Online casinos that involve real money are prohibited by law in Texas. However, Texans still have alternative options for online gambling, such as social and sweepstakes casinos like Pulsz, Chumba Casino, and Luckyland Slots. These platforms allow players to enjoy casino games for entertainment purposes or with the possibility of winning cash prizes.

Texas prohibits commercial casino gambling, but there is a single tribal casino known as the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel. This establishment, owned and operated by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, provides Type-2 casino games to its visitors. Located in Eagle Pass, near the Mexico border, the casino offers various attractions such as slots, poker, and bingo.

In Texas, playing real money online poker is prohibited by law. However, Texans can still enjoy playing poker online at social and sweepstakes sites like Global Poker. In the state, there are also poker rooms and card rooms available, but they operate differently. These establishments require memberships and charge for seat time instead of taking a rake. However, these clubs are currently facing a legal dispute that started in Dallas. The central issue revolves around determining the “economic benefits” derived from poker. Adding to the debate, there are a few legislative proposals that aim to address these semantics. One proposal suggests changing the wording of the law, granting counties the authority to decide on the legality of such establishments. Another proposal aims to redefine the criteria for a “private poker club.”

Texas currently has three horse racetracks, all located in major population centers. In 1987, Texas legalized modern horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering on race results. Over time, the law was amended to permit simulcast wagering at each licensed facility. As a result, each racetrack now has its own off-track betting location for races happening across the country. However, there are no independent off-track betting sites in the state of Texas. Online horse betting, including Advance Deposit Wagering on platforms like TVG, is still considered illegal under Texas law. Presently, there is an ongoing and heated debate surrounding this issue.

The conflict between the Texas Racing Commission and the federal Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority regarding horse racing in Texas has resulted in significant financial losses for racetracks and numerous job cuts. Unfortunately, a resolution or compromise between the two entities remains elusive.

In Texas, residents can participate in daily fantasy sports contests, as there is no specific law either permitting or forbidding it. Platforms such as DraftKings and FanDuel function in a somewhat uncertain legal space. However, the question of whether DFS is legal has been a source of disagreement in recent times.

In 2016, Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed his view that daily fantasy sports contests are considered gambling and therefore prohibited by state law. In response, DraftKings took legal action by filing a lawsuit. As of now, the lawsuit remains ongoing without a specific timeframe for its resolution. In 2021, a legislative attempt to legalize DFS showed promise as it received a favorable response from the committee, but unfortunately, it did not progress to a floor vote.

Currently, Texans need not be overly concerned about engaging in DFS activities. If the Attorney General takes any legal action, it will be directed towards the operators and not the players.

In 1991, the Texas Legislature passed a law to legalize the Texas Lottery, which commenced ticket sales the following year. The primary objective of this lottery is to generate funds for education in the state. In addition to supporting education, the Texas Lottery also directs a portion of its tax revenue towards veterans associations. With thousands of retail outlets spread across the state, the Texas Lottery offers a wide array of draw games and scratchers. Moreover, it actively participates in popular multi-state drawings such as Mega Millions and Powerball. Among the top Texas-specific draw games are Lotto Texas and Texas Two-Step. For added convenience, lottery tickets can also be purchased online through courier services like Jackpocket and Jackpot.

Sports betting is not allowed in Texas. Despite multiple legislative sessions since 2018, no progress has been made in legalizing sports betting in the state. The growing popularity of offshore sports betting platforms has influenced Texas lawmakers to consider allowing sports betting. In 2024, a bill to legalize online sports betting was passed by the House, but it did not receive a hearing in the Senate.

Although the 2024 legislative session witnessed the failure of both online and retail sports betting bills, the advancements made during this period can serve as a solid groundwork to be developed upon in 2025.