Is Sports Betting Legal in Texas?

Sports betting in Texas is illegal, whether that’s online or in person. Texas’ May 2023 legislative session had two separate bills that supported online sports wagering but were ultimately shot down before they could reach the Senate.

The next step in the fight for sports betting legalization in Texas will occur in the next legislative session, currently set for 2025. This won’t stop politicians and major sports betting organizations from pursuing the fight, however. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has been vocal about offering in-person betting at Texas casinos. We’ve seen the groundwork for previous bills laid in the years leading up to the vote – it’s a developing story, but Texas’ sports betting quest is long from over.

Table of betting laws in Texas

When Will Sports Betting Launch in Texas? 

With two bills that unfortunately didn’t pan out during the May 2023 legislative session, it’s going to be a bit of a wait for sports betting legalization in the Lone Star State. The earliest sports betting could launch in Texas is 2025, when new bills can be brought forward and voted upon by the House and Senate.

Here’s the silver lining: sports betting legalization seems to be a political issue more than a social or legal one. Some of the largest sportsbooks in the country were unified and in support of the previous two bills, backed by Texas’ professional sports teams and fans alike. In a poll by Betting Texas, 67% of the state’s residents were in favor of legalized online sports betting in 2023 – the hope is there, so long as it can get through the House in 2025.

Texas Sports Betting Legalization Timeline and Updates

  • HJR 102 and HB 1942 are Unsuccessful – May 2023
    • HJR 102 is voted upon by the House, ending with 97 yeas to 44 nays. Unfortunately, the bill needed 100 votes to progress to the Senate and failed. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announces he will not be calling HB 1942 to the Senate floor, crushing hopes for sports betting in the near future.
  • New Sports Betting Bills are Filed - February 2023
    • Senator Lois Kolkhorst and Representative Jeff Leach filed four bills that would begin the legalization process for online sports betting within Texas – SB 715, SJR 39, HB 1942 and HJR 102. Over the next few months, HJR 102 and HB 1942 would successfully make it to the Texas Legislature.
  • Support for Sports Betting in Texas Grows – January 2023
    • With SRJ 17’s filing comes strong support from industry leaders. Jerry Jones, co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys, advocates for legalized sports betting. Fanatics joins the TSBA alongside operators like BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel. The case begins to look stronger and stronger for betting fans.
  • Greg Abbott Hints at Legalized Sports Betting – November 2022
    • With Greg Abbott’s reelection as Governor comes whispers of a plan to offer expanded gambling within casinos, including sports betting. One week later, Senator Carol Alvarado pre-files SRJ 17, a bill that could open up sports betting within casinos.
  • HB 1275 Fails - May 2021
    • After years of lobbying from professional sports teams, major betting platforms, and the citizens of Texas, HB 1275 failed during the 2021 legislative session. With no resolution on the future of sports betting, fans will have to wait until 2023 to see another vote.
  • The First Sports Betting Bill in Texas is Proposed - February 2019
  • Supreme Court Strikes Down PASPA - May 2018

Latest Texas Betting News

With May 2023 being the largest development in the efforts to legalize sports betting, Texas residents have begun to enter a bit of a lull when it comes to progress on future bills. As of the failure of HJR 102 and HB 1942, there have been no new bills proposed or announcements made on the political outlook of sports betting in 2025. With groups like TBSA, owners of Texas sports teams and several politicians in favor of legalized online gambling for sports bettors, they won’t be without updates for long, hopefully.

Where Can You Bet on Sports in Texas

Unfortunately, because of the illegal status of Texas sports betting, there aren’t any available options for bettors looking to wager within the Lone Star state. There are a few legal alternatives that can still satisfy bettors, but sports betting will need to wait until 2025 at the minimum.

The first of these options is daily fantasy sports (DFS) – we’ll do a full dive into how to bet on DFS further down the page, but here are the highlights. Wagering on DFS involves you paying an entry fee that can vary in price depending on your selection. You’ll be matched up against other competitors and select a team of athletes that are playing a game that same day – depending on your selected team’s performance (ex. how many points they score in the NBA), you’ll be placed onto a leaderboard and earn a cash prize from the pool of entry fees.

The second option is horse racing, a traditional sports betting play. On top of being fairly accessible throughout the entire state thanks to a few mobile apps, it's an entertaining way Texans can scratch that sports betting itch. You’ll make wagers through pari-mutuel betting, a format where bettors pool their money on a certain item, like a horse to win the race. The house juice is taken from this pool and winning bets are paid out according to each bettor's stake – essentially, it’s just a way for horse racing facilities to get around Texas’ laws legally. You’ll still earn all the payout you deserve.

Where Can Texans Go For Legal Sports Betting

Luckily for Texas residents, their neighbors to the east and west offer sports betting in some capacity, meaning the option to wager is just a drive away. New Mexico offers retail-only sports betting, which might appeal to those of you who enjoy the atmosphere and options of a casino. Louisiana is fully legalized, giving bettors the choice for a retail option or simply to bet from their mobile and desktop devices.

How to Sign Up for a Sportsbook in Texas (when legal & live)

When sports betting is legalized in Texas, the first step for bettors will be to sign up with a sportsbook – follow our list of essential steps for a quick rundown on how to create and manage a betting account!

  1. Do Your Research

    Whether you select a site from our list of industry leaders or go off-the-board, you need to make sure you have a book that’s customized with your needs in mind. Important factors include the odds they offer, bonuses, their customer support track record and whichever deposit/withdrawal options are going to work the best for you. If you have friends who are bettors, ask around and see why they chose a specific site – user feedback is vital!

  2. Select a Sportsbook

    Online sports betting sites are also known as sportsbooks – every site on our page meets our standards for security, safety, and trustworthy odds. Most importantly, you’ve got to be happy with the different sports your future book will offer. If you’re a massive fan of the NFL, triple-check that a site will have odds for the Houston Texans! Otherwise, you’ll miss out on your favorite sporting events and that’s no fun for anyone.

  3. Register in Person or Online

    With how prevalent sportsbook apps and websites are, you’ll most likely be signing up for a betting account online, although some books can offer in-person signups within casinos. You’ll have to fill out basic information that confirms your identity, address within the state, and your preferred method of deposit. After that, it’s off to the races for your betting career – maybe literally, if you’re watching the Breeders’ Cup.

  4. Claim a Bonus

    “Welcome Bonuses” are fairly standard across most sportsbooks nowadays – when the books launch in Texas, you’ll likely be seeing a ton of different promos. Sportsbooks will usually match your deposit (up to a certain amount) with free bet credits that go right to your account’s balance. These bet credits aren’t withdrawable as is – you’ll need to meet wagering requirements that vary book-by-book. When they’re successful, you can then withdraw your cash like usual.

  5. Deposit Funds

    Sportsbooks typically accept all the common payment methods – Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, debit cards and e-wallets like PayPal or Neteller. In some cases, you can even deposit cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dash and Ethereum. It’s up to each bettor to decide how to fund their account depending on which service works best for their needs.

  6. Choose Your Bet Type

    For most sports, the most common lines you’ll see will be the moneyline, spread, and total. Aside from this, player/team props and futures make up the rest of the betting equation. Every bettor has their favorite types of bets and it’ll likely take a bit of experimentation to find yours. These options will always be on the site though, so you’re able to switch it up as you please.

  7. Navigate the Odds

    When new bettors join a site, the first question they’ll have is usually about reading odds – don’t worry, it's much easier than it looks. Any negative odds (ex. -150) indicate the favorite in a contest. That’s what the sportsbook believes will be the likely outcome of the bet. All negative odds will have a payout that’s fewer than 2:1 – the larger the number, the smaller the payout. Underdogs are a riskier pick. Indicated with positive odds (ex. +150), they have higher payouts to account for that risk. Positive odds start at +100, which would pay out exactly 2x your original bet – anything higher than +100 boosts the payout, with a +600 line returning $700 on a $100 bet, for example. We use American odds as the default at Odd Shark (-110, +100, etc.) – other types of odds you might see are fractional (⅛) and decimals (1.80) forms. You can adjust their format by using the filters tab to adjust the odds type.

  8. Start Betting

    Every sportsbook offers a tremendous amount of betting options – name a sport and it’ll have odds attached. We recommend starting with the sports you’re most comfortable with, whether that’s a league like the NFL or college basketball and college football matchups. Start slow and get a feel for your betting style before diving into more complicated options, like parlays or in-play betting.

  9. Withdraw Funds

    You’ll usually be able to withdraw funds the same way you deposited them – if your bankroll is sourced from PayPal, you’ll be able to send money back into that same account. Withdrawals may take a few days to process depending on your payment method, so don’t be worried if there’s a brief delay before your bank account is updated. You can always contact customer support if there’s an issue with your withdrawal.

Texas Teams to Bet On

As the second-most populated state in the USA, you can rest assured there’s a great collection of professional and collegiate teams to bet on in Texas. With teams in every major sport, the MLS, WNBA and even a newly-minted cricket team, the Lone Star state boasts several squads that rostered legends of their respective sports – that, and a nice collection of trophies too.

NFL Betting in Texas

Texas has a passion for football at every level, but these two NFL teams hold a special place in the heart of the state -- with one being a massively successful franchise and the other having more of an underdog vibe, they're incredibly important markets for the league.

Dallas Cowboys

Nicknamed America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys joined the league in 1960 and quickly established a reputation as one of the top teams in the league. They’ve earned five Super Bowls (tied for second all-time), eight NFC Championship wins and recorded 20 consecutive winning seasons from ‘66 to ‘85. As one of the most valuable sports teams in the world, they roster some of the league's top players like CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard and Dak Prescott.

Houston Texans

Officially joining the league in 2002, the Houston Texans are the NFL’s newest team – because of this, they haven’t had the chance to build a trophy cabinet like the Cowboys. The team hasn’t earned a single Super Bowl or Conference Championship appearance – although they had divisional success in the 2010s, it hasn’t translated to a high-profile win so far. Some key members throughout Texans history have been Andre Johnson, J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins.

NBA Betting in Texas

The NBA boasts three Texas-based teams, the most of any major league sport in the state. Each has seen periods of thrilling success and remain perennial contenders across the league.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have been around since 1980, quickly reaching playoffs but failing to convert any achievements. In the early 2000s, the team’s trajectory would change – the legendary Dirk Nowitzki would lead the Mavs to consecutive winning seasons and their first (and only) NBA Championship win in 2011. As the Mavs continue to hunt success, the reins have now been given to Luka Dončić, 2019’s Rookie of the Year and one of the brightest stars in the NBA and perennial NBA MVP candidate.

Houston Rockets

Originally based in San Diego as an expansion team, the Houston Rockets moved to their current home in 1971 with a bit of a rocky start – they wouldn’t have a winning season until ‘77. Thankfully, the Rockets had an incredible bounce back, going on to win back-to-back NBA Finals in 1994 and 1995 that were led by all-star center Hakeem Olajuwon. Since this success, they’ve had ups and downs while grabbing some divisional titles in the 2010s, thanks in part to one of the best shooters of his generation, James Harden. Led by new coach  Ime Udoka the Rockets have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA this season.

San Antonio Spurs

The oldest NBA team in Texas, the San Antonio Spurs have been battling since 1967 and easily hold the most success out of their two in-state rivals. Their most well-known achievements come from the era of coach Gregg Popovich, a legend amongst coaching staff who’s claimed four NBA titles during his time with the Spurs. Establishing themselves as a dynasty in the early 2000s, the Spurs have been bolstered by excellent players like Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard. The future is bright for the Spurs with phenom Victor Wembanyama who has the potential to become an all-time NBA great. 

MLB Betting in Texas

Following their 2023 win, both Texan MLB teams have officially claimed World Series titles! Each holds a dedicated fanbase and earned their respective victories after years of trials and tribulations.

Houston Astros

Founded in 1962, the Houston Astros have been Texas’ most successful MLB team to date – they’ve earned the most postseason appearances by an expansion team and are the only expansion-era team to hold a record above .500. Originally part of the National League, the team found massive success in the late 90s and have continued that trend after a move to the American League in 2012. Winning six divisional titles, four conference championships and two World Series in 2017 and 2022, the Astros have emerged as a powerhouse once again. Their roster is currently home to exceptional players like José Altuve and Yordan Álvarez.

Texas Rangers

Established in 1961, the Texas Rangers are based in Arlington and are known for fighting tooth and nail with their Lone Star Series rivals, the Astros. Before 2023, we would have had to tell you the Rangers are still winless in the World Series, but no more! The team claimed their first MLB Championship win in 2023, adding to a modest collection of seven divisional titles and three American League wins. Some of their best current players include Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.

NHL Betting in Texas

In a land of dusty plains and sweltering temperatures, Texas residents still find time to cool off and enjoy some ice hockey. With only one team in the state, it's the pride and joy of NHL fans living in Texas.

Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars were formed in 1993 after tough financial situations forced the Minnesota North Stars to fold and relocate to Dallas. Their success has been limited thanks to their recent entrance to the league, but they’ve still managed to rack up one Stanley Cup, three Conference Championships, and a handful of divisional titles along the way. Making it to the Cup Finals in 2020, their roster is full of exciting young stars in Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson and Jake Oettinger.

NCAA Betting in Texas

Texas is home to some of the most iconic colleges in the NCAA -- with 25 Division I schools across the state, here are a few that fans tend to gravitate towards.

Baylor Bears

Belonging to the Big 12, the Baylor Bears have been in Waco since 1914. They’ve claimed a few titles across collegiate sports with one of their most notable teams being their men’s tennis squad – they’ve claimed the most conference titles and hold the best winning percentage across the entire Big 12. The school’s most legendary achievement was during the 2011-2012 NCAA season when its baseball, men's and women’s basketball and football teams combined for the most wins of any NCAA school in its history.

Texas Longhorns

Matthew McConaughey’s favorite team, the Texas Longhorns have a proud history in the NCAA, most of all when it comes to their football team. The Longhorns currently rank 4th on the NCAA’s all-time wins list and come in 7th for win-loss ratios. Throughout the program's success, they’ve earned 4 national titles, 32 championships, and have been home to over 100 First Team All-American athletes. Their other sports are nothing to sneeze at either – Longhorns men’s baseball has been historically dominant, winning six national titles and 78 total conference championships.

Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies, who’ve been playing at the college level since 1894, claim the second-most NCAAF titles in Texas with three wins. On top of that, their football team has earned 20 conference titles and produced Heisman winners like John David Crow and Johnny Manziel – hindsight is 20/20 on that last one. With over 20 varsity teams, they’ve claimed national titles in golf, track and field, women’s basketball and softball as well.

What You Can't Bet on in Texas

Apart from sports betting, Texas has a few restrictions on other types of gambling within the state. Some of these options are restricted in all states anyway, due to their grey-area status – others aren’t prevalent offerings from existing sportsbooks and may be unavailable no matter where you’re betting from

Politics

It’s illegal to bet on politics in Texas. It’s illegal across the entire country, even in states with regulated sports betting. Politics aren’t a mainstay at most major sportsbooks anyway, thanks to its unavailability across the United States – you aren’t missing out on anything here. It’d be a shock to see political betting available in any state, let alone Texas, in the near future.

Entertainment Award Ceremonies

Betting on entertainment award ceremonies like the Oscars isn’t available for Texas residents. The availability of awards show odds depends on which books decide to offer odds for these celebrations anyway, however. There’s no telling if this could change depending on the future of sports betting legalization in Texas, but it’s not a guaranteed option even if the ban is lifted.

eSports

You might be familiar with Mark Cuban’s growing interest in the eSport scene – if that made you think eSports was legal to bet on, well, sorry. eSports are still illegal to wager on in the state of Texas. For legal purposes, they qualify as sports and will likely fall under the same laws as traditional sports betting for the foreseeable future.

What About Texas College Sports?

Texas is a veritable powerhouse when it comes to cheering on their collegiate teams – unfortunately, restrictions on sports betting make NCAA betting illegal in Texas. Even other states that have legalized sports betting aren’t guaranteed to offer college betting odds. For example, Massachusetts has legal betting but no odds available for college sports – Tennessee offers lines for the game itself, but no player props. When sports betting does come to Texas, however, we’d have to imagine college fans will be keen to bet. Another item for the Lone Star State’s wishlist.

Texas Sports Betting Events

  • Horse Racing
    • Texas is home to the Breeders’ Cup, the final event in the American Thoroughbred racing season. A two-day competition, it’s one of the most popular horse races in the country and is held across multiple tracks depending on that year’s host.
  • Golf Tournaments
    • The state holds five PGA Tour events each year: WGC Match Play, the Houston Open, the Texas Open, the Byron Nelson Classic and the Colonial National Invitational. Texas has produced star golfers like Ben Hogan, Jordan Spieth and Byron Nelson.
  • Motorsports
    • Racing isn’t just for the ponies in Texas – the Texas Motor Speedway, located in Fort Worth, holds events for NASCAR and IndyCar each year. Tracks like the Circuit of the Americas have also held Formula One events, giving fans a wide selection of motorsport options.
  • College Football Bowl Games
    • As one of the most passionate NCAAF fanbases in the country, it follows suit that Texas has a load of Bowl games to attend each year. Namely, these include the Alamo Bowl, the Cotton Bowl and the Texas Bowl.
  • FIFA 2026 World Cup
    • Although it’s a long way out, AT&T Stadium in Dallas was named as a primary host for the upcoming World Cup of soccer. It’ll be a nice change of pace for Dallas residents who would typically need to drive to Houston to see an MLS match.

Other Types of Gambling in Texas

Although sports betting remains illegal, there are other options for sports bettors to bide their time with – namely, tribal casinos, poker clubs, and horse racing. See below for a quick rundown of Texas’ most popular offerings for each of these options.

Casino

Texas offers three different tribal casinos for bettors to visit – the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino, Naskila Gaming and Speaking Rock Entertainment Center. Spread out between El Paso, Livingston and Eagle Pass, they’re fairly accessible for most residents of the states and offer a reliable option for bettors. Every casino will have varying games and offerings, but sports betting is currently unavailable at all of them.

Poker

Poker is an interesting case in Texas. While private clubs are all over the place, free for anyone to visit, they operate in a grey area of the law. By charging membership fees for private card rooms, these businesses exploit a loophole in Texas law that doesn’t officially designate them as a gambling organization. Regardless, they’re available for you to visit freely, assuming you’re alright with paying a fee. If you’re thinking of trying it out, consider refreshing yourself with our guide on how to play poker.

Horse Racing

As discussed above, horse racing is a great option for bettors within Texas. Operated via a pari-mutuel betting system, you won’t notice a real difference should your bet payout. Races are available in-person and are simulcasted from tribal casinos – some apps within the state also offer mobile horse racing odds.

Texas and Daily Fantasy Sports

DFS manages to skirt around Texas’ sports betting laws and is a completely legal way to earn money from sports. While it’s not exactly betting per se, it’s the closest legal option available. Fans can submit a buy-in fee and earn money from a pool of participants if their performance is good enough.

What's the difference between daily fantasy sports vs sports betting?

When playing DFS, you’re not wagering on one specific outcome (ex. the spread) to come true, like in sports betting. You’re not really wagering at all – DFS uses a pool of money that comes from entry fees to pay out their potential winners. Because of this, it doesn’t fall under sports betting and is completely legal.

To play DFS, you’ll submit an entry fee and select your favored sport – let’s say it's the NBA. You’d receive a list of every NBA player who has a game tonight and their associated “salary”. You have to fill out your salary cap and select which players will perform best, ultimately pitting yourself against opponents who are doing the same thing. The teams that perform best out of the entire pool earn cash for their success, usually going to the 1st to 4th place teams depending on the pool’s size.

Sports Betting Apps in Texas

As mentioned above, there are no sports betting apps available in Texas due to the law’s restriction on sports wagering – the closest options are those that offer horse racing bets. Residents of Texas can always check out a prospective site via their mobile website to get a sense of which option might be best when the time to bet comes.

Quick Facts: Texas Sports Betting

Here are the key takeaways for the current state of sports betting, and any other gambling, within Texas:

Legal Age for Betting in Texas21
RegulatorTo Be Determined
Online Sports BettingNot Available
Retail Sports BettingNot Available
Tribal CasinosAvailable
College Sports BettingNot Available
Daily Fantasy SportsAvailable
Horse Racing BettingAvailable


And here’s a quick rundown of the history of betting regulations as well as a future outlook:

  • 2018: Power given to states to regulate their betting laws.
  • 2019: The first Texas betting bill is proposed (HB 1275) and fails to make an impact in the 2021 legislative session.
  • 2022: Multiple bills are brought forward in favor of sports betting, whether it’s online or at a retail casino. These bills receive support from sportsbooks, professional teams and sports betting fans.
  • 2023: Two bills, HRJ 102 and HB 1942 are brought forward to the Texas legislature – they would ultimately not earn enough votes and were struck down, leaving the future of sports betting in Texas unknown until the 2025 session.

Responsible Gaming in Texas

When gambling, bettors should always bet within their means and prioritize their health and financial standing above everything. Texas offers a wide range of support systems for those struggling with gambling addiction, including but not limited to:

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