The state of Texas in the USA is one of the most conservative when it comes to all forms of gambling. Be it a land-based or an online casino, the state has a final say in whether it will be able to provide services to customers. And in 99% of the cases (with a couple of exceptions like tribal and riverboat casinos), the answer is No.

Lobbyists have been systematically trying to push through the bills that would allow games of chance or sports betting. The hope for fans of betting that this activity would become legal were particularly on the rise after the Supreme Court’s historic vote in May of 2018.

In what might have been the biggest shake up in the USA industry  of gambling, by a 6-3 ruling, the judges decided that sports betting would become legal in 47 out of 50 states. The majority of these states immediately began the process of licensing and launching specialized betting venues. Not Texas, though. Since 2019, the local lawmakers and state representatives have been going back and forth with negotiations, field trips to other states, and all sorts of research on the subject. Preparing the ground but not exactly there yet.

At the same time, research analytics shows that Texans are very much in favor of gambling. Due to the absence of in-state gambling venues, players head online, to offshore live casino lobbies. The total gross win for the state of Texas has been fluctuating between 170 to 190 million dollars per year for the past half a decade. It was predicted to pass the $200 mln threshold in 2020 had it not been for the pandemic.

Out of this gross win, the biggest shares fall on sports and casino, two types of content that Texas seem to be interested in the most.

Due to the fact that there are no in-state-licensed online casinos, we can recommend established and licensed international online lobbies.

Bovada Live Casino

Launched in 2011, Bovada Casino has become one of the go-to locations for 100s of American players. Initially a non-live games-only website, it has recently added an awesome portfolio of live games from Visionary iGaming. 

The list of up to 20 games includes live roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Stakes for blackjack and baccarat vary between $5 to $2,500. For roulette, the range is between $1 to $3,000. English is the default language for live dealers. 

The welcome bonuses in this online casino are available both in USD and crypto.

GT Bets Live Casino

With its 10+ years of experience online, GT Bets Casino has lots of positive reviews from the registered players. Targeted at the USA, the website will not be able to accommodate players from certain states but luckily, Texas is not one of them.

As far as the live lobby goes, it is powered by Arrow’s Edge. The studio delivers quite a few roulette releases, including streams from land-based casinos Portomaso and Oracle. There are also quite a few baccarat and blackjack tables. The latter supports 21+3 side-wager which pays up to 100:1 and Perfect Pairs paying a maximum of 25:1. 

The team of GT Bets greets its newbies with a welcome package on more than one initial deposit.

Ducky Luck Live Casino

One of the newer arrivals to the USA-friendly niche, Ducky Luck Casino offers a collection of live dealer releases from Fresh Deck Studios. The list of games is not exactly massive but all the bases are covered. Plus, there will be something for both high and low rollers to choose from.

Depending on whether you choose to wager in USD or BTC (the platform is friendly to both currencies), the welcome bonus will differ. It is definitely higher for those choosing to play in crypto.

Earlier on this page, we stated that there are a few exceptions to the otherwise strictly prohibited casino activity. These exceptions apply to certain forms of land-based gambling. What are those?

Tribal and Riverboat Casinos of Texas

In the United States, the availability of casinos for the Native Americans is regulated separately from the rest of the casinos. Per Texas, there are two land-based places to bet and win qualified as tribal gambling. The first one is the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel. It is located in Eagles Pass, Texas, and it belongs to the Traditional Kickapoo Tribe of Texas. The second one is Naskilla Gaming in Livingston, Texas. It is owned and operated by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. More than for casinos, it is known for its Bingo games.

The only riverboat casino in Texas is The Jacks or Better venue. It takes daily trips out of Galveston and into federal waters, where gambling is legal.

Charitable Gambling in Texas

Charitable gambling in Texas can be held only by a number of organizations, and they are very clearly defined by the law. Each organization has to meet specific tax requests, be functioning for a certain number of years, and meet other requirements. The list of organizations allowed to host charitable gambling includes qualified religious societies, fire departments, medical organizations, and non-profits.

Social Gambling in Texas

Social gambling is allowed so long as it is held on private property and there is no official House. 

Sports Betting Online and Offline in Texas

The only form of offline betting accepted in Texas is greyhound racing. This activity is almost exclusively held in this state only, and it also remains very controversial. As far as online sports betting goes, by the time we were ready to publish this review, it was still officially prohibited. However, the state legislators are currently working on ways to legalize the activity and to start issuing licenses, at least per certain counties.

Lotteries in Texas

Texas State Lottery holds an exclusive license to provide lottery services to Texans. In 2020 it extended its contract with the state for 6 more years.