Is Sports Betting Legal in Texas? – Latest News and Updates

Many TX sports bettors want to know, is sports betting 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.

Our Techopedia team will cover the legalities in Texas below. We’ll go through recent TX sports updates and legislative efforts. Before reading about these legalities and other info, you might consider the following sportsbook because it’s our top pick for Texas.

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Texas Sports Betting Updates

State lawmakers have tried legalizing Texas sports betting within the past few years. While online gambling in Texas is available thanks to offshore operators, the local situation is still in the works.

The following timeline shows notable events involving sports betting in Texas.

• Nov. 7, 2023: Billionaire Mark Cuban announces his support for TX casino resorts.
• May 25, 2023: The 2023 legislative session wraps up, marking yet another year without legal sports betting in Texas.
• May 13, 2023: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces that sports betting legislation will not receive a Senate vote due to lacking support among senators.
• May 11, 2023: The state House approves HB 1942 by an 82-51 margin.
• May 10, 2023: The state House passes HJR 102 by a vote of 97-44.
• April 13, 2023: Texas’ 11 professional sports franchises announce their support for land-based and online sports betting in Texas.
• Feb. 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.
• Jan. 15, 2023: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones voices his support for legal Texas sports betting.
• Nov. 17, 2022: State Sen. Carol Alvarado files casino and sports betting legislation called SRJ 17.
• May 31, 2021: The legislative session ends with no commitment to legalizing sports betting.
• Feb. 2021: Betting sites, Texas pro sports teams, and lobbyists form the Sports Betting Alliance, pledging to fight for legal TX sportsbooks.

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 is sports betting legal in Texas in 2025.

Until then, unregulated sports betting is the only option for Texas bettors. The best Texas online sportsbooks hold licensing in one or more other jurisdictions and boast solid reputations.

Sports Betting Options in Texas – Are Apps Legal?

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. That said, you will not find the best sports betting app in Texas.

Lawmakers have included mobile wagering in proposed bills. If Texas sports betting online did become legal, you could enjoy certain benefits from using mobile sportsbooks. Sports betting apps in Texas would provide security, fast payouts, traditional banking options (e.g., PayPal), and reputability.

Latest Texas Laws and Bills

If you’re wondering is sports betting legal in Texas, no associated legislation has passed to legalize it yet. But as shown below, lawmakers have been very active on the Texas gambling bill front. Here is recent legislation involving TX sportsbooks:

• 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.
• 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.
• SRJ (2022) – An all-encompassing Texas gambling bill that called for casino gaming and sports wagering.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 1275 (1275) – 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.

Who Can Place Bets in Texas?

If you have been asking is sports betting legal in Texas, you might also wonder who can place wagers in the state. Again, TX lawmakers have not legalized sports wagering. If they do, though, the following qualifications would likely apply when considering other states with regulated sportsbooks.

21+ Minimum Age

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.

Verification Requirements

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 upon the state and sportsbook, you may need to upload a photo ID before withdrawing funds.

Bet within State Borders

The online sports betting market would ring-fence its market just 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.

Tax on Sports Betting Winnings in Texas

There is no tax on gambling winnings—only the standard 24% federal tax rate. That said, you would not have to pay state taxes on sports betting winnings. The only way this could change is if lawmakers made different rules for sports betting versus other types.

Sports to Bet On

We have covered the topic of is sports betting legal in Texas, ultimately explaining that it is not currently legal. If sports gambling does gain legality, though, you will likely be able to bet on the following sports.

NFL

Texas is one of the most football-obsessed states in the US. 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.

NBA

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.

MLB

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.

NHL

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 here after moving to this state in 1993. They won the Stanley Cup in 1999 and own several division wins and conference championships.

UFC

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.

College Sports

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.

Other Sports

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 pro cricket team. Other notable sports for betting purposes could include boxing, golf, NASCAR, and tennis.

Other Types

While sports betting may not be legal, other types of betting are. You can find out what is and isn’t available below, as we cover land-based casinos, retail sportsbooks, poker, the lottery, fantasy sports, esports, and online casino gambling in Texas.

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