Sports Betting In Texas
Welcome to Sports Betting in Texas, your comprehensive resource for sports betting in the Lone Star State. Although Texas has yet to legalize sports betting through state-regulated platforms, many residents turn to offshore sportsbooks as an alternative. Here, we provide valuable insights into the current landscape of sports betting in Texas, including legal considerations, available betting options, and tips for ensuring a safe and enjoyable betting experience. Whether you're a seasoned bettor or a first-time player, our goal is to equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions.
Can You Bet Online In Texas?
Currently, you cannot legally bet online in Texas through state-regulated sportsbooks, as the state has not yet legalized sports betting. However, many Texas residents use offshore sportsbooks, which operate outside of Texas gambling laws. While these platforms offer a way to wager, they are not subject to U.S. regulations, so it's important to ensure you’re using a reputable site.
Texas Sports Betting Sites
When using offshore sportsbooks to bet online in Texas, ensuring the site is reputable is crucial for protecting your money and personal information. Here are a few key factors to consider and reviews of the best Texas sports betting sites.
- Licensing and Regulation: Check if the site is licensed by a recognized international authority, such as the Curacao eGaming Commission or Panama’s Gaming Control Board.
- Positive User Reviews: Research user feedback to see if the sportsbook has a history of timely payouts, good customer service, and fair play.
- Security Features: Look for secure encryption (SSL certificates), which protect your data during transactions, and ensure they offer secure banking methods, like PayPal or cryptocurrency.
- Bonus Offers: Reputable sportsbooks often have clear terms for promotions. Avoid those with vague or overly complicated bonus policies.
- Customer Support: A quality sportsbook will have responsive customer support, often available 24/7 via chat, email, or phone.
Bovada Sportsbook - The Standout Sportsbook For Texas College Betting
Bovada is known as one of the best online sportsbooks for Texas residents because of its share of the college betting lines. For almost every D1 sports team, you'll find hundreds of bets per game and thousands of wagers during the year. Bovada odds on the Longhorns are easy to find, just like the odds for SMU football or player props bets on Baylor basketball. It's a top choice for college football and basketball bettors but Bovada also has college baseball odds, volleyball, wrestling, track and much more. Of course, there are even more pro sports to consider too.
- College sports betting props
- Live betting on college football and basketball
- Easy navigation through all sports
SportsBetting's Sportsbook - Thousands Of Prop Sports Betting Odds In Texas
SportsBetting excels in pro sports betting wagers, featuring Texas teams like the Cowboys and Rockets at the bare minimum. Just with these two teams, the platform offers over 10,000 betting chances per year. With so many bet types including moneylines and spreads, prop bets and futures, they have a solid reputation for timely payouts and customer service. It’s an excellent choice for first time sports bettors in Texas as well.
- Great for Texas pro sports fans
- Competitive odds across all leagues
- Reliable payouts and customer support
BetOnline Sportsbook - Get Free Play At The Texas Sportsbook And Casino
BetOnline provides enticing bonuses that integrate with its casino, horse betting, and sportsbook offerings. New users can take advantage of generous promotions, enhancing their Texas sports betting bankroll. BetOnline's strong reputation for security and transparency on social media make them favorable among Millennials and Gen X bettors. But the younger crowd also enjoys BetOnline for the silly prop bets.
- Attractive bonus offers for new users
- Many deposit and withdrawal options
- Strong reputation for security and transparency
Is Sports Betting Legal In Texas?
Land-based sports betting is illegal in Texas. The state has not licensed any in-person sports betting venues, such as sportsbooks in casinos, racetracks, or other betting facilities. While there are a few tribal casinos in Texas, they are limited to Class II gaming (like bingo) and do not offer traditional sports betting. As of now, Texans must travel out of state or rely on offshore sportsbooks for their betting options.
What States Near Texas Have Sports Betting
Several states near Texas offer legal sports betting either online, in person or both. Each has different regulations, so checking their specific laws is essential.
- New Mexico: Tribal casinos offer in-person sports betting, though there are no online or mobile betting options.
- Arkansas: Sports betting is legal at both retail sportsbooks and online through mobile apps.
- Louisiana: Fully legalized sports betting, including online and in-person betting at casinos and racetracks.
What Efforts Are Being Made To Legalize Sports Betting In Texas?
Efforts to change the answer to ‘is sports betting legal in Texas’ have gained momentum, though no laws have changed yet, Still, several bills have been introduced in recent years aimed to legalize sports betting through constitutional amendments. This would require voter approval, which polls indicate there is growing support. Also, major Texas sports franchises like the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Cowboys, and Houston Astros have expressed support for lawmakers to advance legislation.
However, opposition from conservative groups and key lawmakers continues to pose challenges due to moral, religious, or social concerns. For example, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who holds significant power in the state Senate, has repeatedly blocked sports betting bills, stating they lack support among conservative voters. Further, groups like the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission have been vocal against changing Texas sports betting laws citing fears of addiction, financial harm, and negative societal impacts.
Can I Bet On College Sports In Texas? Player Props?
Yup. It doesn't matter who you support. There will be Texas college football odds available all year long. Likewise, the basketball odds for Texas colleges start in October and end with March Madness. Every recommended sportsbook on this page offers Texas college player prop bets. Here are some of the universities you can bet on.
- University of Texas at Austin
- Texas A&M University
- Rice University
- Texas Tech University
- University of Houston
- University of North Texas
- Baylor University
- Texas State University
- Sam Houston State University
Can Texas Residents Use Cryptocurrency or Alternative Methods To Place Sports Bets?
Yes, you can use cryptocurrency to place sports bets online in Texas. Many sportsbooks accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether and even Dogecoin. Easy to deposit and paid out that way too, it's one of the safest transfer methods for high rollers. Alternatively, there are many popular banking apps that you can use to get real money into your Texas sports betting site.
- Zelle
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Cash App
- Google Pay
- Samsung Pay
What’s the Easiest Way To Start Betting On Sports In Texas?
The easiest bet to make in sports betting is typically a moneyline bet. Here’s why: It's simple where all you are doing is choosing who will win a game or match. There are no complicated point spreads or totals to calculate and the odds are clearly stated. While reading odds can be a challenge for newbies, the sportsbooks in Texas will show you what your payout would be before you submit the wager. These bets are widely available in nearly every sport, making them easy to find. This can help build confidence and understand sports betting in Texas before betting the big bucks.
- Major events like the World Cup or the Super Bowl are great to get started. There are even Olympic betting sites in Texas with odds on every sport and athlete.
What Other Types of Gambling Does Texas Allow?
Texas allows several forms of gambling, including the state lottery, (scratch-offs and draw games such as Powerball and Mega Millions). Charitable gaming is also permitted, enabling nonprofit organizations to conduct bingo games and raffles for fundraising. But horse racing is one of the most famous, with live and simulcast events allowed. While most casino gambling in Texas is illegal, a few Native American casinos operate under federal law, providing limited gaming options (no table games).
Additionally, daily fantasy sports (DFS) platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel are available to Texas residents, allowing participation in fantasy sports contests for cash prizes. Informal social gambling among friends and family, such as poker games, is permitted as long as no one profits from organizing the game. Overall, Texas has strict laws regarding many forms of gambling, but there are still some regulated options available. Of course, the best Texas sports betting sites perform pretty much all of these gambling styles.