Casino Gambling Laws + Statutes In Texas
While Texas casino gaming laws have not yet followed the footsteps of over half of America regulated at the state level, there are still a few legal options for engaging in different types of betting. There are tribal casinos that are exempt from the lack of laws supporting casino games and online casinos that are licensed internationally and offer all different types of secure gambling. Even still, the gambling statutes in Texas leave room for interpretation when it comes to legal gambling. The future could also hold state regulated online and in person commercial casinos for Texas residents moving forward.
What Does The Law In Texas Allow For State Regulated Gambling?
Under state regulations, Texas residents can engage in legal gambling at tribal casinos, through playing the lottery, and even through pari-mutual betting including betting at TX horse tracks. Social wagering is also allowed in Texas, as long as every participant has the same odds. The law does not permit the house to make a profit from any type of social gambling. If a group of friends is playing for a pot in poker, the person or venue hosting the event in Texas is not allowed to take a cut for running the game.
What Types of Gambling Are Not Allowed Under Texas Law?
The Texas Statute does not currently regulate any in person or online casino for players of the state. This prevents any table games, slot machines, sports bets, or poker to be bet through state regulated establishments. However, all of these types of gambling are available for Texas residents but just not at the state level in Texas. Three in person casinos are legally operating through tribal reservations and a wide variety of legal online casinos that are operated internationally and offer horse betting, casino games, and sports betting from a mobile device.
Are Texas Online Casinos Legal?
The online casinos that accept Texas residents are legal because they are licensed internationally and do not step on the toes of the current gambling laws in TX that run more on the conservative side. As long as the online betting site holds a license from the country that the casino is operated in, the site is 100% legal and can take any Texas bettor's action. Bovada is a great example of an online casino that is legal in Texas because of the international license that they possess.
The Future Of Legal Gambling In Texas
Through the 2020’s there have been multiple attempts to legalize different forms of online and in person gambling in Texas at the state level. As none of these proposed bills have passed at this point, it could be a while until Texas residents have state regulated online or in person casinos, outside of the tribal and internationally regulated types.
2023 saw many bills in favor of legalizing online gambling in Texas HJR 102 and HB 1942 that were proposed to be voted on for the November ballot. While the future of legal gambling in Texas is unknown, lawmakers have made it evident that they are going to continue to push the agenda. Before this happens or if it never becomes legal at the state regulated level, there will also be options like Bovada for legal online gambling in Texas.
What Is The Age For Using Legal Casinos In Texas
In order to bet at the in person tribal casinos in Texas, residents must be over the age of 21. For online casino gambling through Bovada or other online sites, the minimum age is set at 18 and up. If Texas regulates gambling at the state level in the future, the age for every type of legal gambling will most likely change to 21.
Final Thoughts On Legal Casinos And Gambling Laws In Texas
There are many different outlets for legal online gaming in Texas, with land based and online casinos operating and accepting players in the state. While current Texas casino gaming laws do not allow gambling through state regulated services, there are still legal casino options available for every resident in Texas over the age of 18. As long as a licensed casino is being used, online gambling in Texas is completely safe and secure for hitting the slots, playing online table games, playing poker, and more.
