Quick Legal Status
| Field | Status |
|---|---|
| State | Texas |
| Online Casino Games | Not legal |
| Online Sports Betting | Not legal |
| Online Poker | Not legal |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Unregulated — operators accept TX players |
| State Lottery | Yes — no online sales (banned September 2025) |
| Minimum Gambling Age | 21 tribal casinos · 18 lottery / bingo / parimutuel |
| Regulatory Body | TDLR (lottery/bingo) · Texas Racing Commission (parimutuel) |
| Last Legal Update | September 2025 — SB 3070 abolished Texas Lottery Commission; internet lottery sales banned |
Legal Overview
Texas is one of the largest US states without legal online gambling. Online casino games, online sports betting, and online poker are all prohibited under Texas Penal Code Chapter 47. Despite its population of over 30 million — making it the second-largest state by population — Texas has no state-licensed online gambling of any kind, and gambling expansion bills have repeatedly failed in the state legislature.
What Texas does offer is limited: a state lottery (with no online sales as of September 2025), three tribal casinos operating electronic bingo under federal law, charitable bingo and raffles, parimutuel horse racing, and daily fantasy sports in an unregulated gray area.
What’s Legal
- State lottery: The Texas Lottery offers scratch-off tickets, Lotto Texas, Powerball, Mega Millions, and other draw games. Players must be 18 or older. Online lottery sales are not available — SB 3070 (signed June 2025, effective September 1, 2025) made it a Class A misdemeanor to order, purchase, or sell lottery tickets by telephone, internet, or mobile app.
- Tribal casinos: Three federally recognized tribes operate Class II gaming facilities (electronic bingo). See the Tribal Casinos section below.
- Charitable bingo: Licensed non-profit organizations may conduct bingo sessions (max 3 per week, max $750 prize per game). Regulated by TDLR.
- Charitable raffles: Qualified organizations may hold up to 2 raffles per year with non-cash prizes (max $50,000; $250,000 if the prize is a house).
- Parimutuel wagering: Horse racing is legal under the Texas Racing Act. Three active Class 1 tracks operate in the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston metro areas.
- Daily fantasy sports: DFS operates in a legal gray area. No Texas law specifically authorizes or prohibits DFS. DraftKings and FanDuel accept Texas players. The Texas Attorney General has not issued a formal opinion declaring DFS illegal.
- Social gambling exception: Texas Penal Code Sec. 47.02 exempts gambling in a private place where no person receives economic benefit other than personal winnings, and the chances of winning are the same for all participants. This covers private home poker games but does not extend to commercial operations.
What’s Not Legal
- Online casino games — No state-licensed online casino framework exists.
- Online sports betting — Illegal in all forms (retail and online). SJR 16 (2025) proposed destination resort casinos with retail sports betting but died in committee.
- Online poker — No state-licensed or regulated online poker exists.
- Commercial casinos — Texas has no state-authorized commercial casinos.
Regulatory Structure
| Authority | Jurisdiction | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | State lottery, charitable bingo (as of September 2025) | tdlr.texas.gov |
| Texas Racing Commission | Parimutuel wagering (horse racing) | txrc.texas.gov |
| National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) | Federal oversight of tribal gaming | nigc.gov |
| Tribal gaming commissions | Individual tribe-level regulation under IGRA | Varies by tribe |
Note: The Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) was abolished effective September 1, 2025 under SB 3070. Lottery and charitable bingo oversight was transferred to TDLR.
Minimum Gambling Ages
| Activity | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Tribal casinos | 21 |
| Texas Lottery (all games) | 18 |
| Charitable bingo | 18 |
| Daily fantasy sports | 18 (operator-set) |
| Parimutuel wagering | 18 |
Offshore Online Casinos
Because Texas has not legalized online casino games, online sports betting, or online poker, some Texas residents access offshore online casinos for slots, table games, and sports wagering. These platforms operate outside state regulation. No Texas state agency has jurisdiction over offshore online gambling.
MobileCasinoParty earns commissions from casino referrals through affiliate partnerships. This does not affect our ratings or reviews. Read our full Terms of Use for details.
Important: Offshore online casinos are not subject to the same consumer protections as state-licensed operators. Texas Penal Code Chapter 47 criminalizes gambling broadly, and using offshore casinos could theoretically fall under this statute — though enforcement against individual players is effectively nonexistent.
Offshore Operators and Texas
All five offshore casinos reviewed by MobileCasinoParty accept Texas players.
| Operator | Accepts TX | License | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | Yes | Kahnawake Gaming Commission | Read Review |
| Wild Casino | Yes | Panama Gaming Commission | Read Review |
| Ignition Casino | Yes | Curaçao eGaming / Anjouan Gaming Board | Read Review |
| Cafe Casino | Yes | Curaçao eGaming Authority | Read Review |
| Slots.LV | Yes | Curaçao eGaming Authority | Read Review |
Texas Lottery
The Texas Lottery is one of the largest and longest-running state lotteries in the United States. It was authorized by HB 54 during a special session of the 72nd Legislature in August 1991 and began operations on May 29, 1992.
Current Lottery Offerings
| Game Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Draw games | Lotto Texas, Powerball, Mega Millions, Texas Two Step, Pick 3, Daily 4, Cash Five, All or Nothing |
| Scratch-offs | Multiple price points ($1–$100) |
| Online purchases | Not available — banned as of September 1, 2025 |
SB 3070 and the End of Online Lottery Access
SB 3070 (89th Legislature, signed June 20, 2025) made three major changes:
- Abolished the Texas Lottery Commission. Lottery and charitable bingo oversight transferred to TDLR, effective September 1, 2025.
- Banned internet lottery sales. Ordering, purchasing, or selling lottery tickets by telephone, internet, or mobile app is now a Class A misdemeanor. This ended the Jackpocket ticket courier service.
- Added new criminal penalties. Selling 100 or more lottery tickets to one person in a single transaction is a Class B misdemeanor.
Tribal Casinos
Texas has three tribal casino facilities, all operating under IGRA. All three offer Class II gaming only — electronic bingo machines. None offer Class III gaming (table games, poker, or true slot machines).
| Casino | Tribe | Location | Gaming Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel | Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas | Eagle Pass | Class II — electronic bingo |
| Speaking Rock Entertainment Center | Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (Tigua) | El Paso | Class II — electronic bingo |
| Naskila Gaming | Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas | Livingston | Class II — electronic bingo |
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2022 (Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas) that the Restoration Act’s language allowed the tribes to offer bingo games free of state regulation. Tribal casinos in Texas are regulated by the NIGC and individual tribal gaming commissions — NOT by any state agency.
Horse Racing and Parimutuel Wagering
| Track | Class | Location | Metro Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Star Park | Class 1 | Grand Prairie | Dallas-Fort Worth |
| Retama Park | Class 1 | Selma | San Antonio |
| Sam Houston Race Park | Class 1 | Houston | Houston |
Recent Legal Changes
| Date | Change | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2025 | SB 3070 signed | Abolished TLC; transferred oversight to TDLR; banned internet lottery sales (Class A misdemeanor); effective September 1, 2025 |
| Feb–June 2025 | SJR 16 died in committee | Sen. Carol Alvarado’s proposal for 7 destination resort casinos + retail sports betting + Texas Gaming Commission — never received a committee hearing |
| May 2023 | HJR 102 passed Texas House | Rep. Jeff Leach’s sports betting bill passed the House — died in the Senate without a committee assignment |
| 2023 | SJR 17 died in committee | Sen. Alvarado’s casino + sports betting proposal — died in Senate State Affairs committee |
Key Legislative History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Texas Lottery authorized (HB 54); voters approved November 5, 1991 |
| 1992 | First lottery ticket sold May 29 |
| 2022 | U.S. Supreme Court rules in Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas — tribes may offer bingo free of state regulation |
| 2023 | HJR 102 (sports betting) passes House, dies in Senate; SJR 17 (casinos + sports betting) dies in Senate committee |
| 2025 | SB 3070 abolishes TLC (effective September 1); SJR 16 (casinos + sports betting) dies in Senate committee |
Responsible Gambling Resources
Texas does not operate a state-funded problem gambling helpline. Because Texas has very limited legal gambling, its responsible gambling infrastructure is minimal. Individual tribal casinos may offer voluntary self-exclusion programs — contact each facility directly for details.
| Organization | Phone | Website | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCPG | 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) | ncpgambling.org | 24/7/365 |
| NCPG Text/Chat | Text 800GAM | ncpgambling.org/chat | 24/7/365 |
| Gamblers Anonymous | (909) 931-9056 | gamblersanonymous.org | Meetings vary |
| 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | 988 (call or text) | 988lifeline.org | 24/7/365 |
| SAMHSA | 1-800-662-4357 (HELP) | samhsa.gov | 24/7/365 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online gambling legal in Texas?
No. Online casino games, online sports betting, and online poker are all illegal in Texas. Texas Penal Code Chapter 47 broadly prohibits gambling, and no legislation authorizing any form of online gambling has been enacted.
Is sports betting legal in Texas?
No. Sports betting is not legal in Texas in any form — neither retail nor online. Bills have been introduced repeatedly (most recently HJR 102 in 2023, which passed the House but died in the Senate, and SJR 16 in 2025, which died in committee). No gambling expansion legislation has ever passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature.
Does Texas have casinos?
Texas has three tribal casino facilities: Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel (Eagle Pass), Speaking Rock Entertainment Center (El Paso), and Naskila Gaming (Livingston). All three offer Class II electronic bingo only — not Class III gaming such as table games or true slot machines. Texas has no state-authorized commercial casinos.
Can I use Bovada in Texas?
Yes. Unlike states such as Michigan and Ohio where Bovada has been restricted following state enforcement actions, Bovada accepts Texas players. Texas has no gaming commission with enforcement authority over online gambling operators. However, Bovada is not licensed or regulated in Texas and operates from an offshore jurisdiction.
Can I buy lottery tickets online in Texas?
No. As of September 1, 2025, it is a Class A misdemeanor to order, purchase, or sell lottery tickets by telephone, internet, or mobile app in Texas. SB 3070 banned all internet lottery sales and effectively ended the Jackpocket ticket courier service.
What is the minimum gambling age in Texas?
Tribal casinos require players to be 21. The Texas Lottery, charitable bingo, parimutuel wagering, and daily fantasy sports all have a minimum age of 18.
Is daily fantasy sports legal in Texas?
DFS operates in a legal gray area in Texas. No Texas law specifically authorizes or prohibits it. DraftKings and FanDuel accept Texas players, and the Texas Attorney General has not issued a formal opinion declaring DFS illegal.
What happened to the Texas Lottery Commission?
The Texas Lottery Commission was abolished effective September 1, 2025 under SB 3070. Lottery and charitable bingo oversight was transferred to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
Related Guides
- USA Online Casinos — Full state-by-state guide hub
- Nevada Gambling Guide — Online poker and sports betting legal
- New Jersey Gambling Guide — Full iGaming market since 2013
- Ohio Gambling Guide — Sports betting legal; no online casino
- Florida Gambling Guide — Tribal compact sports betting
- Pennsylvania Gambling Guide — Full iGaming market
- Michigan Gambling Guide — Full iGaming market
- Bovada Casino Review — Accepts Texas players
- Wild Casino Review — Accepts Texas players
- Ignition Casino Review — Accepts Texas players
- Cafe Casino Review — Accepts Texas players
- Slots.LV Review — Accepts Texas players
