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No, sports betting is not currently legal in Texas.
The Lone Star State has not legalized sports betting and doesn’t feature regulated sportsbooks. However, you can still find sports betting through offshore sites.
Below, we review all the recent updates and legislative efforts concerning Texas sports betting to keep you informed.
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Texas Sports Betting Updates
State lawmakers have tried legalizing Texas sports betting over the past few years. While online gambling in Texas is available thanks to offshore operators, the local situation is still up in the air.
The following timeline shows notable events involving sports betting in Texas.
- February 2021: Betting sites, Texas pro sports teams, and lobbyists form the Sports Betting Alliance, pledging to fight for legal TX sportsbooks.
- May 31, 2021: The legislative session ends with no commitment to legalizing sports betting.
- November 17, 2022: State Sen. Carol Alvarado files casino and sports betting legislation called SRJ 17.
- January 15, 2023: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones voices his support for legal Texas sports betting.
- February 6, 2023: Rep. Jeff Leach introduces HJR 102 and HB 1942 to the TX legislature. HJR 102 would amend the state constitution to permit online sports betting in Texas, while HB 1942 would legalize online TX sportsbooks.
- April 13, 2023: Texas’s 11 professional sports franchises announce their support for land-based and online sports betting in Texas.
- May 10, 2023: The state House passes HJR 102 by a vote of 97-44.
- May 11, 2023: The state House approves HB 1942 by an 82-51 margin.
- May 13, 2023: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces that sports betting legislation will not receive a Senate vote due to a lack of support among senators.
- May 25, 2023: The 2023 legislative session wraps up, marking yet another year without legal sports betting in Texas.
- November 7, 2023: Billionaire Mark Cuban announces his support for TX casino resorts.
- February 2024: Lawmakers revive efforts to legalize sports betting, citing revenue potential and public demand
- June 2024: A number of Texas pro sports teams unite in advocating for regulated sports betting, including the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Astros.
- September 2024: Opposition from conservative groups and lawmakers emerges, raising concerns over gambling addiction and societal impacts
- November 2024: State Senator Carol Alvarado files Senate Joint Resolution 16 (SJR 16), proposing a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gaming at destination resorts and authorize sports wagering.
- February 12, 2025: State Representative Sam Harless introduces House Joint Resolution 134 (HJR 134), proposing a constitutional amendment to legalize regulated sports betting
- March 12, 2025: Once again, opposition emerges from key Republican lawmakers, who declared the bills “dead on arrival” in the Texas House
Latest Texas Legal Sports Betting Information
- Legalized: ❌
- Legal age for sports betting: N/A
- Retail sports betting: ❌
- Online sports betting: ❌ (Offshore sportsbooks only)
- Daily fantasy sports: ❌
- Horse racing: ✅, legal since 1987
- Lottery: ✅, legal since 1991
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Texas?
No. The state legislature has not passed any sports bills to date. Most Texas sports betting legislation that’s introduced never makes it out of committee hearings.
However, HB 1942 and HJR 102 garnered serious attention from lawmakers. These bills even passed the House before fizzling out due to Lt. Gov. Patrick’s opposition. The state legislature meets every two years, meaning politicians can revisit the topic of legal sports betting in Texas in 2027.
Until then, unregulated sports betting is the only option for Texas bettors.
Are Sports Betting Apps Legal in Texas?
No, sportsbook apps are not legal in the Lone Star State. The Google Play Store and App Store will not host unregulated apps either.
Lawmakers have included mobile wagering in proposed bills; therefore, Texas sports betting online would become legal if a bill passes.
Latest Texas Laws & Bills
If you’re wondering if sports betting is legal in Texas, no associated legislation has been passed to legalize it yet. However, as shown below, lawmakers have been very active on the Texas gambling bill front. Here is recent legislation involving TX sportsbooks:
- HB 1275 (2019): A bill that sought to create a regulated sports betting market, including fees, taxes, and licensing procedures. HB 1275 failed to advance past the House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures.
- SB 736 (2021): Similar to the legislation above, except that it came from the Senate. SB 736 never made it out of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce.
- HB 1121 (2021): Much like HB 1942, this bill would’ve provided the framework for sports betting in the state, including licensing parameters, fees, and taxes. HB 1121 did not advance beyond the House Committee on State Affairs.
- HJR 97 (2021): A constitutional amendment proposal to lift the Texas sports wagering ban and give the legislature power to legalize it. This legislation never made it out of the House Committee on State Affairs.
- SRJ (2022) – An all-encompassing Texas gambling bill that called for casino gaming and sports wagering.
- HJR 102 (2023): Legislation that would have amended the Texas Constitution to allow for betting on sports. It met the same fate as HB 1942.
- HB 1942 (2023): This bill would have regulated land-based and online sports wagering in Texas, creating the framework for fees, taxes, and available licenses. It passed the state House but got blocked by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick before reaching the Senate.
- SJR 16 (2024): This bill proposed legalizing casino gaming at destination resorts and authorizing sports wagering.
- HJR 134 (2025): State Rep Harless introduced this House Joint Resolution to legalize regulated sports betting.
Other Types of Betting
While sports betting may not be legal, other types of betting are. You can find out what is and isn’t available below:
| Types of Gambling | Regulated | Legalized |
|---|---|---|
| Land-based casinos and sportsbooks | ✅ (tribal only) | 1995 (tribal compacts) |
| Lottery | ✅ (state-run) | 1991 |
| Online casino sites and apps | ❌ | N/A |
| Online poker | ❌ | N/A |
| Politics | ❌ | N/A |
| Fantasy sports | ❌ | N/A |
| Esports | ❌ | N/A |
| Card rooms | ❌ | N/A |
Violations of gambling laws can result in penalties.
Who Could Place Bets in Texas If It’s Legalized?
While Texas lawmakers have not legalized sports wagering, if they do, the following qualifications would likely apply when considering other states with regulated sportsbooks.
Most states require you to be at least 21 years old to place sports bets. A few outliers that permit bettors aged 18+ exist, including Montana, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. However, the Lone Star State’s minimum age would probably be 21+ for regulated sportsbooks or any online site in Texas.
Regulated Texas sportsbooks would verify your identity before letting you deposit and place wagers. You complete verification by entering your full name, address, email, date of birth, and last four SSN digits during registration. Depending on the state and sportsbook, you may need to upload a photo ID before withdrawing funds.
The online sports betting market would ringfence its market like any other state. Therefore, regulated betting sites would need to ensure that bettors are within state boundaries before accepting wagers. You might have to download GeoComply in this case, allowing sports betting sites to verify your location.
Gambling winnings are taxed in all states where gambling is legalized. This is calculated differently depending on the state you are in, so if sports betting becomes legal in Texas, the local tax authority would decide how much of your winnings goes to the IRS. Some states’ tax rate is as low as 6.75%, while the tax rate is 51% in others.
Top Sports Texans Could Bet On If Legalized
If sports gambling is ever legalized, you could have plenty of options in the Lone Star State:
Texas is one of the most football-obsessed states in the U.S. Not surprisingly, the NFL is very popular here and would be a huge draw at Texas online sports betting sites. The Dallas Cowboys are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history, winning two Super Bowls (1971, 1977) while becoming an iconic national brand. The Houston Texans have also enjoyed some successful campaigns since joining the league in 2002.
The NBA is the second-most-popular pro sports league in Texas. This state features the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets. San Antonio has enjoyed the most success among this group, winning five NBA championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). However, all three teams are relatively popular and would draw serious action in a regulated sports betting market.
Baseball has become more notable in this state due to recent successes by the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. The Astros won World Series titles in 2017 and 2022, while the Rangers captured their first World Series victory in 2023.
Texas seems like an unlikely hockey destination due to its average annual temperature of 65 degrees. Nevertheless, the Dallas Stars have enjoyed plenty of fanfare since moving to the state in 1993. They won the Stanley Cup in 1999 and own several division wins and conference championships.
The UFC does pretty well in most states, with Texas being no exception. The Lone Star State has produced some top-level UFC fighters, including Derrick Lewis, Lauren Murphy, and Alex Morono. Mixed martial arts would certainly fare well if online sports betting launched in the state.
Assuming Texas permitted college sports betting as part of its market, it would be a hotbed for this type of wagering. It’s home to 25 Division 1 universities, ranking second only to California (26). Notable D-1 schools in this state include Baylor, Houston, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech.
Soccer could potentially thrive in the “other” category at local sports betting sites. After all, the Lone Star State is home to Austin FC, Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas, and Houston Dash. Cricket might even draw attention here, thanks to the Texas Super Kings cricket team. Other notable sports for betting purposes could include boxing, golf, NASCAR, and tennis.
The Bottom Line
Sports betting remains illegal in Texas with the next legislative session scheduled for 2027.
The repeated failures to change legislation could cause a degree of resignation among supporters; however, the determination to keep trying could equally be seen as a positive.
While legalization is currently out of reach, barring special action, there is reason for optimism that, eventually, stakeholders will agree that the benefits outweigh the concerns.
FAQs
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Where can I bet on sports in Texas?
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References
- Texas (Sports Betting Alliance)
- Bill Text: TX SJR17 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced (LegiScan)
- 88(R) HJR 102 – Introduced version – Bill Text (Capitol Texas)
- Texas Legislature Online – 88(R) History for HB 1942 (Capitol Texas)
- Texas Legislature Online – 86(R) History for HB 1275 (Capitol Texas)
- Texas Legislature Online – 87(R) History for SB 736 (Capitol Texas)
- Texas Legislature Online – 87(R) History for HB 1121 (Capitol Texas)
- Texas Legislature Online – 87(R) History for HJR 97 (Capitol Texas)
- Bill Text: TX SJR16 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced (LegiScan)
- Texas Legislature Online – 89(R) History for HJR 134 (Capitol Texas)
