Online Texas Casinos
Texas is the 3rd most active state that participates in offshore online gambling at casinos as of 2020 with a gross win amount of $107.5m. Texas contributes to 6.5% of all offshore casino activity in the United States for 2020. And in this piece, we thought we would delve deeper into Texas’s gambling laws and where you can and can’t play casino games, be it online or offline. Top 5 Texas Online Casinos Here is a list of our top 5 recommended online casino sites to play at for real money from Texas. Play Free Online Casino Games. Free casino games are a great opportunity to play for fun or practice a new game on-the-go. With the same entertaining gameplay and similar bonus rewards found in real money games, free casino games are good practice for people new to online gambling. Welcome to Casino World, the fun social casino game where you play FREE Slots, Bingo, Poker, Texas Hold'em, Blackjack, Solitaire, and more with friends! Casino World - Play Online Casino Games for Fun at Casino. Online Gambling Options in Texas History of Texas Gambling Laws Further Reading On Texas Gambling Law Texas Gambling FAQ Texas has come a long way in terms of the freedom to gamble. Just a few decades ago, Texas didn’t have a lottery, had no charitable gaming laws, no allowance for social gambling, and no casinos.
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The Texas gambling scene has flourished in recent years, in particular for online gambling. Texas now ranks as the third highest in the US for online players – just behind California and New York who are 1st and 2nd respectively.
Did you know that online gambling in Texas, on average, contributes to over $75 million per year?
Texas Offshore Casino Statistics
Texas is the 3rd most active state that participates in offshore online gambling at casinos as of 2020 with a gross win amount of $107.5m. Texas contributes to 6.5% of all offshore casino activity in the United States for 2020.
Click here to see a breakdown of all offshore gambling activity broken down by state. The following is a breakdown of all offshore casino gambling from Texas since 2003.
Year | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
Gross Win | $67.00m | $82.70m | $106.00m | $132.80m | $90.90m | $90.70m | $83.00m | $84.40m | $81.90m |
Year | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020* |
Gross Win | $84.40m | $86.20m | $85.70m | $78.90m | $74.00m | $75.00m | $76.60m | $76.00m | $107.50m |
*Note: Data from 2020 are currently based on estimates.
Source – H2 Gambling Capital
Offshore gambling statistics for sports betting from Texas can be found here.
Top Texas Online Casinos
CASINO | RATING | BONUS | PLAY |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Casiplay | €800 + 100 Free Spins Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
2 | Casoola | $1500 + 200 Free Spins Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
3 | Lucky Days | €1,000 + 100 Free Spins Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
4 | Casumo | €300 + 20 Free Spins Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
5 | Sloty | $1,500 + 300 Free Spins Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
Due to the growing popularity of online gambling, we understand it can be confusing to pick the best TX online casino to play at. Our recommended Top Texas Online Casinos is compiled meticulously through playing at hundreds of online casinos, as well as collecting feedback from our readers. In this process, we formulated a simple, yet effective way of ranking TX online casinos.
There are many attributes that casinos can be judged against, but we found that most players looked for:
- A Wide Selection of Games
- Accessible and prompt Customer Support
- Great Bonuses for New and Regulars
- Safe and Secure – Payment and Player Information
Of course, some players will place more or less emphasis on different attributes, hence the list that we have created is a guide and players should research further if they are looking for something more specific.
Wide Selection of Games
One of the worst player experiences to have is to sign up to an online casino that is void of the games that players love and lack game selection variety. Yes, not only can it become boring, but some players simply give in and then play with reckless abandon to exhaust their deposit. It becomes a matter of throwing money down the drain, just to close out the player’s betting account.
The top online casinos in TX, all have a good variety of game selection, and allows the player to experience new and engaging games. In our recommended list, all the casinos have a good selection to choose from. If searching for something more specific then a player should research further and go direct to the online casino’s website. It’s prudent for any player to ensure that they have chosen an online casino that offers the games that they want to play.
Accessible and Prompt Customer Support
Every now and then a player will need to contact the Customer Support to resolve a technical issue or to assist with a query. Even the best online casinos will need to field queries and yes, they will also receive some complaints. The nature of casinos, is that some Players will always feel begrudged when they lose. Pushing that aside, having a great casino that responds quickly, professionally and helpfully, ranks highly on our list. The top online casinos are honest and will not use tactics to delay payments or swindle money.
Great Bonuses for New and Regulars
There were many aspects to bonuses that we can discuss. To categorize our rankings further we broke down bonuses into Welcome Bonuses, Loyalty (VIP bonuses), No Deposit Bonuses and Free Spins.
Welcome Bonuses are also known as Sign Up Bonuses. In some countries, online casinos offer a tiered deposit matching for their 1st, 2nd and so on deposit. For Texas players, the Welcome Bonus is usually a percentage of only the 1st Deposit / Sign up deposit. Occasionally some online casinos will also provide a match bonus for subsequent bonuses, but this is gradually dying out.
More important to take note is that the best online casinos have clear Terms and Conditions that articulate the wagering requirements. Wager requirements stipulate the wagering turn over needed in order for a withdrawal of the bonus to be allowed. If the wagering requirement isn’t met, the bonus cannot be cashed out.
This is a particular bug bear that players experience at poor online casinos that do not clearly state the wagering requirements. This can easily be avoided by sticking to our recommended list.
The best online casinos all have quality Loyalty Bonuses. These are the equivalent of the land based complimentary beverages and discounted meals. The only difference being, that the loyalty bonuses is directly credited to the bank roll. Again, similar to the Welcome Bonus, there may be Terms and Conditions that may be applied, such as wagering requirements. These will be clearly articulated on the websites of all the top online casinos.
Not as popular due to Terms and Conditions effectively placing No Deposit Bonuses as free play. All the top casinos do offer games to try for free, but very little offer a No Deposit whereby if resulting in a win the money can be immediately withdrawn. Still the No Deposit is a great way of experiencing close to real money gambling.
The best online casinos all offer respectable Free Spin Bonuses. Slot fans should choose from the recommended list the online casinos with the best free spins.
Safe and Secure – Payment and Player Information
Play at online casinos requires the transaction of real money to the online casino’s players account. And because of this, the best online casinos all offer and support payment methods that are widely recognized, trustworthy and cost effective.
In addition, the best online casinos will declare that they use the best encryption technology, to ensure that playing on a private browser does not leave the player exposed to unwanted tracking or hacking. The gold standard for internet security is SSL – Secure Sockets Layer and is used to create a secure gateway between the Players private browser and the online casino’s server.
Our recommended list of casinos, all have the most advance encryption technology and payment gateways to ensure a safe and secure player experience.
Which Texas Online Casinos should be avoided?
All online casinos that accept players from Texas are based offshore. Usually alarm bells start ringing when a Player reads this, but rest assured this does not mean they are not safe. Far from it. There are many companies that based their entities offshore, one of the most well know is Google, who in fact charge and process their receipts for Google Ads from Ireland. Offshore but still very much a safe and trusted company.
Accordingly, the best casinos are offshore, but they are licensed and are regulated and audited by a third party. They will display on their website, their locality and the third party that has audited them.
The online casinos to avoid are therefore one’s that are unlicensed and unregulated.
An online casino that is true to its players and wants to be in the industry for the long run, will obtain a license and be regulated.
Why play online and not land based?
Let’s run through why there is more fun to be had online than on land based. For starters Texas only has one land based casino which is Kickapoo, and it is restricted to Class II gaming. Technically no other tribal casino is permitted to offer Class II or Class III gaming. Tribal Casinos are bound by a compact, in which gaming is categorised as Class I for social, cultural and charitable games, Class II bingo like games and Class III Vegas like games. Please refer to the section on Texas Gambling Laws for explanation of why Kickapoo is permitted but other Tribes are not.
In addition to the one land based tribal casino, there is one commercially owned riverboat casino that has operated since 2015.
And that’s pretty much it. One tribal casino and one riverboat for the whole of Texas. Without stating the obvious, the gaming selection and convenience by playing at online casinos far exceeds that of playing at a land based or riverboat.
Please note, however, that there are other forms of gambling which players can branch out to in Texas. These include: horse and dog racing, the Texas Lottery games and also bingo. Bingo is surprisingly become quite popular again, and can also be found online.
Sports betting remains unavailable at any land based venue, whether it be through a bookie or via a betting window or terminal at a casino.
Texas Online Gambling
Extending beyond casinos, other forms of online gambling include sports betting, bingo and poker.
Online sports betting now exceeds that of online casinos with 2019 seeing an estimated turnover of $81 million. Online bingo and poker both saw approximately $10 million in turnover, significantly behind sports and casino games, but still demonstrating that there are plenty of Texas players taking it up.
The laws that apply to these forms of online gambling remain the same as that of online casinos. And therefore these sites are all based offshore.
Texas Gambling Laws
Texas gambling laws are relatively quite restrictive, as can be seen with the limited gambling options that are land based.
In summary Texas Gambling Laws are as follows:
- Online gambling is expressly prohibited in State Law. Though this may be the case, there has been no precedence of law enforcement agencies laying any charges on Players. Online gambling operators, on the other hand, are strictly prohibited in Texas, and therefore ALL online casinos are offshore based.
- The law only permits the Kickapoo Tribe to operate a casino on its territory (restricted to Class II games), while other Tribes are prohibited to establish a casino or any form of gambling. In a complex turn of events, the Kickapoo Tribe has been able to successfully argue that they are governed by the Federal compact that applies to Native American territories, while all other tribes are to abide under stricter State laws. Thus, Kickapoo is the only tribe that can offer gambling according to the law.
- Only one other casino has been approved to operate legally, and it is a riverboat casino.
- The State Law has given the Texas State Lottery a monopoly license to exclusively offer lottery products. In its products, it is authorized to offer instant games and draw games. All net proceeds are directed to the State’s educational fund.
- All bingo parlors must be operated on a charitable basis to be legal. A 3% levy is placed on the rental costs of bingo facilities.
- All commercial land based casinos and sports betting are prohibited at law.
- Permitted under State law is pari mutuel betting on horse and dog races. Simulcast betting is also permitted.
- The legal gambling age ranges between 18 for lottery, 18 for bingo (however under age players may partake if guardian consent is given) and 21 for pari mutuel and riverboat casino.
Legal Disclaimer:
WagerDex has disclosed the above statements as information only. We do not purport that the information is complete nor correct in entirety. The above statements are not be used as specific legal advice. No attorney and clients relationship exists between WagerDex and readers of this site.
Texas Lottery Commission
The Texas Lottery Commission was founded in 1991, and has a monopoly in Texas for being the sole distributor of lottery games. The minimum age is 18 to play Texas Lottery games that include Scratch tickets, intra-state lotto pools and inter-state (multi-juridictional) lotto pools.
Net proceeds raised through Lottery games are direct to Texas Educational programs.
It is estimated that for 2019, there was a total turnover of $6.2 billion.
Conclusion
Our recommended list of TX online casinos has been prepared with assessment against several key criteria. These include: Game Selection, Safety and Security, Bonuses and Customer Service. Relative to land based gaming options, there is a lot of real money gaming to be had online and it’s also more convenient. Though the gambling laws are quite clear in its stance for interactive gaming, the fact that there is over $75 million wagered online by Texas players each year, is indicative that there is very little risk of being charged.
Texas, along with most Southern states, has implemented some strict laws
toward its online gambling industry. Despite the huge number of people here that
love to gamble, lawmakers here have only legalized one land-based casino to
operate. Today, our team of experts is going to explain how you can find the
safest Texas online casinos currently available.
The popularity of online betting in Texas is growing
exponentially. For those new to internet casino gaming, it can seem a little
daunting to choose which website to play at for the first time. To help with
this, we’re going to break down the most important features that all Texas online casinos
should provide. Later, we’ll be going over the current set of laws and
regulations surrounding this industry.
There’s a lot of information to unpack. Below are our top recommended
casino sites in Texas operating right now. Check them out today!
Rank | Gambling Site | Deposit Bonus | Get Started | |
#1 | 280% Up To $14,000 | Visit Site | ||
#2 | BetUS Casino | 150% Up To $3,000 | Visit Site | |
#3 | 300% Up To $6,000 | Visit Site | ||
#4 | Wild Casino | 250% Up To $5,000 | Visit Site | |
#5 | 100% Up To $11,000 | Visit Site |
How Can I Find Legit Texas Online Casinos to Play At?
Texas has not yet taken the steps to regulate its online casino market.
Fortunately, some of the very best internet casino websites in the world are
operating inside this state. Choosing one of these sites to join should be easy!
We have looked at hundreds of different casino websites over the years. Our
team has come up with four of the most important features that all of the
top online casino sites in Texas should offer. Before signing up to a
Texas casino site, make sure that it provides you with the four points below.
Safe and Secure Payment System
The most important thing that you should look for in a gambling website is
safety. You might find an online casino providing thousands of different gaming
options. If it doesn’t provide a secure payment system, however, it’s not worth
joining.
What exactly is a payment system? It’s how a casino website processes both
deposits and withdrawals. In other words, it’s how the website handles your
money.
Fortunately, this is a very easy thing to look into. One quick way to learn
more about the different payment systems of Texas online casinos is to head over
to our reviews page.
Here, we dive into each casino website’s cashier page. If we find any reports of
withheld payment or unusual fees, we’ll let you know about it.
Another great way is to check out these websites for yourself! All of the
safest Texas online casinos operating today will allow you to
scroll through them before signing up. You can head over to these site’s payment
page to learn exactly which forms of payment are accepted.
We highly recommend that you join a website that allows deposits to be made
using both debit and credit cards. It’s important to know that most US casino
websites only allow payouts to be made using Bitcoin. Don’t let this scare you!
Bitcoin withdrawals come with extremely low fees and are processed
within just a few days.
Helpful Customer Support Options
Customer service options are without a doubt one of the most important parts
of a betting website. If you ever encounter an issue during your gambling
experience, it’s important to know that you play through a website that will
have your back. This is another quick and easy thing you can look into.
Most websites clearly list which support options are available. Some of the
top casino sites in Texas even have a pop-up tab with a help
feature for new players. There are a few customer service options that we feel
are better than others.
We highly recommend that you join a website offering a live chat option. This
allows you to speak directly with a website representative over live chat. It’s
the quickest and easiest way for you to have your questions answered in
real-time.
It’s never a good idea to join sports betting sites in Texas that only
provide email support. This can often take weeks to answer any questions you
have. As long as the website you are looking to join provides a direct way to
answer questions, you’re good to go!
Wide Range of Different Casino Gaming Options
You might be surprised to find out how many people join a
US casino site without
even looking at which games are available! It’s highly recommended that you look
at exactly which gambling options the site you plan to join provides. Generally
speaking, the more games offered, the better the entire website is!
If you only plan to play one game, make sure to join a Texas online casino website
that provides that game! Are you a blackjack fan? Look for some
Texas online casinos that provide a wide range of blackjack tables with
different minimum bet requirements. Do you love poker? Look for a website
providing popular games like Texas Hold ’em and Omaha.
It’s also a good idea to ensure these sites utilize modern software for their
games. Some of the safest Texas online casinos allow you to play a tutorial game
before you’ve signed up. Take the time to look at a few of the games to see if
the ones you want to play are actually provided.
Most of the online casinos in Texas operating today provide more
gaming options than major land-based casinos. This isn’t always the case,
though. Always ensure that you have access to a wide range of different casino
games.
Modern Design and User Interface
All online casino in Texas should provide a modern design. On the surface,
website design may not seem tremendously important. But in reality, the design
and style of the online casino you decide to join will impact your entire gaming
experience.
Of all the features here, this is the easiest to look into. As we mentioned
before, almost every Texas online casino website will allow you to check them out before
you’ve become a member. You can look through these site’s different pages to
make sure they are up to date.
The user interface of these sites should also be fantastic. Scroll through a
few pages to make sure that nothing crashes. It’s never a bad idea to look into
the actual betting process available through these sites as well.
Online casino designs have improved dramatically over the years. Today, many
of the top online casino sites in Texas offer gameplay that makes it feel as if you’re
actually playing inside a brick-and-mortar casino. Make sure that you join one
that provides a fantastic design and solid overall functionality.
Why Are Online Casino Sites in Texas so Popular Right Now?
The entire country is experiencing a huge increase in online gambling.
Today, a number of states including Nevada and New Jersey have fully legalized
internet casino gaming. Within a few years, it wouldn’t be a major surprise to
see almost every state with regulated and online gambling options.
In Texas, online casino gaming is more popular than ever. Millions of people
here are skipping the trip to a casino and choosing to play their favorite games
from home. We asked a number of these casino fans why they love the play online.
There are two reasons that come up time and time again.
Convenience of Playing From Anywhere
There’s no doubt that the convenience of playing your favorite casino games
from anywhere is the top reason why people love online gaming. Imagine driving
miles to a nearby casino just to find that the game you wanted to play isn’t
available! With online casinos in Texas, this never happens.
This is particularly true in Texas. Here, this is only one casino currently
operating. Those wanting to play a few hands have just one option throughout the
entire state. Fortunately, Texas casino sites provide the
opportunity to play every casino game from the comfort of home. Most even allow
you to play on the go using a smartphone!
Massive Number of Betting Options
It’s well-known that Texas online casinos provide more gaming options than even
the country’s biggest land-based casino. There are enough games available online
to keep even the most hardcore bettor busy.
Some of the best casino sites in Texas even provide a live
dealer option. This makes it feel as if you’re playing inside a real-life
casino! An actual dealer is featured to collect your bets. If you want access to
thousands of different games, online casinos in Texas are the way to go.
Are Online Casino Sites in Texas Actually Lawful?
Texas lawmakers have made it clear that they don’t like gambling or Texas online casinos. Technically
speaking, almost all forms of gambling (including most casino games) are illegal
here. There is a tribal casino operating inside the state, which is legal under
the Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.
Texas’ definition of gambling can be found in Section 47.01(1) of the state’s
criminal code. It’s defined as the following:
Section 47.01(1) of the state’s criminal code defines gambling as:
” ‘Bet’ means an agreement to win or lose something of value solely or
partially by chance.”
Section 47.02 states:
(a) A person commits an offense if he:
(1) makes a bet on the partial or final result of a game or contest or on
the performance of a participant in a game or contest;
(2) makes a bet on the result of any political nomination, appointment,
or election or on the degree of success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate;
or
(3) plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played
with cards, dice, balls, or any other gambling device.
Based on these laws, it would seem that online casino sites in Texas are completely
banned. This is one of the few states with legislation that defines online
gambling. We always recommend abiding by the law. With that being said, many
people here choose to play their favorite casino games online, and some of the
best gaming sites in the country are available here.
Will I Be Prosecuted for Playing at Online Casino Sites in Texas?
Online Casinos Texas
It’s possible, but not very likely. Online gambling in Texas is banned. Lawmakers here are much more concerned with online
gambling website operators than individual players, though. We have not come
across a single case of any individual facing legal trouble for playing at online
casino sites in Texas.
How Do I Stay Safe Playing at Online Casino Sites in Texas?
If you do decide to play at a casino website in this state, there are some
basic tips you can follow to protect yourself. As long as you keep these tips in
mind, there’s a great chance your betting experience will be nothing but fun.
Check them out below!
Only Play Through Reputable Casino Sites in Texas
The best way to ensure you stay safe while betting online is to only play
through reputable websites. The safest Texas online casinos will take
strict measures to protect their players. Before signing up to any site, make
sure that it provides safe payment options and a fantastic customer support
system.
Keep Track of Changes to Texas’ Online Gambling Laws
In case we haven’t made it clear enough, online gambling in Texas is not exactly
encouraged. Fortunately, laws towards internet gambling are changing
fast around the entire country. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Texas lawmakers
legalize online casino gaming within a few years. Stay updated on changes to
laws here by following our
industry news page!
Never Give out Your Betting Account Information
This is extremely important. Your betting account information should never be
shared with anyone. Think of your online casino account as a bank account. None
of the legit Texas online casino sites operating today will ask you to reveal your
username or password.
Be Willing to Reach out to Customer Service
We feel strongly that a solid customer support system is one of the most
important aspects of a gaming website. If, on the off chance, you encounter an
issue with your betting experience, make sure that you are willing to ask for
help. The sites that we recommend at the top of this page are well-known for
providing their members with amazing customer service options.
Only Bet on Games You Know How to Play
Most casino sites in Texas provide thousands of different gaming options
every single day. Because of this, many players throw money on games they know
nothing about. This is never a good idea. We recommend that you only wager on
games you understand. It will significantly increase your chances of winning.
Can You Gamble Online In Texas
FAQ About Online Casino Gambling Sites in Texas
What Are Some of the Most Popular Casino Games Played in Texas?
Texas is the second-most populous state in the US. More than 28 million
people reside here, many of whom love to play casino games. From what we’ve
gathered, the most popular games that Texans play online are blackjack and
slots. All of the legit Texas online casino sites today provide many
variations of both these games.
When Will Texas Online Casinos Become Fully Legal?
There’s no clear answer. Unlike states such as New Jersey and New Hampshire,
Texas has not shown any desire to legalize its online gaming market. This may
change very soon. Lawmakers here are already working to legalize sports betting.
This shows they are open to changes in gambling laws. It’s very possible that
casino sites in Texas will become fully legal within the next few years.
What Are Some of the Best Online Casinos in Texas Available Right Now?
Texan casino fans have access to some of the best online casino websites in
the country. Each of the sites that we recommend at the top of this page is
extremely popular. For now, it seems that Bovada Casino and Mybookie.ag are the
two most-played casino websites in the state.
How Much Money Can I Win Playing at Texas Casino Sites?
There’s really no limit! The more money you wager, the more money you can
win. Your chances of winning will increase with experience. It’s also
recommended to research each game you want to play before betting any money on
them.
Conclusion on Texas Online Casinos
Best Online Casinos Texas
Texas is in a very unusual position. Politicians here are clearly not in love
with the idea of legalizing online casino gaming, yet they see the massive
potential for revenue earnings here. Most of the states with legalized internet
casino gaming are seeing massive increases in their gambling revenue.
Online Texas Casinos Poker
For this reason, it’s likely that online casino gaming will
become legal here soon. Until then, players will need to decide for themselves
whether they want to play through the Texas online casinos currently available.