
- Error-free experience
- Bonuses and contests are plain
One of the biggest trends in the online betting space — that’s showing zero signs of slowing down — is betting on the go. Of course, this is done through an app on your phone that works whenever and wherever. When it comes to doing this very thing, XBet might be the best in the business.
The first thing you’ll notice about XBet’s app is the looks of it. Unlike many competitors that have designs stuck in the 2010s — when they first launched their platforms — XBet app is actually modern. They’ve routinely updated their app and that’s saying something alone.
But more than just looks, the app flat-out performs. We’ve used this thing at work, school, the bar, the park, and everywhere in between. Across the board it worked without a hitch, even when our cellular data connection wasn’t the strongest. That means you’ll be able to count on XBet to work anytime and anyplace.
Also, we’ve used the word “app” multiple times here. But we should probably clear that up. XBet’s mobile site works right from a web browser on your phone or tablet. There’s no additional app that needs to be downloaded from the Apple or Google App Stores. This is a friction-less set-up that allows you to get betting in a hurry.
Mobile betting isn’t going to go away anytime soon. If anything, it’s only going to continue to take up mindshare among bettors. If so, XBet is well-positioned to capitalize. They’re constantly tweaking the mobile experience and that’s a quality you want out of a long-term bookie. You can almost bet XBet is going to stay ahead of the curve.
Our score ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#5 BetNow
BetNow Texas Pros & Cons
- Wide variety of promos
- Only sportsbook rebate around
- Betting odds can be expensive compared to competitors
Not unlike the aforementioned BetUS, BetNow ends up on this short list of suggestions because of its promotional bonuses. But unlike BetUS, BetNow’s bonuses aren’t necessarily the biggest. Instead, their deals are the most diverse — and that counts for something.
You see, most sportsbooks bunch all their bettors into the same exact deals. That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense if you’re a high roller getting the same treatment as a first-timer. BetNow is much more strategic in that they offer a wide variety of deals — four welcome bonuses, three reload deals, and three rebates. Options galore as you can see!
All the deals are pretty slick, however, we want to hone in on one promo — the sportsbook rebate. BetNow might be the only sportsbook around that offers such a deal. That’s an impressive feat because this is a copycat industry so finding one-of-a-kind features is pretty rare. At BetNow, two percent of sports betting losses are refunded thanks to the rebate.
Elsewhere, BetNow provides an all-in-one playing experience. Sports, casino, poker, horse racing — it’s all here for the taking. BetNow has promotions for most of these platforms so it’s never difficult to gamble using “house money.” We think Texans will take a liking to that.
Our score ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#6 MyBookie
MyBookie Texas Pros & Cons
- Excellent rewards program
- Multiple betting platforms
- Rewards program is invite only
- Website could use a fresh design
Online betting has taken some shine away from Las Vegas sportsbooks. However, for the longest time, these Vegas casinos could always fall back on their comp programs. These reward systems dole out free rooms, buffets, show tickets, and such. Killer deal, but many online bookmakers have now followed suit.
Personally, we’re massive fans of the MyBookie VIP program. This rewards program gives out points made on every bet made on-site. That’s a lot of possibility at MyBookie since they offer a well-stocked sportsbook, casino, and racebook. More bets made equals more points. You get the drift since most of these programs work the same way.
Anyway, these points can then be swapped for cashback. How much cashback depends entirely on your betting habits, but on the high end, it can be extremely lucrative. The great thing about here too is the rewards are never-ending — unlike a welcome bonus which only works once.
But here’s the thing: MyBookie’s VIP program is invitation-only — not anyone can just join it. Of course, MyBookie only invites its most loyal bettors. But it’s because of this exclusivity that the program can deal out so many good perks. Less is more in this case. Texans who plan on sticking to betting long-term have a huge incentive to choose MyBookie due to this clutch VIP program.
Our score ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#7 Everygame
Everygame Texas Pros & Cons
- Deep selection of football/soccer bets
- Top-notch live play system
- Bonuses don't pay much
Everygame was once known as Intertops. That name will resonate for bettors who've been around since Intertops was an O.G. of the industry. But that, in fact, makes Eveygame an O.G. because it’s the same team and a strikingly similar experience — just repackaged in a more modern platform.
Speaking of modern, where Everygame has vastly improved since re-branding is the live betting experience. While all bookmakers now offer in-play wagering, not many of them actually excel at it. The real-time odds lag too far behind the actual gameplay, it’s buggy, and the feature just underwhelms. Not at Everygame, however.
First of all, Everygame offers a good selection of live betting odds. All the major sports like NFL, NBA, and MLB will have in-play lines for just about every game. So that’s good, but tracking live odds is where Everygame separates itself. It does a bang-up job and we rarely noticed any issues when testing it out for ourselves.
Everygame is based out of Europe. Therefore, they’re especially good at offering global football/soccer betting lines — both in-play and pregame. If you plan on betting the sport big, it’s hard to go wrong with Everygame. On top of odds, they routinely offer special promos around football/soccer for an “extra kick” (yes, pun intended).
Our score ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Where Are Sportsbooks Like Fanduel, DraftKings, Ceasars?
These popular bookmakers, along with the likes of ESPN Bet or Fanatics, are NOT allowed in Texas — and will not unless the state passes legalized wagering. As we said earlier, we have strong doubts about that changing anytime soon, which casts serious doubt that these commercial operators ever enter the state. Trying out any of these platforms won’t go far as they’ll have you geo-blocked if inside the state (not even VPNs can mask your real location).
The only alternatives are finding an in-person bookie to handle your bets or going offshore. We personally believe the latter is more trustworthy— so long as you’re using one of the seven bookies we recommended above.
Latest Texas Betting News
Betting On Politics, Esports, Entertainment In Texas
Over the past few years, betting has gone beyond just fields or courts. Now, money can be thrown on outcomes in political elections or award shows or heck, scripted programming too. This has been made possible by offshore betting sites, which exclusively offer these types of wagers. Commercial operators are banned by state regulators (even in states where betting is legal) since they’re not true sports.
No restrictions exist at offshore sites though. This is another massive reason to opt into the world of offshore betting. Not only is it freely available no matter the state or country, but the betting markets are also more free.
Betting Apps In Texas
We could write a few thousands words on Texas betting apps for your phone. In fact, that’s exactly what we’ve done in our guide to Texas betting apps. This is the most comprehensive look at the best apps to take on the go with. It somewhat mirrors our top-7 list above, but with some key differences. Reading that guide is a must given mobile betting is only going to get more and more common.
Start Betting In Texas Today — Our Guides
We don’t want you to just bet in Texas. No, we want you to actually win some bucks at this damn thing. It’s possible, but you got to study separately. Here are links to five betting guides we wrote geared toward understanding and succeeding at wagering:
- Top Betting Tips — want to make money wagering? Read this!
- Best Sports Betting Strategies — the above article is a college 101 class to this one, which take your betting to the next level!
- How Do Odds Work — self-explanatory here, learn everything there is to know about understanding betting odds.
- Types of Sports Bets — a complete primer to the various types of sports betting forms.
- Betting Odds Calculator — calculate how much money a bet or parlay pays out.
Payment Methods Available For Texas Sportsbooks
One of the biggest sticking points bettors have with sportsbooks is depositing money. Mainly, bettors think it’s more complicated than it really is. Spoiler alert: it’s not.
Offshore sportsbooks accept a wide variety of payment methods. That includes cryptocurrency support, which is another thing commercial operators are restricted from doing. We have guides to using Bitcoin on these sites, plus other popular payment forms:
- VISA — the co-most popular card accepted on betting sites.
- Mastercard — the other co-most popular card across the betting landscape.
- Bitcoin — the payment method that'll earn you the most free play.
- Bank wire — the tried-and-true payment method.
Texas Casinos And Resorts
There are three tribal casinos in the state of Texas that offer casino games and are regulated by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The hope is that any future Texas sports betting bills will result in legalizing sports betting in the state and in turn more casinos opening up in the future.
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino is located in Eagle Pass and owned by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas. The casino boasts slot machines, bingo, and poker tables with Limit Holdem, No-Limit Holdem and 7 Card Stud.
The Speaking Rock Entertainment Center is located in El Paso, owned by the Tigua Tribe of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo. While it’s not technically a casino, the Speaking Rock Entertainment center boasts high-stakes bingo and poker.
Naskila Gaming is located in Livingston and is owned by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe. Naskila recently reopened in 2016, after being shut down by the state. They have over 365 bingo slot machines.
There is also a casino boat in Texas called the Jacks or Better Casino, based in Galveston. The ship cruises from the Galveston Yacht Basin twice a day, out to international waters where gambling is technically legal. The casino offers a sportsbook, 180 slots, and a variety of table games.
| Name | City | Type | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino | Eagle Pass | Tribal | 830-773-2255 |
| Naskila Gaming | Livingston | Tribal | 936-563-2946 |
| Speaking Rock Entertainment Center | El Paso | Tribal | Closed |
History Of Texas Legalization Efforts
Texas has tried and failed to legalize sports betting on multiple occasions in the last decade or so. Here's a quick summary of those efforts:
2018-2020: No Go For Now
The first thing to know about these three years is that the Texas State Legislature only met during one of them. They do not meet during odd years, so 2018 and 2020 saw no prospect for finding sports betting legal soon.
But in 2019, Rep. Eddie Lucio introduced a house sports betting bill that would have legalized sports betting in the Lone Star State. Because Texas does not have any non-tribal casinos at all, it would have only allowed for online legal Texas sports betting.
The bill was introduced by a Democrat, and the Texas Legislature is dominated by Republicans. So yes, it ended up going nowhere, which is the trend we remain one all these years later.
2021 - Now Sports Betting Alliance Makes a Push
The Texas Sports Betting Alliance was founded in February of 2021. This alliance is made up of five professional sports teams, and they are throwing their weight behind a change to the Texas Constitution.
These amendments would put sports betting up for a vote. This was Texas voters would be able to decide whether or not to allow for the opening up of sports betting legal markets in their own state. Its prospects are not bright, but the arrival of such a powerful alliance puts some air under their wings at the very least.
During these three years, more bills have been created to legalize sports betting. All but one failed to even make it to the Senate. The outlier bill went nowhere once in the Senate too.
Betting on Texas Sports Teams
The good thing is Texas is a mecca for pro sports, which makes its betting prospects all the more thrilling. Here's how to get action on the major sports teams in the state:
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans entered the NFL in the early 2000s. Since then, they've carved out a niche fanbase in a state usually dominated by the Cowboys. Speking of which, lets talk about them damn Cowboys next...
Dallas Cowboys
One of the most legendary teams in all of the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys go by "America's Team", for better or worse. This means the attention is always on them, especially when betting. Dallas routinely get the most betting action in the league.
Dallas Mavericks
Now we switch our attention to basketball. The Dallas Mavericks play in the NBA's Western Conference, and they their home games at the American Airlines Center. One of their most successful periods was in the 1980s, and another started in 1998 with the acquisition of Dirk Nowitzki.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets play in the Western Conference Southwest Division and at the Toyota Center in Downtown Houston. The team was founded in 1967 and played initially in San Diego, until they moved to Houston in 1971, just four years later. Some of the most legendary names in all of basketball have passed through this roster: Charles Barkley, Yao Ming, James Harden, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs franchise was founded in 1967 as part of the American Basketball Association. They were one of four teams to remain intact after the merger into the National Basketball Association in 1976. They have been an extremely successful basketball over the years and have won several NBA Championship.
Texas Rangers
Based in the Dalls-Fort Worth area, the Rangers have aspirations to represent all of Texas. They are a member of the American League, West Division and play at the Globe Life Field in Arlington. They started out in Washington DC in 1961 and moved to Arlington in 1971, where they have been ever since!
Houston Astros
The Astros play in the same league and division as their fellow Texans: the AL West. They were first established as the Houston Colt .45s in 1962. They are now in the Astrodome and their name reflects the Johnson Space Center, where the famous "Houston We have a Problem" sounded. Since their founding, they have been a moderately successful team including a World Series win in 2017, two years before they were featured in the sign-stealing scandal.
Dallas Stars
The Stars are the only NHL team in Texas. They only arrived in Dallas in the 1993-1994 season and have since been a successful team, including inducting brothers Derian and Kevin Hatcher into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
Other Types Of Betting In Texas
Remember earlier when we said DraftKings and FanDuel don’t work inside of Texas? Well, we were wrong, sort of. Their sportsbook platforms are strictly off limits, but let’s not forget both started as daily fantasy sports operators. They still offer those services and Texas takes in those bets as it’s not considered gambling in their eyes. There are a host of other DFS apps that work in Texas, but DraftKings and FanDuel remain the big dogs in the space.
Wagering on horse racing is also allowed in Texas — but in-person only, not online. All betting must be done at local horse-racing venues, which there are many in those horse-obsessed state.
Texas also has its own lottery system too. This is not only legal, but it’s quite accessible with tickets being sold at convenience stores in every corner. Most of the money goes to Texas Powerball (which pays the most), but the state offers several different lotteries.
What is NOT allowed in Texas is casino gambling EXCEPT if it takes place in one of the three Native American-owned establishments. References our previous list of casino locations as that’s the only in-person option (offshore sites usually have online casino sections).
Texas Betting Resources
International Sportsbooks
Bonuses for International Sportsbooks
Payment Methods for Non-regulated States
Texas Betting Apps
U.S. Betting Legislation
Online Betting Guides
Sports Betting Rules In Each State
Responsible Gaming In Texas
Gambling should be fun, but let’s be real, it can turn ugly if one is not careful. That’s why we wanted to finish with an important note about responsible betting, or more specifically, when things begin to go irresponsible.
Irresponsible betting often begins when gambling shifts from entertainment to a “cashing” losses or trying to solve financial problems. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that just “one more bet” will turn everything around, but this mindset can quickly lead to larger losses and worse, complete ruin (on the extreme end). Signs of irresponsible betting include wagering more money than you can afford to lose, neglecting personal responsibilities to gamble, and feeling anxiety or stress related to your betting activities.
The negative thing about sports betting not being legal in Texas yet is, well, there are not ab abundance of local resources for problem gambling (since it shouldn't exist in the first place). Most states that legalize put infrastructure in place to help problem players. Not that Texas doesn’t have some local help, but not a lot. Thankfully, there are many nationalized programs in case betting ever stops being fun. We’ve linked the most valuable resources below:
Gamble Aware (https://www.gambleaware.org/)
A non-profit organization providing resources and support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.
International Center for Responsible Gaming (https://www.icrg.org/)
The International Center for Responsible Gaming (CRG) is a research institution dedicated to promoting safe gambling practices and addressing gambling-related issues.
24/7 Gambling Support Line (https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/about-the-national-problem-gambling-helpline/)
A round-the-clock helpline offering immediate assistance and guidance for those experiencing gambling-related problems.
Here are a few of Texas-based resources:
Texas Problem Gambling Helpline (https://www.texas.gov)
A 24/7 confidential helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) providing support, information, and treatment referrals for individuals struggling with gambling addiction in Texas.
Texas Department of Health and Human Services – Problem Gambling Resources (https://www.hhs.texas.gov)
Offers resources, counseling, and referrals for treatment services for individuals and families affected by problem gambling in Texas.
Recovery Unplugged – Gambling Addiction Treatment (https://www.recoveryunplugged.com)
Provides specialized treatment programs, including outpatient and inpatient services, for individuals dealing with gambling addiction in Texas.
