Texas Online Sportsbooks + Sports Betting Sites
Federal laws have been changing drastically over the last few years and residents and visitors of the Lone Star State are legally able to utilize Texas online sportsbooks. These sports betting sites are the only current option, as land-based venues do not exist; however, legislators have the ability to create the industry thanks to the repeal of PASPA in 2018. Until that time comes, take part in the safe and legitimate offshore sites that have been welcoming Texas residents since the internet was created.
This page is designed for the benefit of those who are confused about the legalities of online sports betting. It's understandable… there are state and federal laws as well as plenty of shady gambling sites that can put you at risk for identity theft or worse. However, we’ve created this guide to ensure you are able to sift through the information and decide exactly what is right, safe, and legal for you. Also included within this page are reviews of our most recommended sites, including their current promotion and why they are considered the best from like-minded gamblers.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Texas?
Answering the question of whether it is legal to bet on sports events in Texas is a bit difficult. While there is nothing preventing a sportsbook from opening in Texas on the federal end, the state has yet to move forward with legislative action to regulate and tax the industry. There isn’t a single word in Texas law books against residents betting on sports events online but still need to formalize the laws in general. In the meantime, TX residents are free to place wagers with any non-US-based sports betting website.
Legislators did attempt to begin the discussion about legal sports betting in the state but not with much success. Two bills were introduced in 2019 – one of them being a ballot initiative for California residents to approve the legislation to legalize sports betting. This was TX HJR 61 but stayed in committee without any approval or recommendations.
The other bill, TX HB 1275, was more comprehensive, setting an annual licensing and renewal fee ($25,000) and implementing a 6.25% tax on the betting handle. Professional and collegiate sports wagering would have been permitted for those 21 and older; however, any college or university that represents Texas will be off of the betting boards and prohibited from action. This measured also never made it past the committee stage.
Although offshore online sportsbooks are based in foreign countries and are not governed by Texas gambling laws, a number of Texas residents prefer signing up at them simply because it is safer to place bets with offshore online sportsbooks than with illegal local bookies. These sites are still regulated by their home countries and have no ties to any Texas state law or US federal law, making them 100% legal to use.
Useful Article: Is online sports betting legal in the U.S.?
Will Texas Residents Get into Trouble for Placing Bets Online?
So far, the state of Texas has not booked any of its residents for placing bets on sporting events online. In fact, the state lacks the required law to charge any of its residents with illegal gambling. As previously mentioned, there isn’t a single law in Texas which clearly states that it is illegal for Texas residents to use online sports betting facilities. Texas bettors must understand that offshore online sportsbooks do not have their offices in Texas and are licensed in gambling jurisdictions far away from Texas and the US. Under these circumstances, they cannot be said to be violating Texas gambling laws or federal gambling laws in any way.
Texas sports betting laws, if any, are targeted at operators of online sportsbooks. While individual bettors have nothing to worry about, operators will find themselves deep in trouble with the law if they try to run a bookie business in the state. Therefore, you will not get in trouble as long as you are the one placing the bets and using a regulated offshore betting site.
Can Texas Residents Legally Wager On NFL?
Texans have tried to pass a law that would allow for legalized sports betting but no such bill has been signed yet. This does not mean that all hope is lost for football fans. All residents of the state have the opportunity to wager on their beloved NFL teams with the use of the internet. Online offshore sportsbooks are legal for residents of the US to join. US law has no jurisdiction over businesses that are not within the country. These offshore sports betting sites are licensed and regulated in their countries and are completely legal and safe for Texans and residents of the US. For all your sports wagering needs this football season, residents of the Lone Star State will have to turn to the internet to get in on the action.
Where Can Texas Residents Bet On Sports Online?
A number of safe, legal, licensed, regulated, and reputed online sportsbook brands are more than willing to accept sports bets from Texas residents. Since Texas residents will find it difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, our team of experts has done all the hard work for you. We have taken the trouble of researching a number of Texas friendly offshore online sportsbooks to identify only the best, the safest, and the top rated online sports betting sites as follows.
Online Sportsbooks That Accept Texas Residents
Bovada Sportsbook – Best Sports Betting Site For Texas
Bovada Sportsbook is one of the best online sportsbooks for Texas bettors. This online sports betting facility is rich in features such as in-play betting, live sports betting, and mobile betting. This sportsbook presents the best betting odds on a wide range of sports such as football (college and pro), baseball, hockey, basketball along with every other major sport in the U.S. and even some that are played overseas.
Bovada belongs to a reputed online gambling company called Salmon River Technologies and is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Canada. This online sportsbook gives top priority to customer care and offers a 24/7 help facility through an online contact form and toll-free phone number.
New bettors at Bovada can also claim a cash match bonus of up to $250 thanks to a 50% matching bonus that is granted when new accounts make their first deposit into the sportsbook. Do note that Bovada has other bonuses available for other types of gambling, but for sports betting, this is the best you will find at this bookmaker. Bovada’s $250 Sports Welcome bonus also comes with the industry’s lowest rollover rate (5X), meaning you can cash out your winnings even sooner than you’d be able to at other books with higher bonus rollovers.
BetOnline – Fast Payouts & Easy Credit Card Deposits
The favorite online sportsbook of North American bettors, BetOnline Sportsbook is one of the best online sports betting sites for Texas residents. The top features of BetOnline Sportsbook are live betting facilities, large bonuses, secure banking methods, and quick payouts. BetOnline Sportsbook also offers the exclusive “Betting Edge,” where bettors can get free picks, match stats, and other useful information.
Launched in 1991, BetOnline is considered to be one of the industry leaders because it offers excellent racebook, sports betting, and casino gambling options. To get started at BetOnline, TX bettors have only to register and make an instant deposit using credit cards like Visa or Mastercard. If neither of those options work, consider using money orders, personal checks, wire transfer or even a bank wire. BetOnline also accepts a slew of popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, DASH, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
Texas sports bettors will find betting opportunities on a wide range of sports and their favorite Texas-based sports teams like the Longhorns, Cowboys, and Texans. But, Texas residents do not just have to stick to the teams within their state, as BetOnline will let you put money on any team or sport you desire. Best of all, Texas members can get a generous $1000 match bonus anytime they reload their accounts, for life!
5Dimes – Top Rated Sportsbook That Accept Texas Players
5Dimes Sportsbook, an online sports betting brand belonging to the 5Dimes Group, runs under a license issued in Costa Rica. It is one of the best online sportsbooks accepting Texas residents as it provides top betting odds on sports events ranging from boxing and football to Formula 1 racing and everything else under the sun. Texas bettors can place bets either over the phone or online at 5Dimes Sportsbook. The online sportsbook has a slew of benefits and bonuses for both types of bettors, and TX gamblers of all skill levels are welcome.
5Dimes Sportsbook also offers several types of bets such as parlays, monsters, teasers, pleasers, money lines, spreads, totals, and more. Additionally, the 5Dimes promotions page is packed with different kinds of bonuses, offers, and benefits, including the exclusive Reduced Juice program, which limits the house take to maximize the value of every wager you place. Texas bettors only have to keep their eyes open to grab the best offers when and as they come.
Going back to the parlays we just mentioned, this sportsbook has some of the friendliest rules available when it comes to placing such “packages” of wagers. A lot of bookmakers will not allow users to parlay wagers within the same game, and/or they will not allow them to make wagers on halves, quarters, etc. Well, that is not the case here as 5Dimes will let their users parlay almost any type of wager from any sport they offer on their board.
Bookmaker.eu – Texas Residents’ #1 Online Sportsbook
Texas is arguably the most football-crazed state in the US. With so many different collegiate programs, the rivalries and games can get intense. Putting money where their mouths are is just one of the many ways that Texas sports fans enjoy backing their teams. Using a sportsbook like BookMaker allows Texas residents to place all of the bets they want on all of the games they want, every day, all year long.
Bookmaker has been providing Texas residents with online sports betting since the late 1990s. This book not only has some of the earliest lines around, but they also have an in-depth articles section that keeps bettors as up to date as possible on everything going on in the sports world. Experts agree this sportsbook is the best place for Texas residents to bet on all of their favorite games, and new members can even get valuable cash bonuses (as opposed to the industry-standard free-play bonuses that most books employ).
BetDSI Sportsbook – Best Texas Online Sportsbook
Looking for a sportsbook with more to offer its players than just a handful of games to bet on? Look no further than BetDSI. In addition to more sports than any other online sportsbook, this site gives you more wagering opportunities than any other USA online sportsbook. From overnight odds to live in-game betting, you’ll find everything you could possibly want in addition to things you could never have imagined at BetDSI. This sportsbook makes signing up easy – all you need is an email address and your name.
From there, deposits are a breeze. You can fund your account using credit cards, digital currencies, or online money transfers. You have an equally varied amount of withdrawals, all of which are eligible for at least one free payout per month. BetDSI’s rewards program sweetens the pot with the chance to redeem points for cash prizes, airline miles, and so much more. What’s stopping you? Head to BetDSI now and start earning points and prizes.
Best Online Sportsbooks That Accept Texas Residents
| Texas Sports Betting Sites | New U.S. Player Bonus | Go To U.S. Betting Site | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Review | 50% Up To $250 | |
 | Review | 50% Up To $1,000 NEW! | |
 | Review | 50% Up To $1,000 NEW! | |
 | Review | 50% New Member Bonus! | |
 | Review | 100% Up To $500 NEW! | |
 | Review | 50% Up To $520 |
Texas Online Sportsbooks FAQs
What Teams Can I Bet On In Texas?
Texas fans are in luck because the state has a number of powerful teams in both the professional and collegiate side of sports. The Houston Rockets, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Texas Longhorns are some of the more popular teams that locals bet on. Keep in mind though that residents from the state aren’t limited to Texas-based teams, as they can freely bet on any team in the country and most around the world.
Can I Use My Mobile Device To Bet On Sports In Texas?
If you are trying to get to the Rockets game early, you don’t have to worry about missing your chance to place your sports bets. You can use your mobile device to place your bets as soon as you make it to the stadium. Offshore online sportsbooks all have a mobile version of their websites ready for you to use and you will get the same experience you would have if you placed your bets at home. Thanks to that, the action goes with you everywhere you go!
What Is The Sports Betting Age In Texas?
You might be allowed to play the lottery or bingo when you are 18 years old, but you have to wait until you are 21 to bet on races and play in the casino in Texas. Even though you can access and use offshore sportsbooks as soon as you turn 18, the sites comply with local laws. Because of the division of ages, we suggest you wait until you are 21 to place your bets on the Texas Rangers.
Should I Use A Bookie In Texas?
USAOnlineSportsbooks.com strongly advise against you using a bookie to place sports bets in Texas. Bookies are known for not giving you the best odds and not being completely honest. Not only that, there are laws against using one. If you are wanting to bet on sports while in Texas, skip the bookie and head to an online sportsbook.
Do Federal Laws Affect Texas Sports Betting?
Although the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) used to block Texas from enacting new laws to allow sports betting, that law was overturned mid-2018. The only federal law that may affect your sports betting is called UIGEA. This may cause a hiccup when funding your online gambling account with a credit card but the law is designed to target the businesses, not yourself. If anything, you will just have to fund your account by another means – we suggest an international gift card.
