Best Texas Sports Betting Sites in 2024 – Is Sports Betting Legal in TX?

We have reviewed the best Texas sports betting sites to provide you with a list of top sportsbooks, including a comparison of the number of sports, welcome bonuses, and payment methods available. We also take a look at the constantly shifting legal Texas sports betting scene which surrounds regulated online sports betting in the state.

Texas sports betting is not yet regulated but residents can safely gamble on sports using the betting sites listed in this article. They offer a wide range of sports to bet on, promotions, and modern deposit methods plus they are based offshore, meaning that TX residents can legally access them.

Best Sports Betting Sites in TX

Our Pick of the Best Sportsbooks in Texas

After much consideration from our team of experts, we have deemed the following operators to be the best Texas sportsbooks:

How We Rank Betting Sites

This section details the conditions that a sportsbook has to meet before we consider them for recommendation. This is not a list of the unique features that an online sports betting site might offer but concentrates more on the basic characteristics that any decent sportsbook should have.

Licensing

There isn’t a regulatory body that licenses online sports betting in Texas because it is an unregulated activity. Players in Texas will need to use offshore sports betting sites and in these cases, we look for those regulated by reputable licensing authorities such as the Malta Gambling Authority, Gambling Authority of Antigua and Barbuda, and the Curacao Gaming Control Board.

Those three, and others, are trusted by players worldwide and grant offshore licenses to hundreds of casinos.

Safety & Security

Registering with a new offshore sportsbook will involve sharing personal and financial data and it is important that you can do this safely. We only recommend Texas sports betting sites that use top-level encryption technology – such as 128-bit SSL encryption – to keep your data safe while it is transmitting. We also ensure that they are open about how they store and use your data.

Offers & Promotions

Of course, we are looking for online sportsbooks with generous welcome offers – as this is often a key factor in picking one site over another – but we also think it is important that they look after existing customers. As well as welcome bonuses, many casinos offer reload bonuses, free bets, free spins, and bet insurance to keep existing players happy. We also looked at wagering requirements and terms & conditions to ensure we selected the welcome bonuses that were achievable.

Loyalty & Rewards Program

As outlined above, loyalty schemes are also hugely important for players to select a site and continue playing there. Some gambling sites are better than others and rewarding current players, as well as new ones, and we gave added weight to those who run competitive VIP programs or rewards schemes.

Customer Support

These sportsbooks all have open and easy-to-use contact channels. A sportsbook should offer at least two options, preferably an email and a chat box. If a betting site does have a mobile number for support that is an indication of legitimacy.

Banking Methods

The best betting sites should allow players multiple options to deposit and withdraw funds – whether that be with crypto or more traditional methods such as debit card and bank transfer. We also analyzed fees and payout times to ensure our top picks offered players the security and speed when transferring funds.

Texas Betting Sites Comparison

Latest Texas Sports Betting News

• 1 December 2023 – Mark Cuban’s partial sale of the Dallas Mavericks to the Adelson family – who have political influence and expertise in developing gambling resorts – could see a renewed push for legalization in the state.
• 23 June 2023 – Tilman Ferrita is front and center at the 2023 Texas inauguration. He is a top donor for the Republican Governor campaigns of Greg Abbot and Dan Patrick. Mr Feritta is part of a Political Action Committee (PAC) pushing for regulated online sports betting.
• 29 May 2023 – Texas lawmakers did approve a referendum on the legalization of sports betting, but the Texas legislative session ended with no bills brought to the table regarding sports betting. As a result sports betting in Texas is unlikely to come around until 2026.
• 3 April 2023 – Dallas News report that Republican-affiliated Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick will be integral to the decision on online sports betting in Texas.
• 25 January 2023 – News reports detail how a Political Action Committee (PAC) from Las Vegas Sands will push to legalize online sports betting in Texas. The group spent millions of dollars donating to dozens of Texas lawmakers and legislative groups including Speaker of the House in Texas, Dade Phelan who received $300,000 from the Texas Sands PAC.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Texas?

No, sports betting is not currently legal in Texas, despite a concerted effort to change the situation in 2023 which has seen lawmakers battle over its legislation. There is expected to be a renewed push in 2024 after billionaire Mark Cuban sold part of his stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks to the Adelson family. They have huge political influence and experience in developing gambling resorts in Las Vegas, while Mr Cuban has long been a proponent of legalizing sports betting in the state.

Despite its lack of regulation and legality, offshore sportsbooks are a viable online sports betting option for Texan bettors as, despite operating in a legal gray area, aren’t technically illegal. Indeed, nobody in the US has ever been penalized for gambling with an offshore betting site. They also offer a huge range of modern features and banking options.

In the interests of security, though, we would still advise using a VPN and crypto deposits to access these sites, to entirely preserve your anonymity, despite our view that offshore betting sites qualify as a legal Texas sports betting option.

Texas Sports Betting Bills

A sports betting bill in 2023 led to a referendum on online sports betting in the state to legalize sports betting but it was not successful. Sports gambling in Texas is expected to continue to be a hot topic next year, with the Texas Sports Betting Alliance a powerful lobby that includes billionaires and professional sports teams.

2023-24

• Senate Joint Resolution 17 – Senator Carol Alvarado sponsors what is an all-encompassing bill that starts with language about economic development and job growth. It intends to help fund education and offers tax relief. It would also create the Texas Gaming Commission which would in turn govern gambling activities as well as introduce licenses and taxes.
• House Joint Resolution 102 – This proposes an amendment to the constitution and allow for the enacting of the following two bills.
• House Bill 1942 – Representative for the Republican party, Jeff Leach, proposes sports betting regulation with this bill that also includes licensing and taxes information. It will require an associated vote which he hopes takes place by November.
• Senate Bill 715 – It is a senate bill associated with HB 1942.

2022-23

• No online sports betting bills are proffered during this Texas legislative session.

2021-22

• House Bill 1121 – Democratic Representative Harold Dutton sponsored this bill to regulate online sports betting in Texas with the inclusion of civil penalties for contraventions of related sports betting operator rules.
• House Joint Resolution 68 – This calls for a constitutional amendment that would allow the above bill to be introduced.
• Senate Bill 736 – Juan Hinojosa, a senator and representative for over 25 years, sponsored this bill that would have decriminalized sports betting so that people can face penalties for engaging in it but avoid a criminal record.
• House Bill 2070 – Republican Representative Dan Huberty fronted this bill that would’ve set up an online and an in-person betting program.
• House Joint Resolution 97 – Enables the above bill.

2019-20

• House Joint Resolution 61 -A representative for the Democrats, Eddie Lucio, proposes this bill that would amend the constitution to allow for regulated sports betting.
• House Bill 1275 – He also attempted the same with this bill which also included imposing a tax, requiring an occupational permit, authorizing a fee, and setting up definitions for criminal offenses associated with gambling.

When Will Betting Be Legalized in Texas?

It is not yet clear when sports betting in TX will become legal. There have been multiple attempts by the Texas Sports Betting Alliance and others to legalize sports betting in the state, but efforts have so far proven unsuccessful. The new partnership between Mark Cuban and the Adelson family will see a renewed push to legalize sports betting in the coming months.

Are There Land-Based Betting Options in TX?

No, there are no land-based options for sports betting in Texas. The activity of sports betting is completely unregulated, whether that is online or in brick-and-mortar establishments. Texas has three tribal casinos but none of them have a sportsbook and are inconveniently located along the Mexican border far south of the majority of towns and cities.

Online betting at offshore casinos, therefore, is the only option for sports wagers and legal sports betting.

Sports Betting in Neighboring States

The betting landscape that surrounds Texas is mixed, with online gambling largely illegal in neighboring states, although it does operate in a grey area. For residents of Texas and neighboring states, there is also the option to gamble legally in person at casinos operated by Native Americans. There is legal sports betting in those locations, but players have to visit in person.

Are Any Forms of Gambling Legal in Texas?

Yes, despite the current restrictions on Texas sportsbooks, there are several types of gambling which are legal in the state, which we will detail below.

DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports)

Daily Fantasy Sports, also known as DFS, have been fully legalized in Texas since 2019, after the Texas House voted 116-27 in favor of the move. The rationale was a redefinition of the game from a game of chance to a game of skill, making it the first state to do so and marking a huge victory for legal DFS operators in the country.

Poker

There are over 60 dedicated poker rooms in Texas which allow you to legally play poker games for high stakes.

Horse Racing

Although common race markets such as win, place, show and exotics are illegal in Texas, you can legally enjoy pari-mutuel betting at the state’s three racetracks: Sam Houston Race Park, Lone Star Park and Retama Park. Pari-mutuel betting is a form of betting in which bets are pooled together and then evenly distributed among any winning tickets. It could be viewed as the only state-sanctioned form of legal Texas sports betting.

Casinos

There are three native casinos in Texas which residents can legally enjoy: the Eagle Pass Kickapoo Lucky Eagle, the Aransas Queen Casino, and the Naskila Entertainment Livingston.

Lottery

The Texas State Lottery runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays and gives players a chance to win absolutely enormous sums of money. The biggest ever win in the Texas Lottery was a $145 million prize in 2004.

Biggest Sports to Bet on in Texas

Texas is a huge state with a wide variety of people living there and therefore a big mix of sports fans, too. There are many sports that have become popular to bet on at Texas sportsbooks, including:

Football Betting

Texas is without doubt a football state, many residents are passionate supporters that follow both NFL and NCAA teams. In fact college football stadiums in Texas are considerably bigger than some professional stadiums in other states. Football betting is a great option because it is such a popular sport that there is a huge range of markets available. As such, NFL betting is inevitably hugely popular in Texas.

NBA

The NBA is a very popular betting market and matches tend to see a lot of points scored so it is perfect for over/under, spread, and totals betting. The playing squad of an NBA team is small compared to other sports so players get involved up and down the court, making it a great choice for player prop betting.

MLB

Known as America’s pastime, baseball is naturally a popular betting choice in Texas. The games can be lower scoring so you can take some big swings with the spread and totals betting related to MLB. You can also combine player props for different positions to create game-predicting parlays.

Soccer

The most popular sport in the world is also one of the most popular sports to bet on. People from all over the world are watching and betting on soccer so there is typically a huge range of markets available. With the potential for upsets, double chance markets are popular, bet on forfeitures through card betting, and even wager on what window of time goals will be scored. The possibilities are endless with soccer betting.

Horse Racing

Texas is a massive horse racing state, it is an integral part of Texas culture and has been so for decades. It is one of the few ways you can place bets at retail outlets. On top of horse racing, there is also harness racing on show at Texas racetracks. Three tracks are approved to accept bets: Lone Star Park, Retama Park, and Sam Houston Race Park. At offshore sportsbooks, you can place bets on horse racing at any time and from anywhere. You can bet on the Kentucky Derby, and the UK Grand National, as well as races from all over the world.

Local Teams in TX to Bet on

Texas is a sporting state and one with a massive land area with huge potential for sports teams. We have taken a look at some of the most prominent teams currently based in Texas.

Dallas Cowboys (NFL)

The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports team in the world and have been referred to as ‘America’s Team’ due to their huge popularity across the nation. Despite their popularity and huge valuation they have not reached the Super Bowl since 1995.

Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs & Houston Rockets (NBA)

Texas is home to three NBA franchises, the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and the Houston Rockets. Only the former two were founded in Texas though as the Rockets relocated from San Diego in 1971. The San Antonio Spurs are the most successful and the most recently successful of the three having recorded a Championship win in 2014.

College Sports

Texas has 25 colleges playing in NCAA Division 1, with the Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, and Texas Tech Raiders the three most popular, although there are many huge schools in the state. Football is the top sport, although Texas teams have had national success in a variety of sports including basketball, baseball, track & field, wrestling, and many more.

Houston Astros & Texas Rangers (MLB)

There are two Major League Baseball teams from Texas – the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. In recent years the Astros have become a competitive team often reaching the latter stages, winning the World Series in 2022 and 2017, as well as five of the last six American League Division titles.

Dallas Stars (NHL)

Texas is also home to the Dallas Stars of the NHL, the only major league ice hockey team in the state – they have been perennial playoff contenders over the last decade.

Houston Dynamo (MLB)

Founded in 2005, Houston Dynamo were an instant success after winning the MLS Cup twice in their first two seasons, although success has been hard to find for the soccer team since.

Biggest Betting Events in Texas

Sports betting is not regulated in Texas yet so the biggest events for wagering take place outside the state. Texas sports bettors can use offshore sportsbooks to bet on these events so it is worth taking a look at some popular choices for Texans.

The Super Bowl

As a footballing state, the Super Bowl is a huge event for Texas sports bettors. Although the Cowboys have not made it to the final in this millennium, the event is still one of the biggest sporting events in the world and is also beloved in Texas. It is a great opportunity to explore a wide range of markets and go beyond the typical moneyline, spread, or totals betting.

March Madness

College sports are massive in the state and every year for a few weeks at the end of the first quarter of the year, the sports fans turn their attention to the NCAA basketball tournament. In 2019, the American Gaming Association reported $8.5 billion worth of bets on March Madness games. In 2023, this number was forecasted to reach $15.5 billion from 68 million Americans wagering during March Madness.

The Lone Star Showdown and other Rivalries

When varsity men’s and women’s athletic teams from Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin compete, it is a huge event. The main competition takes place between the two football teams but the rivalry extends to baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, and soccer. When teams from the two colleges meet it is dubbed the Lone Star Showdown

One of the longest uninterrupted rivalries in the history of sports takes place between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners. The Red River Showdown, which originally started in 1900, has occurred every year since 1929 for a total streak of 118 games.

Best Deposit Methods at Texas Sportsbooks

You can choose from a variety of different payment options at sports betting sites in Texas. Each method can fall into one of three different categories which we have detailed below.

Traditional Payment Methods

Many offshore casinos allow players to deposit funds via bank transfer, debit card, or checks. These methods are tried and tested however they can often come with the largest fees and longest processing times.

• Debit card
• Credit card
• Bank transfer
• Wire transfer
• Check

Third-Party Payment Services

Third-party services act as another option that people use to manage money online. PayPal is probably the most prominent example but Skrill is also a big player that is popular with sports bettors. They allow you to carry out transactions quickly but do tend to carry fees. Some sportsbook bonuses are excluded from people depositing with eWallets.

• PayPal
• Skrill
• Google Pay
• Apple Pay

Crypto Payments

As well as depositing and playing with fiat currency, many offshore casinos allow players to deposit and play with variety of cryptocurrencies. The advantage of playing with crypto over fiat currency is that it is anonymous and decentralized, while payments are usually processed instantly.

• Bitcoin
• Ethereum
• USDT
• Dogecoin

Texas Sports Betting Bonuses

Texas sports betting promotions offer all kinds of different bonuses with different availability, different purposes, and always of differing value.

Welcome Bonuses

These are only exclusive to new accounts or only apply to your first deposit. Welcome promotions tend to offer a high percentage match and offer the most generous amounts of bonus funds. They are made this way to attract potential new customers.

Reload Bonuses

Bonus funds that you get from deposit matches applied to any deposit after your first one, are reload bonuses. They tend to be worth much less than the welcome offer. Some sportsbooks offer these every time you deposit whereas other betting sites make them a one-time deal.

Free Bets

It is one of the only types of bonuses that is exclusive to sports betting. Free bets are an opportunity to wager without using any of your own money. Sometimes they can only be used on specific markets or restricted to only parlay bets.

Cashback Bonuses

In the sports betting world, you can get cashback through rebate and bet insurance offers. Sportsbooks offer a percentage of your money back for lost bets on certain sports or across the whole catalog. Bet insurance offers give you your whole bet back as a free bet when your wager fails.

No Deposit Bonuses

These are extremely rare promotions that give you bonus funds without the condition of you making a deposit first. They can be used to entice back a dormant high roller.

Texas Sports Betting Apps & Mobile Sites

All of the sportsbooks on this page allow for mobile sports betting and are accessible from a mobile device whether it is an Android, Apple, or any other smartphone. You can either download a Texas sports betting app or visit their mobile site.

Apple (iOS)

You will not find any of these sportsbooks in the Apple App Store but you can easily access them from any Apple device, be it a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Simply use a mobile browser such as Safari to navigate to the sportsbook website. We recommend Mega Dice for iOS users as you will get all of the same functions and features through your phone as on your desktop device.

Android

Android users can search the Google Play Store for mobile versions of our recommended sportsbooks but we have highlighted Lucky Block as the choice for Android users. It is a fantastic sportsbook that offers the same range of sports both online and via mobile.

How to Sign Up to a Texas Sports Betting Site

If this is your first time placing a bet this step-by-step guide will tell you everything you need to know including everything from making an account, to claiming a bonus, and ultimately placing sports bets.

Step One – Pick a Betting Site that Suits You

Type BetOnline.ag into your browser bar and navigate to their website. Click the green “Join Now” button in the top right-hand corner. For mobile sports betting do the same via browser on your device.

Step Two – Create a Profile

Complete the submission form that you are taken to on a separate page. Fill in all the details including creating a password, and click Create Account at the bottom to proceed.

Step Three – Complete Verification

An email containing a link will be sent to the address you used to register, simply click the link in the email to verify your address.

Step Four – Make a Deposit

Head to the cashier or banking section of your account and click deposit. Choose the method you would like to use and enter an amount. To redeem the BetOnline sports welcome bonus you must deposit at least $55 and use the promo code BET1000. Once you are happy click to confirm.

Step Five – Start Betting

Your real money deposit and bonus funds should be instantly available to use so you can start betting on the 30+ sports on offer.

What is the Best Texas Sportsbook?

After much consideration, our first choice of sports betting site in Texas is BetOnline, thanks to their wide range of sports, intuitive website, and a great collection of sports betting bonuses.

They offer a generous welcome package and a reload bonus for players but one thing we really love about BetOnline is their collection of free bets and bet insurance offers. Their range of betting markets and deposit options makes BetOnline a versatile betting operator that will suit all types of bettor.

Related State Betting Guides

• New York Sports Betting Sites
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• Best Florida Sports Betting Sites
• Best South Carolina Sports Betting Sites
• Wisconsin Sports Betting
• Best Sports Betting Sites in Minnesota
• Missouri Sports Betting Sites
• Best California Sports Betting Sites
• Best Sports Betting Sites in Delaware
• Best Florida Betting Apps
• Best Oklahoma Sports Betting Sites
• Best Texas Betting Apps

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