Best Texas Sports Betting Sites 2023 – Is Sports Betting Legal in TX?

Texas sports betting is not yet regulated but residents can safely gamble on sports using the betting sites listed in this article. They offer a wide range of sports to bet on, promotions and modern deposit methods plus they are based offshore, meaning that TX residents can legally access them.

We will provide you with a list of top sportsbooks you can use from Texas, including a comparison of the number of sports, welcome bonuses and payment methods available. We also take a look at the constantly shifting legal Texas sports betting scene which surrounds regulated online sports betting in the state

Best Sports Betting Sites in TX

List of the Best Offshore Sportsbooks in Texas

After much consideration from our team of experts, we have deemed the following operators to be the best Texas sportsbooks:

How We Rank Texas Sportsbooks

This section details the conditions that a sportsbook has to meet before we consider them for recommendation. This is not a list of the unique features that an online sports betting site might offer but concentrates more on the basic characteristics that any decent sportsbook should have.

Licensing

There isn’t a regulatory body that licenses online sports betting in Texas because it is an unregulated activity. Sports bettors in Texas will need to use offshore sports betting sites and in these cases, we look for those regulated by reputable licensing authorities such as the bodies in Antigua and Malta.

Safety & Security

Registering with a new offshore sportsbook will involve sharing personal and financial data and it is important that you can do this safely. We only recommend Texas sports betting sites that use top-level encryption technology to keep your data safe while it is transmitting. We also ensure that they are open about how they store and use your data.

Offers & Promotions

Of course, we are looking for online sportsbooks with generous welcome offers but we also think it is important that they look after existing customers. We are also looking at their reload bonuses, free bets, and bet insurance offers so that you can enjoy bonuses for as long as you are sports betting.

Loyalty & Rewards Program

Another indication of customer loyalty is running a rewards program of some kind. If we are recommending a sportsbook we think their reward scheme is easy to participate in and garners bonuses that are worth claiming.

Customer Support

These sportsbooks all have open and easy-to-use contact channels. A sportsbook should offer at least two options, preferably an email and a chat box. If a betting site does have a mobile number for support that is an indication of legitimacy.

Banking Methods

We recommend crypto gambling sites, those that accept traditional methods, and a mixture of the two. In traditional methods, we are just looking for a range of multiple options such as a card option, bank transfer, and a third-party payment service. If it is a crypto sportsbook look out for a range of coins.

Texas Sportsbook Comparison

Latest News on Betting in TX

• 23 June 2023 – Tilman Ferrita is front and center at the 2023 Texas inauguration. He is a top donor for the Republican Governor campaigns of Greg Abbot and Dan Patrick. Mr Feritta is part of a Political Action Committee (PAC) pushing for regulated online sports betting.
• 29 May 2023 – Texas lawmakers did approve a referendum on the legalization of sports betting, but the Texas legislative session ended with no bills brought to the table regarding sports betting. As a result sports betting in Texas is unlikely to come around until 2026.
• 3 April 2023 – Dallas News report that Republican-affiliated Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick will be integral to the decision on online sports betting in Texas.
• 25 January 2023 – News reports detail how a Political Action Committee (PAC) from Las Vegas Sands will push to legalize online sports betting in Texas. The group spent millions of dollars donating to dozens of Texas lawmakers and legislative groups including Speaker of the House in Texas, Dade Phelan who received $300,000 from the Texas Sands PAC.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Texas?

Sports betting is currently unregulated in Texas and this is unlikely to change until at least 2026, despite a concerted effort to change the situation in 2023.

Offshore sportsbooks, however,  are a viable online sports betting option for Texan sports bettors as, despite operating in a legal gray area, aren’t technically illegal. Indeed, nobody in the US has ever been penalized for gambling with an offshore betting site. They also offer a huge range of modern features and banking options.

In the interests of security, though, we would still advise using a VPN and crypto deposits to access these sites, to entirely preserve your anonymity, despite our view that offshore betting sites qualify as a legal Texas sports betting option..

Texas Sports Betting Bills

A sports betting bill in 2023 led to a referendum on online sports betting in the state but that does not denote the beginning of attempts to change the Texas gambling laws. There have been no successful attempts as of yet but take a look at these previous efforts.

2019-20

• House Joint Resolution 61 -A representative for the Democrats, Eddie Lucio, proposes this bill that would amend the constitution to allow for regulated sports betting.
• House Bill 1275 – He also attempted the same with this bill which also included imposing a tax, requiring an occupational permit, authorizing a fee, and setting up definitions for criminal offenses associated with gambling.

2021-22

• House Bill 1121 – Democratic Representative Harold Dutton sponsored this bill to regulate online sports betting in Texas with the inclusion of civil penalties for contraventions of related sports betting operator rules.
• House Joint Resolution 68 – This calls for a constitutional amendment that would allow the above bill to be introduced.
• Senate Bill 736 – Juan Hinojosa, a senator and representative for over 25 years, sponsored this bill that would have decriminalized sports betting so that people can face penalties for engaging in it but avoid a criminal record.
• House Bill 2070 – Republican Representative Dan Huberty fronted this bill that would’ve set up an online and an in-person betting program.
• House Joint Resolution 97 – Enables the above bill.

2022-23

• No online sports betting bills are proffered during this Texas legislative session.

2023-24

• Senate Joint Resolution 17 – Senator Carol Alvarado sponsors what is an all-encompassing bill that starts with language about economic development and job growth. It intends to help fund education and offers tax relief. It would also create the Texas Gaming Commission which would in turn govern gambling activities as well as introduce licenses and taxes.
• House Joint Resolution 102 – This proposes an amendment to the constitution and allow for the enacting of the following two bills.
• House Bill 1942 – Representative for the Republican party, Jeff Leach, proposes sports betting regulation with this bill that also includes licensing and taxes information. It will require an associated vote which he hopes takes place by November.
• Senate Bill 715 – It is a senate bill associated with HB 1942.

When Will Betting Be Legalized in Texas?

Unfortunately, the Texas legislative session finished at the end of May 2023. They will not meet again until January 2025 which is when a new sports betting bill can be introduced. Even if one is introduced at this juncture it will have to make its way through the houses, receive a signature from the Governor of Texas, and make amendments to the constitution. A resident of Texas is unlikely to place a sports bet in the state until at least 2026.

Are There Land-Based Betting Options in TX?

No, there are no land-based options for sports betting in Texas. The activity of sports betting is completely unregulated, whether that is online or in brick-and-mortar establishments. Texas has three tribal casinos but none of them have a sportsbook and are inconveniently located along the Mexican border far south of the majority of towns and cities.

Is Betting Legal in Texas’ Neighboring States?

The betting landscape that surrounds Texas is mixed. Oklahoma is completely in line with Texas as the state does not have any form of regulated sports betting. New Mexico only allows sports betting at retail outlets of which there are five, each located in a tribal casino. Whereas Louisiana and Arkansas offer a completely regulated sports betting market at in-person betting sites, online, and via mobile devices.

Are Any Forms of Gambling Legal in Texas?

Yes, despite the current restrictions on Texas sportsbooks, there are several types of gambling which are legal in the state, which we will detail below.

DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports)

Daily Fantasy Sports, also known as DFS, have been fully legalized in Texas since 2019, after the Texas House voted 116-27 in favor of the move. The rationale was a redefinition of the game from a game of chance to a game of skill, making it the first state to do so and marking a huge victory for legal DFS operators in the country.

Poker

There are over 60 dedicated poker rooms in Texas which allow you to legally play poker games for high stakes.

Horse Racing

Although common race markets such as win, place, show and exotics are illegal in Texas, you can legally enjoy pari-mutuel betting at the state’s three racetracks: Sam Houston Race Park, Lone Star Park and Retama Park. Pari-mutuel betting is a form of betting in which bets are pooled together and then evenly distributed among any winning tickets. It could be viewed as the only state-sanctioned form of legal Texas sports betting.

Casinos

There are three native casinos in Texas which residents can legally enjoy: the Eagle Pass Kickapoo Lucky Eagle, the Arkansas Queen Casino and the Naskila Entertainment Livingston.

Lottery

The Texas State Lottery runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays and gives players a chance to win absolutely enormous sums of money. The biggest ever win in the Texas Lottery was supposed to be a $145 million prize in 2004.

Biggest Sports to Bet on at Texas Betting Sites

Texas is a huge state with a wide variety of people living there and therefore a big mix of sports fans too. There are many sports that have become popular to bet on at Texas sportsbooks.

Football Betting

Texas is without doubt a football state, many residents are passionate supporters that follow both NFL and NCAA teams. In fact college football stadiums in Texas are considerably bigger than some professional stadiums in other states. Football betting is a great option because it is such a popular sport that there is a huge range of markets available. As such, NFL betting is inevitably hugely popular in Texas.

NBA

The NBA is a very popular betting market and matches tend to see a lot of points scored so it is perfect for over/under, spread, and totals betting. The playing squad of an NBA team is small compared to other sports so players get involved up and down the court, making it a great choice for player prop betting.

MLB

Known as America’s pastime, baseball is naturally a popular betting choice in Texas. The games can be lower scoring so you can take some big swings with the spread and totals betting related to MLB. You can also combine player props for different positions to create game-predicting parlays.

Soccer

The most popular sport in the world is also one of the most popular sports to bet on. People from all over the world are watching and betting on soccer so there is typically a huge range of markets available. With the potential for upsets, double chance markets are popular, bet on forfeitures through card betting, and even wager on what window of time goals will be scored. The possibilities are endless with soccer betting.

Horse Racing

Texas is a massive horse racing state, it is an integral part of Texas culture and has been so for decades. It is one of the few ways you can place bets at retail outlets. On top of horse racing, there is also harness racing on show at Texas racetracks. Three tracks are approved to accept bets: Lone Star Park, Retama Park, and Sam Houston Race Park. At offshore sportsbooks, you can place bets on horse racing at any time and from anywhere. You can bet on the Kentucky Derby, and the UK Grand National, as well as races from all over the world.

Local Teams in TX to Bet on

Texas is a sporting state and one with a massive land area with huge potential for sports teams. We have taken a look at some of the most prominent teams currently based in Texas.

Dallas Cowboys (NFL)

The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports team in the world. At the time of writing, they outrank six-time Super Bowl winners the New England Patriots by around $2 billion. They are one of the original teams to start the tradition of hosting Thanksgiving games. They were undoubtedly the most successful football team in NFL history with eight Super Bowl appearances and five wins, nowadays the Pats might be able to argue that claim. Heading into the 2023 season the Cowboys have back-to-back 12-win seasons, however there has been a change in offensive leadership. The same high-scoring team from recent years may not be as reliable in 2023. Most Texas sports betting sites suggest they will get over 9 wins but it could be a relatively tricky year for the massive football team.

Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs & Houston Rockets (NBA)

Texas is home to three NBA franchises, the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and the Houston Rockets. Only the former two were founded in Texas though as the Rockets relocated from San Diego in 1971. The San Antonio Spurs are the most successful and the most recently successful of the three having recorded a Championship win in 2014.

Texas Longhorns (NCAA Football)

The Texas Longhorns have a win-loss percentage of .705 making them one of the most successful NCAA football teams in history. They have a strong rivalry with the Texas A&M Aggies and the Texas Tech Raiders. Both the Longhorns and the Aggies were Big 12 Conference teams until A&M left to join the Southeastern Conference. Matches between college football teams in Texas are huge events that do not go unnoticed in the Lone Star State.

Houston Astros & Texas Rangers (MLB)

The Major League Baseball teams that represent Texas are the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. They both compete in the American League West Division ever since the Astros were moved there from the National League in 2013. Together they are strong rivals and matchups between the teams are known as the Lone Star Series or the Silver Boot Series. Neither team has a particularly successful history and the Rangers have never won the World Series.

In recent years the Astros have become a competitive team often reaching the latter stages. They won the World Series in 2022 and 2017 and have won five of the last six American League Division titles. Ryan Pressly looks to be a potential standout for the Astros in the upcoming season. In the last three seasons, he has pulled off 33, 26, and 12 saves suggesting this year he could achieve 45 to 50 saves. Bare this in mind when the Astros are down, you could do some in-play betting and back them to turn it around.

Dallas Stars (NHL)

Ok the NHL might not be the most popular sport in Texas but it is home to the Dallas Stars. They are the only ice hockey teams in the state and as such can draw a spotlight when they have a competitive season in the Central Division of the Western Conference. Such as in 2022 when they were able to secure a second-place finish. At the time of writing, we are heading into the 2023-24 season where there is a lot of optimism so the Stars could become a great option for simple moneyline bets.

Take a look into player props and explore the points potential behind Jason Robertson who was the sixth overall point scorer in 22-23 with 46 goals and 63 assists. There were multiple Stars players with nearly a point per game last season so consider looking into Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski who got 75 in 73 and 77 points in 82 games, respectively. Jake Oettinger’s .919 save percentage makes them a good team to back for beating the spread too.

Houston Dynamo (MLB)

Founded in 2005, Houston Dynamo were an instant success after winning the MLS Cup twice in their first two seasons. A fete they have not since repeated, having only finished runners-up in 2011 and 2012 or otherwise not qualifying. Recent seasons suggest they are not a team you should be backing heavily when betting on Texas sports teams. They finished 13th out of 15 in both the 2021 and 2022 Western Conference seasons.

Biggest Betting Events in Texas

Sports betting is not regulated in Texas yet so the biggest events for wagering take place outside the state. Texas sports bettors can use offshore sportsbooks to bet on these events so it is worth taking a look at some popular choices for Texans.

The Super Bowl

As a footballing state, the Super Bowl is a huge event for Texas sports bettors. Although the team has not made it to the final in this millennium, the event is still one of the biggest sporting events in the world and is also beloved in Texas. It is a great opportunity to explore a wide range of markets and go beyond the typical moneyline, spread, or totals betting. It is often a chance for one man to stand above the parapet. Lately, it has been Patrick Mahomes but Tom Brady is another notable Super Bowl performer as well as Texas’ own Roger Staubach who spearheaded two massive comebacks in the big game. So explore the player props while you also look to bet on the game statistics.

March Madness

Every year for a few weeks at the end of the first quarter of the year, the sports fan population turn their attention to the NCAA basketball tournament. In 2019, the American Gaming Association reported $8.5 billion worth of bets on March Madness games. In 2023, this number was forecasted to reach $15.5 billion from 68 million Americans wagering during March Madness. There are so many rounds and matches come thick and fast, things can change on a dime. This tournament can be a great opportunity to put your money where your mouth is and back a future NBA MVP or discover the next golden generation.

The Lone Star Showdown and other Rivalries

When varsity men’s and women’s athletic teams from Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin compete, it is a huge event. The main competition takes place between the two football teams but the rivalry extends to baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, and soccer. When teams from the two colleges meet it is dubbed the Lone Star Showdown

One of the longest uninterrupted rivalries in the history of sports takes place between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners. The Red River Showdown, which originally started in 1900, has occurred every year since 1929 for a total streak of 118 games. It is named after a body of water that separates the two states. It draws a lot of attention from sports fans in the state and has become a popular betting event.

The Battle For The Chancellor’s Spurs takes place between the Longhorns and the Texas Tech Red Raiders every year too. It is another hugely popular event in the Texas collegiate football calendar.

Deposit Methods at Texas Sportsbooks

You can choose from a variety of different payment options at sports betting sites in Texas. Each method can fall into one of three different categories which we have detailed below.

Traditional Payment Methods

Traditional methods are fiat options that are established payment methods possibly even around before the internet existed. For example, bank transfers, credit or debit card payments, or checks. These methods are tried and tested however they can often come with the largest fees and longest processing times.

Third-Party Payment Services

Third-party services act as another option that people use to manage money online. PayPal is probably the most prominent example but Skrill is also a big player that is popular with sports bettors. They allow you to carry out transactions quickly but do tend to carry fees. Some sportsbook bonuses are excluded from people depositing with eWallets.

Crypto Payment Methods

Crypto sports betting sites are something that has changed the world of online payments. Bitcoin and other crypto options have made it easier to send money online. This is a faster way to move money into your betting account compared to using the traditional banking system. Some sportsbooks will offer additional bonuses for using crypto.

Bonuses for Texas Sports Betting

Sports betting sites offer all kinds of different bonuses with different availability, different purposes, and always of differing value.

Welcome Bonus

These are only exclusive to new accounts or only apply to your first deposit. Welcome promotions tend to offer a high percentage match and offer the most generous amounts of bonus funds. They are made this way to attract potential new customers.

Reload Bonus

Bonus funds that you get from deposit matches applied to any deposit after your first one, are reload bonuses. They tend to be worth much less than the welcome offer. Some sportsbooks offer these every time you deposit whereas other betting sites make them a one-time deal.

Free Bets

It is one of the only types of bonuses that is exclusive to sports betting. Free bets are an opportunity to wager without using any of your own money. Sometimes they can only be used on specific markets or restricted to only parlay bets.

Cashback Bonus

In the sports betting world, you can get cashback through rebate and bet insurance offers. Sportsbooks offer a percentage of your money back for lost bets on certain sports or across the whole catalog. Bet insurance offers give you your whole bet back as a free bet when your wager fails.

No Deposit Bonus

These are extremely rare promotions that give you bonus funds without the condition of you making a deposit first. They can be used to entice back a dormant high roller.

Texas Sports Betting Apps & Mobile Sites

Any of the sportsbooks on this page are accessible from a mobile device whether it is an Android, Apple, or any other smartphone. You can either download a Texas sports betting app or visit their mobile site.

Best Texas iOS Betting App

You will not find any of these sportsbooks in the Apple App Store but you can easily access them from any Apple device, be it a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Simply use a mobile browser such as Safari to navigate to the sportsbook website. We recommend Mega Dice for iOS users as you will get all of the same functions and features through your phone as on your desktop device.

Best Texas Android Betting App

Android users can search the Google Play Store for mobile versions of our recommended sportsbooks but we have highlighted Lucky Block as the choice for Android users. It is a fantastic sportsbook that offers the same range of sports both online and via mobile.

How to Join a Texas Sports Betting Site

If this is your first time placing a bet this step-by-step guide will tell you everything you need to know including everything from making an account, to claiming a bonus, and ultimately placing sports bets.

Step One – Head to the Sports Betting Site

Type BetOnline.ag into your browser bar and navigate to their website. Click the green “Join Now” button in the top right-hand corner.

Step Two – Create A Profile

Complete the submission form that you are taken to on a separate page. Fill in all the details including creating a password, and click Create Account at the bottom to proceed.

Step Three – Complete Verification

An email containing a link will be sent to the address you used to register, simply click the link in the email to verify your address.

Step Four – Make a Deposit

Head to the cashier or banking section of your account and click deposit. Choose the method you would like to use and enter an amount. To redeem the BetOnline sports welcome bonus you must deposit at least $55 and use the promo code BET1000. Once you are happy click to confirm.

Step Five – Start Betting

Your real money deposit and bonus funds should be instantly available to use so you can start betting on the 30+ sports on offer.

What is the Best Texas Betting Site?

After much consideration, our first choice of sports betting site in Texas is BetOnline, thanks to their wide range of sports, intuitive website, and a great collection of sports betting bonuses.

They offer a generous welcome package and a reload bonus for sports bettors but one thing we really love about BetOnline is their collection of free bets and bet insurance offers. Their range of betting markets and deposit options makes BetOnline a versatile betting operator that will suit all types of bettor.

Texas Sports Betting FAQs