While we’re all too aware of Texas state laws regarding online casinos and sports betting activities (i.e., we still can’t do it), you might be curious, as a Texan, about what’s going on in neighboring states.
Although Texas itself has yet to embrace online gambling, states like Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico have each tackled the rise in the popularity of online gambling in different ways.
This article focuses on these unique approaches from our fellow Southerners, breaking down what you can and can’t do regarding online betting in each state.
1: New Mexico
We start with New Mexico, where online gambling is, for the most part, illegal, with a few exceptions. Residents in the state are permitted to participate in online horseracing and daily fantasy sports competitions, known as DFS.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
Daily Fantasy Sports is a bit like the little league of sports betting. Players use a DFS platform to create “fantasy” teams of professional sports using real-life players and follow the actual leagues. Points are earned based on how players actually perform in real games, with DFS participants competing against each other to win prizes.
DFS is permitted where other forms of online betting aren’t lies in how it is classified as a game. States like New Mexico classify DFS as a game of skill rather than a game of chance, which is how traditional gambling is often defined, meaning DFS bypasses state gambling restrictions.
Popular DFS Platforms
If you would like to explore DFS in more detail, we’ve listed the most popular DFS platforms below, where you can get a better understanding of what fantasy sports entails and how to get involved:
DraftKings: A popular platform involved with real-life sports betting and online casinos in states where permitted, DraftKings offers a wide range of contests across most major sports, including NFL, MLB, and the NBA. The platform includes innovative features, tournaments, and daily and weekly competitions with some impressive prize pools.
FanDuel: Another sportsbook and online casino operator, FanDuel has the industry knowledge and experience to provide a stellar DFS experience across most major sporting events. Again, there are plenty of competitions and opportunities to get your hands on exciting prizes, with frequent promotions and bonuses that run throughout the season.
Yahoo Fantasy Sports: A more simplistic and user-friendly platform ideal for beginners, YFS includes a range of contests covering many large sports, although there are fewer promos compared to DraftKings and FanDuel.
2: Oklahoma
Online gambling in the Sooner State is a bit of a gray area. Online gambling is largely illegal in Oklahoma, although the state does permit a few tribal land-based casinos, charitable gaming, and the lottery.
It is illegal for operators to offer online gambling services from within the state; however, you can still access international casino sites, and while they are not technically legal, no Oklahoma resident has ever been prosecuted for doing so.
That being said, to play at these sites is to play at your own risk as they fall outside of US jurisdiction, so you have no recourse to protect your rights as a consumer.
Social and Sweepstakes Casinos
Oklahoma players can access and play at social casino sites, however. These sites are sweepstakes casinos that operate under a unique legal framework. You do not play with real-life money but rather sweepstakes coins, effectively circumventing online gambling restrictions, as no direct real-money wagering takes place.
These sites offer casino-style gaming entertainment without the gambling aspect; however, players can win real-value prizes by playing on these popular platforms.
- High5 Casino: High5 Casino is one of the most popular sweepstakes casinos in the US. It offers players a fun and engaging gaming experience with over 1,700 casino-style games, including slots, table games, and live dealer options, all accessible without real-money gambling.
To play at High5 Casino, you can use virtual currencies like Gold Coins for free play or Sweeps Coins, which can be redeemed for cash prizes. High5 Casino is known for its generous bonuses, daily rewards, and user-friendly platform, which you can access on both desktop and mobile devices. - Stake.us: You are likely familiar with the Stake brand, a premier international online casino known for its early adoption of cryptocurrencies and now famous for sponsoring the EPL soccer team Everton.
Stake.us is the brand’s US-facing sweepstakes equivalent, offering an impressive games catalog for US players to experience slots, table games, and the operator’s popular Stake Originals. The Stake.us arm operates under the sweepstakes model, offering free play or the chance to earn Sweeps Coins that can be redeemed for cash prizes.
Stake.us is a leading sweepstakes casino, drawing on the partnerships of the master brand to deliver an unforgettable casino-style experience for players unable to access full-blown online casino platforms. - Fortune Coins Casino: Fortune Coins Casino is another worthy addition to our list of popular sweepstakes platforms. It offers over 1,000 casino games in a casual gaming environment. The platform’s virtual currencies include Fortune Coins, which can be redeemed for real cash-value prizes.
3: Arkansas
In Arkansas, online gambling is limited to sports betting, DFS, or sweepstakes casinos. Online casino gambling is not yet legal, although there have been discussions in recent times about the potential legalization of online casinos in the not-too-distant future, so the Natural State is one to watch closely if you’re a Texas resident.
While online sports betting is permitted in Arkansas, there are very specific restrictions on which platforms are legally allowed to offer such a service. There are currently only three licensed platforms where you can bet on sports in Arkansas, which are regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission:
- Betly: Available through Southland Casino, Betly is a user-friendly platform for sports betting that covers a wide range of sports and events.
- Bet Saracen: Operated by Saracen Casino, the Bet Saracen platform provides competitive odds and various betting options, including live in-match betting.
- Oaklawn Sports: Linked to Oaklawn Racing Casino, Oaklawn specializes in horseracing and sports betting and offers a range of markets for both.
Why Nationwide Operators Aren’t Permitted
Arkansas has chosen to limit its online gambling market to locally licensed operators. This localized approach has allowed Arkansas to maintain control over its gambling industry while gradually expanding its offerings.
This decision ensures that revenue generated from online sports betting remains local and that the state government maintains control over regulations and licensing. This helps the state to protect Arkansas residents as it sees fit and in keeping with state gambling laws.
4: Louisiana
Finally, we reach Louisiana, Texas’s neighbor with the most liberal online gambling laws. At the time of writing, online sports betting is legal and thriving in the Pelican State, and residents can enjoy access to a wide range of popular sports betting platforms.
These platforms allow residents to bet on various sports, including international and national sports, both professional and at college level. Some restrictions do apply to sports betting. For example, you cannot place prop bets on college sports, and online casinos are still prohibited.
Below, we have listed some of the more prominent sports betting platforms where Louisiana players can enjoy a range of markets:
- FanDuel Sportsbook: As mentioned above, FanDuel is a well-known nationwide platform that offers a range of sports betting, casino, and casino-style entertainment to patrons as permitted on a state level.
- DraftKings Sportsbook: Again, DraftKings has opened up its sportsbook offerings to Louisiana players, including its impressive selection of sportsbook promotions and competitive betting markets.
- Bet365: Bet365 is a well-known international betting platform that offers access to a fantastic range of betting markets across national and international sporting events, virtuals, eSports, and other exciting betting options.
- Caesars Sportsbook: Linked to the iconic Caesars Palace, Caesars Sportsbook is one of the most trusted betting brands in the country and offers players some brilliant odds boosts, betting bonuses, and a strong rewards program.
- BetMGM Sportsbook: MGM is another US-based provider and popular brand known for its luxurious global resorts, including the iconic Bellagio and MGM Grand casino hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. The BetMGM online sportsbook offers plenty of markets and exciting offers to Louisiana players and residents of other states where online sports betting has been legalized.
The Online Gambling Landscape
Although Texas continues to uphold its strict stance against online gambling, it’s interesting for residents to compare state laws to those of neighboring states and worth paying attention to.
Perhaps as connecting states continue to relax or reform their state gambling laws, these decisions will rub off on the Lone Star State government so Texas residents can one day get involved with this exciting and engaging industry.