Online Casinos Texas
In the first place, you should know that there are no legal online casinos Texas can offer you. They are forbidden by the Texas online gambling laws and you should avoid them if you want to stay on the safe side. Find out other important facts in this guide where we will analyze the current legal situation and whether there are any legal casinos and games in the state at all.
- Texas gambling law checked by experts
- Overview of current Texas online gambling scene
- Look into the future of online casinos in Texas
- 0 Legal Online Casinos
- 0 Legal Land Based Casinos
- 0 Legal Bingo / Lottery Games
- 10 Legal social Casinos
- Responsible Gaming
- National Indian Gaming Commission
Texas Online Casinos – All TX Gambling Laws
There are many legal ways to gamble in Texas. However, you should know that this state takes online gaming very seriously, and you can follow all the regulation updates for more details. Shortly put, the online casinos Texas regulations and the current gambling laws are such that you are not allowed to play at offshore sites as well. Other than that, you can take advantage of pari-mutuel wagering, land-based and riverboat casinos, as well as card rooms and bingo establishments throughout the state.
The most popular of them are the land-based Indian casinos in Texas. A bit of rather recent news is that the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta tribes of Texas could be allowed to offer legal gaming services. So far, the Federal Restoration Act of 1987 does not permit them to do so. The Supreme Court should decide whether they will be allowed to run other Indian casinos in Texas under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. So hopefully, there will be more alternatives to the Texas online casinos shortly.
Gambling in Texas: History
There are many important dates and facts in the history of the Texas gambling laws. This state is a little bit more conservative than other US states, and yet, its gambling background dates back to The Great Depression during the 1930s. Back then, in 1933, pari-mutuel betting was legalized to boost state revenues, only to be banned again only after four years in 1937. Luckily, a referendum from 1987 legalized pari-mutuel wagering, and it is legal nowadays as well.
Another interesting fact in the history of gambling in Texas is that casino cruises were allowed with the inception of IGRA in 1988. Only a few years later, the Texas State Lottery became the newest legal form of gambling. The following years up to 2008 were years of several disputes between the Texan tribes and the government. Only one tribe, the Kickapoo Tribe, was allowed to operate a legal casino facility. Yet, you can find plenty of gaming venues, such as bingo halls and poker rooms, operated legally by different Indian tribes in Texas. Nevertheless, the TX online casinos are considered illegal by the Texas online gambling laws.
History of Gambling in the U.S. in General
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement
- West Virginia Lottery
- Michigan Gaming Control Board
The Federal Wire Act of 1961
This is a federal law that prohibits several types of gambling activities in the U.S. For example, placing a bet on sports events or contests was illegal by this law. The Wire Act of 1961 also criminalized those who received money or any credit as a result of placing wagers. The Wire Act was introduced in 1956, and after five years, it was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy. After that, the Wire Act was succeeded by many other local regulations and Texas online gambling laws to shape the legal situation as we know it today.
Online Poker and Black Friday 2011
This is a famous event from 2011 when the Department of Justice shut down some of the biggest online poker sites in the U.S. The US federal law does not permit online gambling. However, these sites were accepting players. The Black Friday 2011 event also applies to online gambling Texas laws. That’s why online poker Texas sites are considered illegal. Yet, it could be legalized along with the Texas online casinos when the time comes.
Legal Casino Games in America
Online Blackjack
The game of 21 is a world-renowned cards pastime that modern technologies have made it possible to be enjoyed online or when you are on the go. Sadly, there are no legal casinos with online blackjack in Texas, so it is recommended to avoid any site that offers it. In many other states, such as New Jersey, West Virginia, and Michigan, you can do it legally.
This game has many online variants, including Multihand, Spanish 21, Surrender, and 21+3. Online blackjack is famous for its exceptionally high RTP percentage. This is one of the main characteristics of the game that set it apart from the others. Unluckily, you cannot play it at a real money online casino Texas site. If you really love cards games, you should try some poker variants on an exotic party cruise or a casino bus tour in Texas.
Online Roulette
This is another popular online game, which is banned by the online gambling Texas regulation. That’s why a better option would be to avoid searching for online roulette in Texas. Instead, you should enjoy this game during a trip to another state, such as Delaware or New Jersey. Online roulette allows you to place some exceptionally high bets, so it is recommended for high roller players.
It would have been nice to play roulette at legal online casinos in Texas. Perhaps, the most popular variant of this iconic table among the Texan players would be American Roulette. There are two other popular variants – European and French Roulette. So, if you happen to visit a state with legal online casinos, this table game is highly recommended!
Video and Classic Slots
Of course, you can find some of the best slot machines in a wide variety of gambling venues in Texas, such as riverboats and Indian casinos. However, you cannot play legally any kind of online slots in Texas. You can do so in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, but not in Texas. They are forbidden by the Texas gambling laws, and your only option is to visit a land-based casino facility to play on a slot terminal.
When it comes down to online slots, you should know that they are available in several top variations. Typically, the video slots are the most numerous type of games at any online casino. The online operators feature huge portfolios with video slots, such as Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst and many other popular titles released by top software providers. Other types of online slots include classic games with only one payline and three reels, as well as progressive jackpot slots. Don’t forget that you cannot play them legally in Texas, though!
Online Poker
As we already mentioned about the online poker bans from the Black Friday 2011, there are no TX online casinos that offer this type of gambling game legally. Otherwise, online poker is one of the most popular games for many players in the U.S., and it even transformed many of them into professional poker players. You can find such regulated online poker games, such as Three Card Poker or Texas Hold’em, in New Jersey, for example.
If you would like to play online poker in Texas, you can still enjoy a real face-to-face tournament in many legal facilities owned by the Indian tribes. The poker halls are also famous among the high roller players because some tables allow very high buy-ins, and the stakes are very high. So, if you want to stay on the safe side, please don’t play poker online in Texas and instead do it in a licensed land-based poker room!
Best Indian Casino Facilities in Texas
| Lucky Eagle Casino | 🍒 3300 slot machines, 🃏 10+ table games |
|---|---|
| Naskila Gaming Casino | 🍒 800 slot machines, 🃏 0 table games |
| WinStar World (TX/OK) | 🍒 8600+ slot machines, 🃏 150+ table games |
Land-Based vs Online Casinos: Top Advantages & Setbacks
There are only a few licensed land-based casinos in Texas, and they offer a fantastic option to gamble legally in the state. Another top advantage of land-based casinos is that they are easily accessible and offer their guests a wide variety of other benefits. Examples include fine dining restaurants, accommodations, loyalty programs, high limit lounges, and regular promotions. Of course, the Texas land-based casinos have their setbacks, such as the lack of blackjack and roulette tables.
By contrast, at an online casino, you can find almost every type of gambling game. However, there are no legal online casinos in Texas, and that’s why you should not try to gamble online at all, even when it comes down to online poker and bingo. All types of online games are illegal by the Texas online gambling laws.
The Future of Online Casinos Texas
Lack of Regulation for Online Gambling in Texas
Except for the few licensed Indian poker rooms and social gaming venues, little can be done to stay on the legal side if you want to play gambling games in Texas. The Texas online gambling laws do not change very frequently, so there might be at least a few years until changes are made. So far, there are no legal online casinos in Texas, and if you try to play at an offshore site, it might be reviewed as a crime by the Texan authorities.
There is no specific statute or gaming law that concerns online gaming in Texas, and therefore it is easy to find some loopholes in the laws. This lack of regulation could be changed in the future in a good way. Until then, you can still play casino games in Texas legally, but you are not allowed to do it online. Instead, the big land-based casinos, the river cruises or the poker rooms and bingo halls are your best alternatives for the moment.
Our Verdict: Avoid Playing at Illegal Online Casinos Texas
FAQs About TX Online Casinos
Many Texan players want to play online but there are no legal online casinos in Texas. That’s why those players often have questions and it is important to have the right answers in advance. So, please read the following short FAQs about the online gambling Texas laws!
Online Casinos and Land-Based Casinos in the Other States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming