Is Sports Betting Legal in Texas? Gambling in TX Responsibly
Author:
Zach Lutz
Reviewed by:
Published:
Aug 9, 2024
,
05:19 p.m.
ET
Updated:
Dec 19, 2024
,
1:39 p.m.
ET
With a population of over 30 million, Texas is one of the largest states in the country. As of now, sports betting is not legal in Texas, but that’s not due to a lack of trying by some local politicians. Despite a significant push for legalization during the 2023 legislative session, sports betting remains off the table, as the Texas legislature meets only every two years, so the next chance to revisit this topic will be in 2025.
In this article, we explore the background of sports betting in Texas, the current state of gambling legislation, the dangers of offshore sportsbooks that some Texas residents fall victim to, and an overview of responsible gaming best practices for those who live in Texas.
Background and latest news on sports betting legislation in Texas
The debate over sports betting in Texas is ongoing, and it has garnered attention from many stakeholders, including professional sports teams, casino magnates and politicians. The 2023 legislative session saw significant momentum for sports betting, with House Bill 1942 making it through the House of Representatives. However, it was stopped in its tracks by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who claimed the Senate lacked the necessary support to pass the bill.
Several Texas sports teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers, have expressed their support for legalized sports betting. These teams see the potential for partnerships with and advertising from sportsbooks, which could provide massive new revenue streams. Despite this support, the political landscape in Texas remains challenging, with many conservative lawmakers opposing any expansion of gambling in the state.
The Chickasaw Nation, which operates WinStar World Casino just north of the Texas border in Oklahoma, is one of the out-of-state casino interests that has lobbied against sports betting in Texas. The Chickasaws and other tribal nations benefit from Texans crossing state lines to gamble, and they have made substantial political contributions and lobbying efforts to maintain the status quo.
UPDATE - December 2024:
According report by the Dallas Morning News, Las Vegas Sands owner Miriam Adelson — who acquired a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks from Mark Cuban in December 2023 —donated nearly $14 million to Texas legislators during the first ten months of 2024. Most went to two political action committees: the Texas Sands PAC and Texas Defense PAC, who then distributed the finds to local candidates and other PACs. More than $8 million was directed to to Republican lawmakers, including $200,000 to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Over $1 million went to House Speaker Dade Phelan.
Lt. Governor Patrick has opposed sports betting legalization in the past, even saying last month: “You don’t pass major legislation in a red, conservative state with the Democrats controlling the show, particularly on a major bill like that… They’ve come in and spent millions and millions of dollars and they just think that magically it happens. It doesn’t.”
While a bill could get through the House again in 2025, Patrick has repeatedly said there is no path for such a bill to pass through the Senate next year. Gambling legalization in the state requires 2/3 of both the House and Senate, it would need a constitutional amendment.
Miriam Adelson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump in 2018
Gambling options in Texas
While sports betting is not yet legal in Texas, there are other gambling options available within the state. However, these options are limited compared to states with more permissive gambling laws.
Casinos: Texas has very few casino-like facilities. The Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino, operated by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas in Eagle Pass, is the only true casino in the state. There’s also Naskila Gaming, an electronic bingo facility on the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe’s reservation near Livingston. Both locations are far from major population centers, making them inconvenient for most Texans.
Texas Lottery: The Texas Lottery is the most widely available form of gambling in the state. Texans can purchase scratch-off tickets and participate in draw games like Mega Millions and Powerball. However, online lottery sales are not permitted, and all purchases must be made in person at authorized retailers.
Horse Racing: Texans can place bets on horse races at tracks like Lone Star Park, Retama Park and Sam Houston Race Park. Greyhound racing is technically legal, but no tracks are currently operational in the state.
Dangers of offshore sportsbooks operating in Texas
Given the lack of legal sports betting options in Texas, many residents unfortunately turn to dangerous offshore sportsbooks to place their bets. However, engaging with these unregulated betting platforms comes with significant risks.
Offshore operators do not adhere to player protection standards or responsible gaming measures, leaving bettors vulnerable to gambling addiction. Additionally, these platforms may not secure personal data, exposing users to identity theft and fraud.
Offshore sportsbooks operate free of U.S. regulations. The lack of oversight can lead to delays or refusals to pay out winnings, or even blocked withdrawals. If an offshore sportsbook suddenly gets shut down, getting back your funds could be challenging or impossible. Note: this is not a scare tactic; it has actually happened many times.
Some offshore sportsbooks allow bettors to wager on credit, which can lead to a mental disconnect between the amount of money bettors are risking and the potential real-life consequences.
Offshore sportsbooks at times require bettors to fund their accounts with cryptocurrencies or unfamiliar e-wallets, making it difficult to track and trust transactions.
Winnings from offshore sportsbooks are not taxed, but if detected by authorities, these untaxed earnings can lead to severe penalties and potential legal ramifications.
Warning signs of a gambling problem
Gambling addiction is a serious issue that can have devastating effects on individuals and their families. Warning signs of a gambling problem include:
Obsessing over past gambling decisions or frequently thinking about the next opportunity
Chasing losses: betting more in hopes of winning back what was lost
Lying to friends and family or borrowing money from them to gamble
Feeling withdrawal-like symptoms when not gambling
Feeling the need to wager more and more money to meet the urge and create the familiar feeling of excitement
Neglecting responsibilities at work, school or home due to gambling
Selling possessions to gamble.
Gambling Addiction resources & treatment in Texas
For Texans struggling with gambling addiction, help is available. The fight against gambling addiction is challenging, especially with the increased accessibility of online gambling. Offshore sportsbooks, with a lack of player protections, exacerbate the risks. Fortunately, there are resources available to help those in need.
Telehealth treatment options are now available at Birches Health, which is now live in Texas. Birches provides convenient and effective virtual care tailored to each individual. Birches offers insurance-covered treatment for gambling addiction, with many patients enjoying treatment from the comfort of their own homes. Thanks to partnerships with national insurance companies, patients usually pay very little, while some even have $0 out-of-pocket costs. Birches Health's team of specially trained clinicians has decades of experience helping individuals with gambling addiction, and they offer several options for taking the first step toward recovery:
You can also simply call 833-483-3838 or email hello@bircheshealth.com to get in touch directly with the Birches team.
