Online casinos are illegal in Texas. The only legal way to play casino-style games is through social casinos, which offer free play and the chance to win real prizes.
Legal Gambling Age in Texas: | 21+ |
Latest Online Gambling Bill: | 2023: Senate Joint Resolution 17 (SJR 17) |
Who Will Regulate Online Casinos in TX: | Texas Legislature (if legalized) |
Expected Real Money Casinos: | BetMGM, Caesars Palace, DraftKings, Golden Nugget, BetRivers, Fanatics, Horseshoe |
Number of Social Casinos in Texas: | 20+ |
Number of Land-Based Texas Casinos: | 3 |
Texas doesn’t currently allow online casino gambling, and past efforts to legalize it have stalled due to lack of legislative support. Some tribal casinos, like the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle, run under federal rules — but there are no state deals in place to allow online casino games.
Despite growing public interest and new proposals like Senate Joint Resolution 16 and House Joint Resolutions 134 and 137, state leaders continue to oppose expanding gambling.
Some lawmakers play a major role in shaping the future of online gambling in Texas. Here’s where a few of them stand:
Choosing to play at offshore sites comes with significant risks, and we don’t recommend it. Here are a few reasons why:
Texas has strict gambling rules, so only a few tribal casinos are allowed, and even then, the games are mainly limited to bingo-style machines.
Casino | Town/City | Opening Hours |
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel | Eagle Pass | 24 hours |
Naskila Gaming | Livingston | 24 hours |
Speaking Rock Entertainment Center | El Paso | 24 hours |
Even though gambling is limited in Texas, it’s still important to stay in control and know where to get help if it becomes a problem. Here are a few trusted resources for support:
Texas Gambling Helpline
Website: www.texasgamblinghelp.org
Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
Gamblers Anonymous Texas
Website: www.gatexas.org
No, online gambling isn’t legal in Texas. You can’t use real-money casino sites, but you can play on social or sweepstakes casinos since they don’t involve actual betting.
You must be 18 in Texas to play the lottery, join bingo games, or bet on horse races. To gamble at tribal casinos like the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle, you must be 21. Some places may have stricter age rules, so checking before you go is always a good idea.
Texas doesn’t have a state income tax, so you won’t owe anything to the state on your gambling winnings. But the federal government still taxes those winnings; you must report them when you file your federal taxes. Big wins might even have taxes taken out before you get your money.