Texas – Online Casinos & Gambling Regulations

Find the Best American Casino Online

Gambling in Texas is illegal for the most part but there are a couple of exceptions. For example, you can play at one of the casinos of the local Native American tribes on sovereign tribal lands. These are open for tourists and locals alike, but you should be aware that the legal age for gambling is 21 in Texas. Alternatively, you can place a bet at one of the horse and dog racing tracks or play the state lottery. 

If you want to play online, you should be aware that foreign-based online casinos are technically illegal in Texas. However, the government does not prosecute any players taking part in such activities right now. In any case, you should take note of the legal situation and judge for yourself if it’s worth taking the risk of playing online. It is also important to choose an online casino that is licensed and regulated under a trustworthy jurisdiction to ensure fair gaming. 

• Check the jurisdiction of the online casino
• Does the casino accept players from Texas?
• Do you have access to the accepted payment methods?
• Is the casino properly licensed to ensure fair gaming?
• The minimum age for gambling at most online casinos is 18
• The legal age for gambling in Texas is 21

We recommend checking out our GoodLuckMate top lists and casino reviews in order to find out more about the best international online casinos that accept players from Texas.

Gambling Regulation

Gambling in Texas is severely restricted but not entirely illegal. Currently, there are two official casinos that are operated by the two Native American tribes on sovereign tribal lands. They still remain open to this day, despite repeated legal challenges from the Texan government. Furthermore, there are cruises to the Gulf Coast that are offering casino games while they are in international waters. Other than that, the only legal forms of gambling are charitable bingo, the Mega Millions state lottery & Powerball, as well as some horse racing and dog racing venues. 

More recently, it seems like the Texan government may be softening its stance on gambling. Two separate sports betting bills are under review. The two sports betting bills, HJR61, and HB1275, have the goal in mind to fully legalize sports betting in the state and to establish a regulatory body to oversee all betting activities. Additionally, State representative Roland Gutierrez filed a bill in 2019 that would authorize the construction of 12 casinos in Texas. Similar bills have been rejected in the past, but it is entirely possible that Texas is following in the footsteps of other states that recently legalized and regulated gambling. 

Localized Online Casinos

Daily Fantasy Sports is currently the only available legal online betting options for Texans. It is somewhat of a gray area and not really regulated. Those sites are fully localized for the regional market. This is not always the case when it comes to foreign-based online casinos. As online casino gambling is technically illegal in the Lone Star State, casino operators do not specifically target the Texan audience. Since almost every online casino has an English version of their website as well as English-speaking customers support you won’t have much trouble finding a suitable place, however. Most international promotions and bonus offers can also be used by players from the United States. But we recommend checking out the bonus terms before getting started because this is not always the case.  

Gambling with US Dollars

The US dollar is the only currency that is accepted at the casinos operated by the Native American tribes in Texas. The slot machines accept coins, notes, and “casino cards” that can be topped up at the counter and special vending machines. Both casinos are outfitted with ATMs but foreign currency exchange is not readily available. It is also possible to participate in the national lottery with US dollars, as well as the horse racing and dog racing venues. Many foreign-based online casinos support the US dollar as a currency. This means you won’t have any trouble making a deposit with your local payment methods. 

Casinos in Texas 

As previously mentioned the only two official casinos are operated by Native American tribes on sovereign tribal lands. One of them is the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagles Pass. It opened in 1996 and has received a complete makeover a couple of years ago. The establishment includes a fitness facility, an outdoor swimming pool, and four restaurants. In the casino itself, you can choose between a whopping 3,000 slot machines and table games, such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker. 

The other option is the Naskila Entertainment Casino, which is operated by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. This is a much smaller casino with merely 370 slot machines and one restaurant. Plans exist to offer more machines, table games, and a golf course in the near future. Online casinos are technically illegal in the state. However, there are several foreign-based operators that are accepting players from Texas. They are commonly regulated and located in Curaçao, Anjouan, St. Kitts, and Costa Rica, amongst other jurisdictions.