If you live in Texas, your only real chance at getting your gambling fix is to head to an online gambling site. That’s why we’ve created this Texas Casinos guide to help all players find the best gambling experience in the Lone Star state.
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Texas Casinos & Gambling
- Texas Regulated Gambling by Year – Bingo (1982), Horse racing (1987), Lottery (1991), and Kickapoo Casino (1996).
- Estimated Tax Revenue from Gambling – $1.2 billion.
- Estimated Gambling Revenue – $4.6 billion.
- Texas Gambling Age – 18 for lottery and bingo games, 21 for racing, and Kickapoo Casino.
- Smoking Ban – Texas does not have a statewide smoking ban.
- Online Gambling Status – Horse racing is the only form of legal online gambling.
Explore Texas Gambling Laws and Regional Betting Markets
Texas has some of the most restrictive gambling laws in the United States, making it a frequent topic of discussion among players interested in sports betting, casino gaming, and potential future legislation. To compare Texas with other jurisdictions around the country, visit our guide to state gambling regulations. This resource breaks down the legal status of gambling across all U.S. states, helping players understand where casino gaming, sports betting, poker, and other forms of wagering are permitted.
Because gambling laws in Texas differ significantly from many neighboring states, it is important to understand the legal framework that governs betting activities. Our guide to US gambling laws explains the key federal and state regulations affecting American bettors, including online gambling rules, licensing requirements, and the legal distinctions that shape gambling opportunities throughout the country.
Types of Online Texas Gambling Allowed
While casinos and race tracks are limited, the Texas Lottery sells two types of lottery tickets through retailers. One is an instant scratch card game. The other is the lottery drawings.
Texas is included in multi-state drawings of the Powerball and Mega Millions. The TX lottery also has in-state draws for Lotto Texas: Texas Two-Step, Texas Triple Chance, All or Nothing, Pick 3, Daily 4, and Cash 5.
Here are the types of games allowed to be played:
- Slots: Yes
- Blackjack: Yes
- Poker: Yes
- Craps: Yes
- Roulette: Yes
- Horses: Yes
- Lottery: Yes
TX Gambling Laws
In Texas, online gambling is only allowed for off-track horse racing bets. Additionally, Daily Fantasy Sports operators also accept TX players. However, the Attorney General considers them illegal and, therefore, technically illegal.
Two operators, FanDuel and DraftKings, are still accepting Texans. Still, the Attorney General never made a formal demand for DFS to leave the state, which Federal Law requires.
Online casinos have not been mentioned in recent months, but they are also considered illegal. Whether or not gambling laws will be updated after the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is unclear. PASPA was ruled “unconstitutional,” and so states are allowed to regulate gambling as they see fit.
Top Casinos in Texas
As we mentioned, the Lone Star State currently only has a single land-based casino, the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino. As it is the only casino, players can always expect it to be busy, but the owners haven’t been expanding the facilities. Visitors to the casino will find Poker, Bingo, and electronic table games to enjoy. However, the casino is quite a distance from many Texans, so online gambling remains the most convenient way to gamble.
Currently, Texas Casinos are limited to one land-based casino run by the Kickapoo tribe on their reservation. Further, there are six racetracks with live and off-track betting. At least three offer thoroughbred racing, and the others offer greyhound racing.
| Casino | Size | Address | Website |
| Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass | 3,300 Slot Machines | 768 Lucky Eagle Dr. | www.luckyeagletexas.com |
| Racetrack | Type | Address | Website |
| Gulf Coast Racing at Corpus Christie | Greyhounds | 5302 Leopard St. | www.gulfcoastracetrack.com |
| Gulf Greyhound Park at La Marque | Greyhounds | 1000 Fm 2004 | www.gulfgreyhound.com |
| Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie | Thoroughbred | 1000 Lone Star Pkwy | www.lonestarpark.com |
| Retama Park at Selma | Thoroughbred & Quarter Horse | 1 Retama Pkwy | www.retamapark.com |
| Sam Houston Race Park at Houston | Quarter Horse | 7575 N. Sam Houston Pkwy W. | www.shrp.com |
| Valley Race Park at Harlingen | Greyhounds | 2601 S. Ed Carey Dr. | www.valleyracepark.com |
In addition, the state lottery has hundreds of retailers where Texans can buy instant games and lottery tickets. Moreover, there are at least 100 bingo halls in the state.
Online Gambling Casinos in Texas
The Lone Star State is currently considering passing an amendment to the constitution that would allow online poker, on the condition that poker becomes legal under federal law. This proposal was initially rejected in 2013, but this law would have only affected poker and not online casinos. Despite this, there are numerous best online casinos available for Texans to play at.
Future of Texas Gambling
The future is looking fairly bright for gambling in Texas. With the expansion of the only land-based casino and the proposed online poker law, things are definitely looking up. We can only hope that if this law gets passed, the public urges the government to legalize a wider variety of games in the Lone Star State.
TX Gambling History
While gambling might not have the biggest footprint in Texas today, it has been a part of the state’s history for many years. Galveston earned the name ‘Sin City of the Gulf’ at the beginning of the American Civil War. The area became associated with all kinds of things, like drinking, prostitution, and gambling. In addition to this, these activities happened out in the open, and the citizens were quite proud that the area was so free.
This changed when General Wil Wilson shut down all of the bars and saloons in the 1950s. He even went as far as destroying all of the equipment used for gambling. For decades, there would be no legal gambling within the borders of the Lone Star State, until the Federal Government granted Native American Tribes permission to open casinos on their land.
Compare Texas With Nearby Gambling Destinations
Many Texas residents travel to neighboring states for expanded gambling options that are unavailable at home. One of the most popular alternatives is Louisiana casino gaming, where players can access riverboat casinos, racinos, retail sportsbooks, and a wider range of regulated gambling opportunities. Louisiana’s well-established gaming market has made it a popular destination for Texans seeking legal casino entertainment and sports wagering.
Another notable neighboring market is Oklahoma tribal casinos. Oklahoma is home to one of the largest tribal gaming industries in the United States, offering numerous casinos, poker rooms, and gaming destinations located within driving distance of major Texas cities. Comparing Texas with nearby states can help players better understand the regional gambling landscape, available betting options, and alternative gaming destinations throughout the southern United States.
Texas Casinos & Gambling FAQs
What is the minimum Texas gambling age?
In order to gamble in Texas, a player needs to be 21 or older. There are many people who claim that younger players can get away with it because there are no live dealer games at Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino. However, the law is still strictly enforced, and the penalties for breaking it are severe. To play the state lottery, players need only be above the age of 18.
Can minors play bingo in Texas?
A bingo patron under 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult.
Is horse racing legal in Texas?
Yes, but only at the three licensed tracks in the state.
Is greyhound racing legal in Texas?
Yes, and there are three tracks licensed to offer the sport in the state.
Is off-track betting legal in Texas?
Yes, as all six legal tracks have race books. TVG, BetAmerica, and TwinSpires all have licensed mobile racing apps available to TX Players.
Are there casinos in Texas?
Only one, based on the Kickapoo Reservation: the Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass. This is the only tribal casino allowed to offer gaming machines and tables in the state of Texas. Naskila Gaming in Livingstone, TX, is only allowed to offer gaming machines to patrons.
What games are offered at Lucky Eagle Casino?
Lucky Eagle Casino offers real money slots, video poker, live poker, and electronic table games to patrons.
Where is the closest casino to El Paso?
Sunland Park Race Track and Casino is just across the border in New Mexico from El Paso.
Where is the closest casino to Dallas?
At least a dozen casinos are just across the border in Oklahoma.
Where is the closest casino to Houston?
Louisiana’s Lake Charles Casino is the closest casino to Houston.
Are daily fantasy sports contests legal in Texas?
After Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared Daily Fantasy Sports illegal, companies have opted to ignore him until proper legislation is voted on by the state government.
What daily fantasy sports sites operate in Texas?
Two major daily fantasy sports operators offer their services to Texans, and they are DraftKings and FanDuel.
Is online poker, casino, or sports betting legal in Texas over the Internet?
For the moment, there is no definite gambling act forbidding them within the state, but they are considered illegal.
