Online Sports Betting in Texas – Is it Legal? Compare Best TX Sportsbooks & Apps in 2024

Wondering how to begin online sports betting in Texas? You’ve come to the right place. This Texas online sports betting guide contains everything you need to start wagering in Lone Star. Keep reading to learn about the state of legal sports betting in Texas and the best TX sportsbooks for safe offshore wagering.

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The Best Texas Online Sports Betting Sites List 2024

Here are our research-backed rankings of the best sites for online sports betting in Texas.

  1. BetOnline – Overall best Texas sportsbook 2024
  2. MyBookie – Deep markets & tons of promo deals
  3. BetNow – Large variety of NFL contests
  4. Bovada – Best for live sports betting in Texas
  5. Everygame – Excellent live betting features
  6. BetUS – Impressive loyalty reward program
  7. XBet – Speedy crypto payouts
  8. Mega Dice –  Top site for anonymous gambling
  9. Sportsbetting.ag – Extensive variety of soccer markets
  10. Lucky Block – Wide range of markets and instant payouts

More On Gambling In Texas…

Learn about all types of online gambling in Texas in our expert guides below:

Is Sports Betting Legal in Texas?

Unfortunately not. It is currently illegal for gambling businesses to operate within Texas. In fact, the state has been one of the slowest to move forward with legalizing online gambling.

With nearby states rapidly granting sports betting legislation, it is likely that Texas will follow suit sooner or later. However, there’s currently no timeline for when new legislation might happen. For now, however, you can play at any of the offshore betting sites we recommend without breaking any state laws.

Online Sportsbooks

The Lone Star State doesn’t issue online betting licenses, so there are no state-based bookies you can bet with. Still, online gambling in Texas is available through bookies registered and regulated in overseas jurisdictions, such as Panama and Curacao; registering and depositing with these so-called offshore betting sites does not violate gambling regulations.

No.1 TX Sports Betting Site - BetOnline

Land-based Betting

Unfortunately, there are no land-based bookies in Texas, either; the current ban on Texas sports betting extends to retail services, which is unlikely to change in 2021. The only exception is social betting, which is allowed between friends under Section 47 of the Texas Penal Code. As long as a legitimate social relationship exists between participants, you have nothing to fear and can wager at low and high limits.

If you reside in Texas and want to place wagers at a brick-and-mortar establishment, consider driving across to a neighboring state with legal sports betting, such as Arkansas or New Mexico.

If you run into anyone offering land-based sports betting services in Texas, stay clear; that person or entity is operating outside the law, meaning there’s nothing to guarantee the safety of your funds.

Horse Racing & Off Track Betting in Texas

Off-track betting in Texas is one of a handful of betting activities that are legal in TX. All horse racing and greyhound race wagering are monitored by the Texas Gaming Commission, which also oversees the state’s most prominent racing facilities, including the Sam Houston Race Park and the Lone Star Park.

Unfortunately, Texas sports betting laws don’t allow advance deposit wagering (ADW) services, such as TVG and Twinspires, meaning you must place your horse race wagers in person at local race tracks or satellite facilities. Of course, if you’re looking for online horse betting in Texas, you can also use one of our recommended offshore sportsbooks to wager on local and international races without breaking any laws.

Sports Betting Guides by State

Timeline of Texas Sports Betting Legislation

From a sports betting and gambling standpoint, Texas is one of the most conservative states. The Constitution of Texas and deeply rooted Baptist culture make it difficult for a sports betting bill to pass through the Senate and House.

As a result, though there have been several attempts at legalization in recent years, sports wagering in Texas remains illegal. For the most recent news on the push for legal sports betting in TX, see the timeline below:

  • May 11, 2023: HJR 102, a new bill that seeks to pave the way for legal sports betting in Texas, passes through the House with a vote of 101-42 and moves on to the Senate. Its companion bill, HB 1942, also passed through the House with a vote of 82-51.
  • May 2023: Lawmakers postpone Bill HB2843, which seeks to legalize TX sports and casino betting, until further notice.
  • July 2022: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones throws his hat into the ring in support of Texas sports betting legislation
  • August 2021: Caesars Entertainment announces new agreement with Houston Texans.
  • July 2021: An attempt to discuss legal sports betting in Texas was turned down by Gov. Dan Patrick, who postponed further conversations on the topic until 2023.
  • March 2021: D. Patrick’s sentiments were echoed by Christopher Gerlacher of Gaming Today, who said that a Texas sports betting bill is likely to “die in committee” because of several constitutional and social obstacles.
  • February 2021: In a strong statement denouncing sports betting, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said that legal Texas sports betting “won’t see the light of day,” bringing several budding initiatives to a screeching halt.

As you can see, the road to legal sports betting in Texas is likely to be long and difficult. In the meantime, if you’re interested in affecting change, we recommend locating your representative and contacting them to express your interest in legal sports betting in Texas.

Offshore Online Sports Betting in Texas

Current Texas gambling laws neither prohibit nor allow citizens to wager with an offshore sports betting site. That’s why you can join any of the best Texas sportsbooks we recommend above and play for real money without fear of prosecution by law enforcement agencies.

online betting in texas at betonline

However, you need to keep the safety of your funds in mind. Because offshore betting sites are not regulated in Texas and are, therefore, not required to abide by local laws, you’ll have little recourse in case a bookie refuses to pay out your winnings. That’s why it’s doubly important to stick with overseas sportsbooks that are regulated in a reputable jurisdiction and have a verifiable track record of timely payouts spanning several years.

Here at SportsLens, we did the heavy lifting for you; each of the best offshore Texas sports betting sites we recommend above holds a valid gambling license overseas and has withstood the test of time.

As always, we recommend signing up with several best Texas sportsbooks regulated offshore to expand the range of sports and markets you can bet on.

Is DFS Legal in Texas?

Current Texas sports betting laws are murky, making it difficult to ascertain the legality of daily fantasy sports contests. Luckily, most DFS service providers accept wagers from Texas residents, and there are no reported cases of locals being fined or prosecuted for betting on DFS contests. As such, feel free to join any of the country’s top fantasy sports platforms, including:

  • FanDuel
  • DraftKings
  • Yahoo! Fantasy Sports
  • Fantasy Draft

Texas Casino Laws

There are no regulated online casinos in Texas, but there are several land-based gambling venues in the state.

Online Casinos in Texas

Texas does not issue online gambling licenses of any kind, meaning you won’t find a legal online casino in Texas. However, state regulations do not prohibit gambling with an offshore online casino, so you can join a reputable overseas online gambling site today to start playing slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, and other favorites.

We recommend the following offshore online casinos for Texas players:

Land-based Casinos in Texas

Legal land-based gambling in Texas is available but limited.

There are state-run lotteries and raffles, such as the Mega Millions and Lotto Texas. There are also Indian casinos, which, on account of being located on tribal land, are not subject to Texas gambling regulations. Unfortunately, there are currently only two active land-based casinos: the Naskila Gaming Casino in Livingston and the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass.

If you’re adventurous, you can also try one of the state’s casino cruise ships. A great example is the popular Jacks or Better casino boat, which regularly sails out of Galveston several miles into the Gulf of Mexico. The ship has slots, blackjack, roulette, and several other casino favorites on board.

How Gambling is Taxed in Texas

All legal gambling winnings in Texas are subject to a 24% federal tax. Because Texas is one of the nine states without an income tax, the federal tax is the only compulsory contribution levied on gambling winnings.
Best Texas Sportsbooks Reviewed

Now we’ve taken you through the basics of Texas sports betting, let’s take a look at the best offshore sportsbooks that accept Texas players.

Best Sites for Online Sports Betting in Texas Reviewed

Now you know all about the state of online sports betting in Texas, here are our expert reviews of the top offshore sportsbooks available in TX.

1. BetOnline – Overall Best Texas Sportsbook

BetOnline Sportsbook TX

BetOnline Sportsbook  is our number one recommended site for sports betting in Texas. For starters, this popular offshore sportsbook has a huge range of markets across over 25 different sports, including deep markets for all your favorite in-state teams: Houston Astros, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Texas A&M, and more.

This Texas betting site has been around for 20 years and today ranks among the top 50 US sportsbooks in terms of betting volume, so it’s one of the favorites of American bettors. It features live betting with select live streaming, hundreds of team/player prop wagers for the major leagues, and enables bettors to wager multi- and same-game parlays directly from the bet slip.

You can kick things off with a very generous 100% match deposit welcome bonus that’s worth up to $1,000 and can be claimed with the BetOnline promo code BET100. There are also plenty of other existing deals on offer for existing customers.

There are a range of payment methods on offer, from credit cards to cryptocurrencies, and there are also special crypto bonus deals. Payouts are always speedy, so you’ll never be hanging around for your winnings. Additionally. BetOnline is a very secure offshore sportsbook, licensed in Curacao and offering SSL encryption on bank transactions; it’s an overall great choice.

Pros:

  • Large welcome bonus and great promo deals
  • Wide variety of payment methods, including Bitcoin
  • Loads of sports and eSports markets
  • 24/7 live chat support

Cons:

  • Fees for some withdrawal options

2. MyBookie – Best Sports Site for Online Betting in Texas Using Crypto

MyBookie Sportsbook

MyBookie Sportsbook  ranks third in our list of the best online destinations for sports betting in Texas, with loads of great markets and some fantastic bonuses and promo deals up for grabs.

Like BetOnline and Bovada, MyBookie matches all new players’ first deposit by 50% up to a maximum bonus of $1,000 – just make sure you use the LENS MyBookie promo code when registering your account.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of MyBookie betting offers, though. Other deals include regular reload bonuses, an 8% rebate on losing horse racing bets, a 250% referral bonus, and more, so there’s always plenty going on at this popular Texas sportsbook.

MyBookie accepts a variety of payment methods, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, and Bitcoin Cash, and all payments are speedy with fair limits. The customer support is also impressive as this is a secure offshore site, so it’s certainly a great option for online sports betting in Texas.

Pros:

  • Great range of bonuses
  • Very competitive odds
  • Features virtual sports markets
  • Wide range of crypto payments

Cons:

  • No live streaming available

3. BetNow – Large Variety of NFL Contests

BetNow Texas Sports Betting

BetNow has a relatively low welcome bonus compared to other sports betting Texas sites. However, the bookie makes up for this by rewarding regular customers. Returning betters can claim re-up bonuses, and there’s an excellent VIP loyalty program. To activate the welcome bonus, simply enter the required BetNow promo code when making your initial deposit.

The most admirable feature offered by BetNow is the integrated prop builder, usable for all NFL/NBA matchups. This is a good way to add more excitement and potential wins for players. BetNow is also one of the top sports betting Texas sites, offering great odds and dime lines on NHL and MLB games.

The BetNow sports selection is focused specifically on North American markets. Players will, therefore, not find some lesser-known European sports. Even though market depth is shallow in this sense, BetNow has an impressive offering of lines on the NFL, NBA, NCAAF, MLB, and MLS, plus highly competitive odds.

The website allows for easy navigation and is mobile-friendly. Players also have excellent 24/7 customer service and a wide array of payment options to pick from.

Pros:

  • Generous promo code
  • Superb support system for an offshore online casino
  • User-friendly mobile and desktop site
  • Quick deposit and payout processing times

Cons:

  • Relatively smaller welcome bonus

4. Bovada – Best for Live Sports Betting in Texas

Bovada Sportsbook

Bovada is another one of the best sportsbooks for Texas players and is particularly well known for its high-quality live betting services. There are always live markets to bet on, covering both the major US leagues and a variety of other sports from around the world, with lots of different in-play bet types to choose from.

On top of that, Bovada is also one of the few Texas sports betting sites that offers live streaming, meaning you can watch top sporting events in HD while you place and monitor your wagers!

There’s a nice $750 matched deposit welcome bonus available to all new players who sign up with the BTCSWB750 Bovada promo code, as well as regular betting competitions and even a horse betting rebate promo.

Bovada’s site is extremely intuitive on both desktop and mobile, and it also offers an impressive betting app for iPhone and Android. This means you can enjoy its wide range of markets, live streaming, and speedy crypto payments seamlessly from the palm of your hand.

Pros:

  • Excellent range of live betting markets
  • One of few Texas sportsbooks with live streaming
  • Small and large bets accepted
  • Intuitive mobile app

Cons:

  • Relatively small selection of esports markets

5. Everygame – Excellent Live Betting Features

Everygame TX Betting sites

With a reputation of being the first-ever online sportsbook in the US, Everygame is a prominent name in the market. We like the neat interface, which appears pretty standard. One of its major outstanding features is the availability of a casino section catering to different players’ needs.

Players who join the platform receive a 3-tier welcome bonus that requires an Everygame Sportsbook promo code to unlock. This is also one of the best TX sports betting sites in terms of banking, giving players multiple ways to move their funds around. Over and above fiat banking methods, cryptocurrency enthusiasts get a couple of options, like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin, to pick from.

Everygame also has one of the best mobile sports betting sites in Texas, meaning both pre-match and live betting run perfectly on both Android and iOS devices.

Pros:

  • Covers all major sports genres
  • Long-standing brand
  • Excellent choice of ongoing promotions
  • Nifty mobile app

Cons:

  • Payouts sometimes slow

6. BetUS – Biggest Welcome Bonus Among TX Sportsbooks

BetUS Sportsbook

Sure, BetOnline, Bovada, and MyBookie all offer big bonuses to Texan players, but if you’re looking to bag the biggest bonus possible, then make sure you check out BetUS.

This popular Texas betting site offers a huge welcome bonus of up to $2,500 to all new players who sign up with the BetUS promo code JOIN125! Not only is this the biggest sports bonus out there, but it’s also a 125% match on your first deposit, so you get more bang for your buck than with other bonuses.

You can then use your free bet tokens to bet on the fantastic range of sports on the BetUS Sportsbook  site and mobile app, with a particularly good variety of markets for NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL for both pre-game and live betting.

The huge welcome deal isn’t the only bonus up for grabs, as there are also other great promos, including an unlimited reload bonus. BetUS also offers an impressive online casino, so it’s a great option if you’re a fan of casino games, too.

Pros:

  • Huge welcome bonus
  • Unlimited referral bonus deal
  • Excellent markets for US sports
  • Fast crypto payouts

Cons:

  • Less soccer markets than some bookies

Top 10 Texas Sportsbooks Comparison

Now we’ve reviewed the best Texas sports betting sites, let’s take a closer look at how they match up against one another in terms of bonuses, payment methods, and features.

Sportsbook Number of Sports Welcome Bonus Live Streaming Payment Methods
BetOnline 20+ 100% deposit match up to $1,000 Yes Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Ethereum, Litecoin
MyBookie 20+ 100% deposit match up to $1,000 No Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Ethereum, Litecoin
BetNow 10+ 100% deposit match up to $1,000 No Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash
Bovada 20+ 100% Bitcoin deposit match up to $750 Yes Credit card, debit card, Zelle, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin
Everygame 20+ up to $500 matched bonus No Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Skrill
BetUS 20+ 125% deposit match up to $2,500 Yes Credit card, bank wire, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin
XBet 20+ 100% deposit match up to $500 No Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin
Lucky Block 30+ 200% deposit match up to $10,000 No Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple + 10 other cryptocurrencies, Apple Pay, Google Pay
SportsBetting.ag 20+ 100% deposit match up to $1,000 Yes Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple
Mega Dice 30+ 200% deposit match up to 1 BTC No Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple + 6 other cryptocurrencies, Apple Pay, Google Pay

How to Bet on Sports in Texas Sportsbooks

Now, we’ll show you how you can begin sports betting in Texas using our top-ranked sportsbook, BetOnline.

Step 1: Create a BetOnline Account

To get started with BetOnline, head to the sportsbook’s website and click ‘Join Now.’ Simply provide your name, email, phone number, date of birth, and password to register with the TX sportsbook.BetOnline Create Account

Step 2: Verify Your Email

To finish creating your account, simply click the verification link BetOnline sends you via email.

Step 3: Deposit Funds

You can deposit into your Texas online sports betting account with a debit card, credit card, bank transfer, or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple. Remember, how much you deposit determines the size of the bonus you get. BetOnline Make a Deposit

Step 4: Start Betting

Now it’s time to begin sports betting in Texas with BetOnline. Simply browse the selection of markets, pick out the one you want to wager on and set your bets!

betonline-lobby

Conclusion on Texas Online Sports Betting

Legal Texas sports betting isn’t yet a thing. The road toward full legalization will be lengthy, and several attempts will be necessary to overcome the state’s deeply rooted resistance to gambling. Until sports betting in Texas becomes regulated, you can bet on sports through any of the best Texas sportsbooks located offshore that we recommend above.

BetOnline is our number one recommended site for sports betting in Texas. The bookmaker has a huge range of markets across 25 different sports, so there’s something for everyone. In addition to a massive welcome bonus and a variety of banking options, BetOnline ranks as one of the top 50 US sportsbooks in terms of volume.

Texas Sports Betting FAQs

When will sports betting be legal in Texas?

What is the best sportsbook in Texas?

What sportsbooks take bets from Texas residents?

Is DraftKings Sportsbook Legal in Texas?

Is online sports betting legal in Texas?

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