Author: texasbet

Viva Las Texas? Not quite. But the Lone Star State does have a couple of impressive casino resorts, which you can plan to visit for an indulgent weekend away with friends and family. There are also excellent land-based gambling venues within a short drive of the Texas border.

But which casinos offer the best gambling in Texas? Where can you legally play slot machines, craps, roulette, and blackjack?

Here, we introduce you to the best land-based casinos for gambling in Texas and the surrounding areas, which provide legal and fun-filled gambling opportunities to Texans. 

The Best Casinos in Texas in 2025

1: Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino | Eagle Pass, TX

• Location: 794 Lucky Eagle Dr, Eagle Pass, TX 78852
• Contact: (830) 773-2255
• More information

The top land-based casino for gambling in Texas is the tribal Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass. The resort boasts a modest three-star hotel and a huge gambling hall with over 3,300 slot machines for Texans to play from developers like Everi and Konami.

There are also three poker variants available at Kickapoo Lucky Eagle, including Bad Beat Jackpot, Limit Texas Hold’em, and No Limit Texas Hold’em. The poker room is open every day from 2 pm, while the casino is open 24/7 all year round.

Also popular with Texans is the bingo game variety at this casino, with various games running throughout the week, including specials for seniors and veterans.

But it’s not just famous for its gambling. Kickapoo Lucky Eagle is home to the excellent Que Pasa Lounge, which is a popular nightspot among locals and visitors alike.

There are also five restaurants and several bars here, ensuring an all-round experience if you’re planning a weekend of gambling in the Lone Star State.

2: Naskila Casino | Livingston, TX

• Location: 540 State Park Rd 56, Livingston, TX 77351
• Contact: (936) 563-2946
• More information

Marketed as “the luckiest spot in Texas,” Naskila Casino boasts over 30,000 square feet of gaming space, offering visitors access to 800 slot machine games. Popular slots include games like Golden Wins, Nugget Fever, and Double Wolf.

The casino is operated by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, residents on the oldest reservation in the Lone Star State situated in the Big Thicket of Deep East Texas.

Though it lacks much of the charm and resort-style features of the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Naskila is a decent place to play slots and enjoy the thrill of legal real-money gambling in Texas.

There are two eateries at Naskila Casino. The first is Timbers Grille, which serves up steaks, sandwiches, and burgers. There’s also Café ITTO, which is your one-stop shop for coffee, cakes, and other sweet treats.

While you can’t stay on-site, Naskila is only 90 miles north-east of Houston and there are various budget and mid-range hotels a short drive away from the casino.

The Best Casinos Near Texas in 2025

1: WinStar World Casino | Thackerville, OK

• Location: 777 Casino Ave, Thackerville, OK 73459
• Contact: (866) 946-7787
• More information

WinStar Casino is the biggest casino in the world, and it’s right on the doorstep of the Lone Star State. It features 400,000 square feet of gaming space, which hosts 10,500 slot machines, 100 table games, 55 poker tables, and an 800-seat bingo hall.

There are 17 on-site restaurants, a live entertainment center, and a golf course. If you visit WinStar for the weekend, you can stay in any of the 1,700 rooms located in the four distinct hotel towers. WinStar also has a huge RV park with hook-ups for 152 vehicles.

The hotel and casino are located about five miles north of the Texas border in Oklahoma. While not technically in the Lone Star State, WinStar is hugely popular among Texans looking to get away for a weekend of fun.

From Dallas, you can reach WinStar in less than 90 minutes, depending on traffic.

2: Choctaw Casino & Resort | Durant, OK

• Location: 4216 US-69, Durant, OK 74701
• Contact: (580) 920-0160
• More information

Another outstanding casino resort within a stone’s throw of the Texas border is the Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma.

The four-star hotel is the nicest on this list so far, making it a more refined option than the suites available at Kickapoo Lucky Eagle and WinStar.

The game variety at Choctaw Casino in Durant is excellent, too. There are 7,400 slot machines and 100 tables featuring games like blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and Pai Gow.

There’s also a 30-table poker room at Choctaw and a racebook for sports fans in the League Bar.

The 1832 Steakhouse offers fine dining in Durant, while numerous casual dining options, including a huge food court, cover all bases.

Choctaw Casino in Durant, OK, is a similar distance from Dallas as WinStar World, and if the traffic isn’t too bad, you should be able to make the journey in under 90 minutes.

3: Inn of the Mountain Gods | Mescalero, NM

• Location: 287 Carrizo Canyon Rd, Mescalero, NM 88340
• Contact: (575) 464-7059
• More information

A candidate for the best casino name in the United States, the Inn of the Mountain Gods is one of the best casinos in New Mexico, relatively close to Texas.

Located on the Mescalero Reservation, the Inn of the Mountain Gods is a four-star gaming resort with a spa, golf course, and lake-based activities. So, you can get away from it all while still enjoying a fun-filled gaming experience.

The 45,000 square-feet casino features dozens of table games, including roulette, blackjack, and craps, while there’s also an on-site poker room offering low-and-high limit games.

Slots are abundant in the Enclave, which is open 24/7 for Vegas-style gaming on popular slots from IGT and other top providers.

4: Coushatta Casino Resort | Kinder, LA

• Location: 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder, LA 70648
• Contact: (800) 584-7263
• More information

Coushatta Casino Resort is the top casino destination in Louisiana, close to the Texas border, and it can be reached by road in less than three hours from downtown Houston.

It’s also Louisiana’s biggest casino resort, with approximately 2,000 slot machines and several blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat tables. There’s also a live poker room and a high-stakes room for people with big bankrolls.

Coushatta is also home to eight dining options, a 3-star hotel, and a stunning 18-hole golf course within Louisiana’s famous wetlands.

So, if you live in East Texas and want to visit a casino resort by road, Coushatta is undoubtedly your best bet.

What About Online Casinos in Texas?

Right now, online casinos are not legal in Texas. However, this might change in the coming years as legislative bills are being considered.

If you want to legally gamble by playing slot machine games in Texas, your best option is to visit Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino or Naskila Casino, both of which are located within state lines.

However, if you want to play online casino games in Texas, another option is to sign up for sweepstakes casinos in the Lone Star State, which are currently legal.

These casinos give you virtual currency to play with. If you win while playing with sweepstakes coins, you can redeem cash prizes or gift cards.

While different from real money gambling in Texas, sweepstakes casinos are growing in popularity in the Lone Star State and are a viable option if you want to play slots and table games.

The verdict: The best casinos for gambling in Texas

We highly recommend the excellent Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass as the top gambling destination in the Lone Star State.

However, if you’re happy to travel slightly beyond state lines, WinStar World Casino and Choctaw Casino & Resort in Oklahoma are perhaps better options. They’re much bigger and more modern venues with better dining and entertainment options.

No matter where you gamble in Texas or slightly beyond state lines, please do so responsibly. Always bet within your means and only wager what you can afford to lose while gambling in or outside of Texas.

Although online gambling is illegal, there are several ways to access betting sites in Texas legitimately. However, you must be aware of the legal landscape and be careful not to sign up for sites operating without the required credentials.

As this article illustrates, one of the best ways to participate in sports betting in Texas currently is via sweepstakes sportsbooks. These platforms deal in virtual currency and differ from real-money gambling sites, meaning they’re legally available in Texas.

Read on to learn about sports betting sites in Texas and discover the latest attempts to legally bring BetMGM, DraftKings, and other real money betting sites to the state.

Legal Sports Betting in Texas: What You Need to Know

At this time, it is illegal to gamble in Texas. You cannot sign up for betting sites in Texas to wager on the NFL, NBA, or other sports. Equally, online casino gambling is illegal in Texas, meaning you can’t play slots or table games for real money.  

However, several recent attempts to legalize gambling have been in the news. For instance, in February 2023, two separate bills were filed to get sports betting and land-based casino gambling on the November ballot[1].

Specifically, HJR 134, filed by Representative Sam Harless, seeks “a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to legalize wagering in this state on certain sporting events.” HJR 137 is more complex and deals with issues around the taxation of sports and casino wagering in Texas.

News of these bills follows the announcement by Governor Greg Abbott that he wouldn’t stand in the way of sports gambling legislation.

Moreover, many Texans want to legally sign up for sportsbooks in the state. Research from the University of Texas in 2025 showed that 60% of Texans support legalizing online sports betting, signifying that there’s a chance the two recently proposed bills might pass[2].

For Texas’ gambling laws to be changed, the state constitution must be amended, which requires two-thirds approval in both chambers. It remains to be seen whether there’s sufficient potential support within the legislature for Texas to legalize sports betting under the current administration.

Which Types of Sports Betting are Currently Legal in Texas?

Given that you can’t currently place real money wagers on the NFL, NBA, or MLB in Texas, which types of betting can you participate in?

Well, parimutuel sports betting is currently legal. Also known as pool betting, parimutuel betting involves buying a ticket for a horse or dog race. If you pick the winner, you will share the prize pool with other winners. This is different from fixed-odds betting, which remains illegal.

Parimutuel betting is not available online, but you can get involved by visiting any of the three class-one venues where it is legal in the state: Lone Star Park, Retama Park, and Sam Houston Race Park.

Another option is participating in social or sweepstakes sports betting, which is perfectly legal in Texas. This type of wagering involves virtual currency, often gold coins and sweeps coins, which you can use to place virtual bets on NBA, MLB, and NFL matches.

If you win your bets with the virtual currency, you can redeem your coins for a cash prize or gift card, provided you meet the redemption limit.

One of Texas’s best sweepstakes sportsbooks is Fliff, the first of its kind in the US market. You can also check out Thrillzz, launched in April 2024, and ProphetX, which are also sweepstakes casinos that Texans can play at. 

Another option is Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), which falls into a grey area. It’s not explicitly illegal to play at DFS sites, and many have been operating in the state for a decade without issue. If you want to play at DFS sites like FanDuel and DraftKings, you can create an account in Texas. But note that all sports wagering on these platforms is currently illegal.

Getting Around the Legislation: VPNs and Offshore Sports Betting?

Some people point out that a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can hide your location, letting you gamble at online sportsbooks in Texas. While true, gambling site regulators are getting tougher on license holders who don’t do enough to prevent customers from circumventing geo-restrictions.

Not only is it illegal to sign up for a sportsbook account with a VPN from Texas, but it can also cause issues when withdrawing your funds. The sportsbook might ask you to complete Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures. This would require you to send an ID and proof of address to prove you are who you say you are and live where you say you live.

If you’ve signed up for a sportsbook in a different state, you have no way of showing that you’re a legitimate resident. As a result, the sportsbook wouldn’t be required to pay out your winnings, and you’d have no recourse.

Some others look to offshore betting sites regulated by jurisdictions like Curacao as alternatives to state-licensed books. These sportsbooks tend to be less worried about where their customers come from and don’t always perform regular KYC checks.

But the point remains. Signing up to an offshore betting site in Texas is illegal, and your safety isn’t guaranteed. Again, what can you do if the sportsbook refuses to pay your winnings? You can’t report the book to law enforcement in Texas, as you broke the law to play at the site.

So, while the temptation is there, we strongly advise against using a VPN or signing up for an offshore sports betting platform. If you want to bet on sports now in Texas, sign up for a sweepstakes sportsbook.

The Top Betting Sites in Texas: Which Platforms Can We Expect?

We hope and expect the bills presented in February 2025 to be discussed and passed to the next stage by the end of the year. Depending on the framework implemented by the state legislature, we could see legalized sports betting in Texas in 2026 or 2027.

With that in mind, which sportsbooks will we see in Texas if sports betting is legalized? Many of the main players have already shown an interest in launching in Texas, California, and several other states where sports betting is currently illegal.

For example, BetMGM CEOAdam Greenblatt announced that Texas is in the company’s “near-term model,” signifying that the betting giant would be keen to open in the state should the required legislation pass[3].

BetMGM is one of the US market’s biggest and most popular sportsbooks. The site offers competitive odds, various promotions, and extensive markets for NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB fans.

BetMGM is currently legal in most US states where online sports betting is permitted, including Arizona, Colorado, Washington DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

We expect BetMGM to be one of the first sportsbooks available in Texas online gambling to become legal. The site would likely be joined by the following:

• DraftKings: We also expect DraftKings to be legally available in Texas. Known to Texans as one of the best places for DFS, DraftKings is home to an excellent sportsbook with great odds and good value betting options.
• FanDuel: Very similar to DraftKings, FanDuel made its reputation as a DFS site. Today, it operates a top-rated sportsbook and casino. We expect FanDuel to enter the Texan market as soon as it’s legal.
• Fanatics Sportsbook: We also hope to see Fanatics enter the Texan market when sports betting is legalized. Though similar to DraftKings and FanDuel, Fanatics is a hugely successful sports betting brand with a growing customer base in the North American market.

Final Thoughts on the Best Betting Sites in Texas

At the time of writing, the top legal sports betting sites in Texas are social sites like Fliff and Thrillzz. Both betting sites offer sweepstakes betting options for Texans and are legally available throughout the state.

However, given that new bills were introduced in the Texas legislature at the beginning of 2025, we expect further developments regarding the legalization of sports betting in Texas by the end of the year.

As a result, if online sports betting becomes legal in Texas in 2026 or 2027, we expect top betting sites like DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel, and Fanatics to enter the market. Keep up to date with the latest developments on this page, and sign up for the top betting sites in Texas when they become legal.

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[1] https://www.covers.com/industry/texas-lawmakers-take-shot-at-sports-betting-casinos-bill-feb-13-2025

[2] https://uh.edu/news-events/stories/2025/february/02042025-tx-leg-gambling.php

[3] https://www.covers.com/industry/texas-california-legalization-effort-sports-betting-odds-march-2024

Placing real-money parlay bets online in Texas is still illegal. However, you can legally place parlay bets at sweepstakes sportsbooks, which is something many Texans do every week.

We’re also excited about legal sports betting developments in the state. Many lawmakers and politicians, including Governor Abbott, have expressed support for the legalization of online sports betting.

So, with this in mind, this article explains everything you need to know about parlay betting. We reveal what parlay bets are and how to place them at online sportsbooks.

Then, we introduce you to the best parlay betting sites currently legal in the United States. We expect these sites to launch in Texas as soon as online sports betting becomes legal.

What is a Parlay Bet?

A parlay bet is a wager in which two or more bets are included in the same slip. Crucially, each selection must win for you to win your payout. The more teams you include on a parlay, the better the potential returns. That said, more teams in a parlay means more risk, as only one fixture needs to let you down for your parlay bet to lose.

You can include teams from multiple leagues in the same parlay. As it happens, the selections don’t even need to be from the same sport. For example, you could include MLB, NHL, and NFL teams in the same parlay bet. If the teams you select win, you will win your bet.

Here’s an example to show you how a wager at parlay betting sites works:

• Texas Longhorns, Houston Astros, and Dallas Cowboys to win at +450.

Assuming you place $100 on this parlay, you would win $450 if the Longhorns, Astros, and Cowboys win their respective fixtures. However, if the Astros and Cowboys win, only for the Longhorns to lose their NCAA match, you would lose the entire parlay bet.

Parlays are great because they increase your potential wins if all your selections come in. However, they’re riskier than placing individual wagers. So, you need to weigh up risk and reward when placing a parlay wager. You should also conduct sufficient research to ensure the teams you pick have a good chance of winning.

As with any real-money sports betting, you should always bet within your means and gamble responsibly. It’s easy to get carried away with parlay betting, particularly when you see your potential returns listed.

But bear this in mind – the breakeven percentage of a three-leg parlay is around 14%, so it’s not necessarily the best wager to base your entire betting strategy around[1].

How to Place a Parlay Bet at an Online Sportsbook

Placing a parlay bet is just like making any other sports wager. The devil is in the details, and it’s important not to get carried away. Helpfully, all the top parlay betting sites in the United States calculate your odds automatically when you add selections to your slip.

If a three-legged parlay suddenly jumps from +250 to +1,000, your fourth selection is likely wide of the mark, and though it offers an impressive return, it’s very unlikely to come in.

So, the first step is to do your research. Know the teams and sports you’re betting on, and treat a parlay bet like any other wager.

Put it like this: adding favorites to long shots might seem like a good play when building a parlay, as it improves your payouts, but it adds so much risk to your betting strategy. For instance, imagine if we placed a futures parlay on:

• The Dallas Stars to win the 2025/26 Stanley Cup at +600[2]
• The Houston Astros to win the 2025 World Series at +1,500[3]
• The Houston Texans to win the 2026 Super Bowl at +3,000[4]

Now, a $100 bet on the Stars to win the 2025/26 Stanley Cup would return $600. They’re the favorites for the Stanley Cup this season, so it’s a decent futures bet to consider.

But when we include the Astros at +1,500 to win the World Series and the unfancied Texans to win the 2026 Super Bowl at +3,000, the potential payout increases significantly. In fact, if all three legs of our futures parlay come in, we would receive a payout of $347,100[5].

You can see how appealing that sounds from a $100 wager, but it’s just so unlikely to happen. We’d be better off backing the Stars to win the Stanley Cup in a single moneyline wager and looking elsewhere for value in the World Series and Super Bowl markets.

Now that you’re aware of the nuances, here are the simple steps to follow if you want to get started at parlay betting sites this year:

1. Choose a sportsbook: The first step is to choose one of the best parlay betting sites in the US market. We introduce your best options below, including BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings.
2. Check for offers: Before signing up, navigate to the promotions page to see if you can access a free bet or welcome bonus. All top-rated parlay betting sites offer welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions for parlay wagers.
3. Make a deposit: Create an account at the sportsbook and visit the cashier to make a real money deposit via your chosen payment method.
4. Make your selections: Conduct your research and make your selections. When you add teams to your betting slip, the sportsbook will calculate your potential returns automatically.
5. Place your bet: If you’re happy with the odds and potential returns, place your parlay bet.

The Best Parlay Betting Sites in the US

Although parlay betting sites are not currently legal in Texas, we hope that new legislation will be passed this year or next to legalize sports wagering in the state.

If this happens, we expect all the major US-based sportsbooks to launch in the Lone Star State. Below is an overview of the best parlay betting sites right now, with details of what you can expect when you sign up to place this type of wager:

BetMGM

BetMGM is one of the top-rated sportsbooks and casinos in the US market. It’s widely available and offers access to great value markets and promotions.

As a new BetMGM Sportsbook customer, you can access up to $1,500 in cashback if your initial bets don’t win. Enter promo code BETMGMBONUS to trigger this reward as a new customer and get a second chance if your initial parlay wagers lose.

When you explore the odds and markets at BetMGM, you will find the sportsbook to be among the best and most varied in the US market. You can place parlay bets on all major leagues and sports, and regular promotions and rewards are available to all players.

FanDuel

Known and loved for its DFS offering, FanDuel is another awesome parlay betting site in the US. We like FanDuel because it offers recommendations for same game parlays for MLB, NBA, and NFL fixtures, among others.

The odds at FanDuel are excellent, and there are numerous promotions for added potential wins. For instance, FanDuel is currently running its 30% profit boost on selected same game parlays, increasing your win potential.

When you create an account at FanDuel to place a parlay, you can trigger up to $200 in bonus bets if you make a qualifying wager of $5 or more on selected markets.

DraftKings

Very similar to FanDuel, DraftKings is an online sportsbook in the US that made a name for itself in the DFS market. Today, it’s one of the best parlay betting sites, with numerous promotions and offers for sports betting fans.

For instance, we love the all-parlay CBB boost, which boosts your odds on all four-legged college basketball parlays.

DraftKings is currently running a promotion that gives you, as a new sports betting customer, up to $150 in free bets when you make a qualifying wager of $5 or more. These bonus bets are given as six $25 free wagers, a brilliant way to get started at one of our favorite sports betting websites.

Please note: None of these sites are currently available in Texas. However, if new legislation is passed in 2025 or 2026 to legalize sports betting in the Lone Star State, we expect each of these sportsbooks to launch in the newly established market.

The verdict: The best US Parlay Betting Sites 

We rate BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings as the best parlay betting sites in the United States. Each platform offers competitive odds and excellent promotions designed to give parlay bettors an odds boost.

While we’re still waiting for online sports betting to be legalized in Texas, these sites are widely available in other states. Therefore, we expect them to launch in Texas as soon as it becomes legal.

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[1] https://unabated.com/articles/the-good-and-bad-of-parlays

[2] https://www.vegasinsider.com/nhl/odds/futures/

[3] https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/2025-world-series-odds

[4] https://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/futures/

[5] https://www.vegasinsider.com/parlay-calculator/

Texas is a sport-crazy state, with football, basketball, and baseball all hugely popular. But while millions of Texans cheer on the Cowboys, Mavericks, Astros, and Rangers each week, they’re frustrated by the state’s absence of legal sports betting options.

Here, we provide a comprehensive guide to the legal sports betting landscape in Texas. We explain the legality of sports betting and discuss some of the most recent attempts to change the laws.

We also consider the stance of key decision-makers in Texas and look to what potentially lies ahead for sports betting in the Lone Star State.

Is sports betting legal in Texas?

At the time of writing, sports betting is not legal under Texas law, as stated under Article 3, Section 47 of the Texas Constitution[1]. Following the US Supreme Court Ruling of 2018 that removed the federal ban on sports gambling, many Texans hoped their state would be one of the first to legalize sports betting, but no bill has yet been passed, though several attempts have been made.

Following that 2018 Supreme Court ruling, sports betting has been legalized in 39 states[2]Seven states have no legislation pending, while four have ongoing legislation or a ballot initiative. So, Texas is one of only 10 US states in which sports betting will be illegal in 2025, alongside California, Idaho, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, Minnesota, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.

In Missouri, online sports betting is now legal but not yet operational.

Recent attempts to legalize sports betting in Texas

Texans are mixed in their position on legalized sports betting in the state. A growing minority wants a bill that legalizes online sports betting to pave the way for DraftKings and FanDuel to become legally available to Texans.

Several state legislative efforts have been attempted to legalize sports gambling in Texas. The first gained momentum in 2021 when Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones argued that the legalization of sports betting would lead to improved fan engagement and higher revenues for Texas’ sports teams[3].

In January 2021, the Texas state legislature met to discuss HB 1275, proposed by Representative Eddie Lucio III. However, by the end of May, the legislative session was closed, and no sports betting amendments had passed.

Fast-forward to November 2022, Senator Carol Alvarado pre-filed SRJ 17, a sports betting and casino bill, to get the issue of sports betting back on the agenda. Though polls suggested strong support for the bill, nothing came of it. The same is true of the bills proposed in February 2023.

At the start of 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced his support for legalized sports betting in the Lone Star State, signaling that this could be a big year for the industry.

In a February 2025 interview, the Governor said: “I don’t have a problem with online sports betting. The reality is that I’d be shocked if there were not some Texans that do it already.[4]”

While it remains to be seen whether Governor Abbott’s statement will yield any new developments in the House or Senate, Carol Alvarado and other key politicians in the Lone Star State are still pushing for the legalization of sports betting.

Given the filing of Joint Resolution 16 in November 2024, sports betting in Texas may first occur at “destination resorts” and then online[5].

After all, many senior politicians in Texas are pushing the income-generation argument, suggesting that legal sports betting would be worth billions of dollars in revenue to the state. Many also think it would remove the threat of unlicensed offshore gambling, which many Texans currently participate in.

Senator Alvarado, one of the most active supporters of sports betting legalization, recently said: “Texans love to gamble, they’re doing it every place else, but here.” On destination sports betting, she said: “This would be a real boost, I think, to our economy, creating thousands and thousands of jobs.”

So, how can you legally bet on sports in Texas in 2025?

Although sports betting remains illegal in Texas at the start of 2025, we see Governor Abbott’s announcement, alongside the numerous recent attempted bills, as steps in the right direction. We expect that, in the coming months or years, Texans will be legally permitted to gamble online within the state.

But for now, here are some of your options if you want to bet on sports in the Lone Star State legally:

Parimutuel betting

Parimutuel betting has been legal in Texas since 1933. It’s the only way to bet on sports legally in the Lone Star State. Rather than backing a horse or dog at fixed odds, parimutuel betting enables you to buy a ticket in support of one of the runners. If your selection wins, you will receive a payout based on the number of tickets sold.

All parimutuel betting in Texas is overseen and regulated by the Texas Racing Commission, with races held throughout the year at numerous tracks and venues. The biggest venues for parimutuel betting in Texas are Lone Star Park (Grand Prairie), Retama Park (Selma), and Sam Houston Race Park (Houston).

Sweepstakes online sportsbooks

Another option for Texans is to sign up for sweepstakes online sportsbooks rather than real money sites. Sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks are not illegal in Texas and are a viable option if you want to participate in sports wagering within state lines. 

These sites operate with two virtual currencies: game coins that you can use to place free bets and sweeps coins that you can use for promotional wagering. If you win your bets with sweeps coins, you can redeem a cash prize or gift card, provided you meet the minimum withdrawal threshold.

While there are more sweepstakes casinos than sportsbooks in the United States, numerous options are available for Texans. We highly rate Legendz Casino as the best social sportsbook, where you can bet on the NFL, NBA, and NHL directly from Texas.

Fliff is another decent online sportsbook, though it doesn’t offer as many markets as Legendz. You can also check out Sportzino and Rebet, both available today in Texas.

Even if you use game coins to bet for free, signing up for a social sportsbook is a great way to bet with your friends for fun. You can also practice and familiarize yourself with sports betting strategies while waiting for sports betting to become legal in Texas.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Sports betting might be illegal in Texas but legal in Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico. While Arkansas and New Mexico have legalized retail and in-person wagering, Louisiana has rolled out online sports betting options throughout the Bayou State.

Many Texans point to the popularity and success of sports betting in Louisiana as evidence of what the Lone Star State is missing out on. BetMGM, FanDuel, bet365, Caesars, DraftKings, and Fanatics all operate legal sportsbooks in LA.

Since January 2022, LA residents 21 and over have been permitted to use mobile sportsbooks to place bets throughout the state. Betting on college and professional sports is legal throughout LA, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in state revenue each quarter.

If you live close to Louisiana or regularly work in the state, traveling across the border is a legal and viable way to participate in sports betting in 2025. However, given Governor Abbott’s recent comments, we may see an LA-style adaptation of legal sports betting in Texas in the coming years.

The best sportsbooks for legal sports betting in Texas

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While Texas still has a long way to go before legalizing sports betting, we expect FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, and BetMGM to enter the market as soon as it’s legal.

In May 2024, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins admitted that his firm was “gearing up for 2025,” with genuine hopes of launching in the Lone Star State this year[6].

He said: “I think Texas has a real shot. (A bill) got through one chamber last year (2023). The Texas legislature doesn’t meet in 2024, so we’re really gearing up for 2025.”

There are several hurdles to climb, but we’re hopeful that sports betting could be legalized in Texas in the near future. Whether that’s in 2025, as Robins predicts, remains to be seen.

The verdict: Is sports betting legal in Texas?

In summary, real-money online sports betting is illegal in Texas in 2025, despite numerous recent efforts to push bills through the Senate. However, with support from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Carol Alvarado, we may see progress in 2025 or 2026.

In the meantime, Texans can gamble at parimutuel venues in the Lone Star State and have access to social sweepstakes sportsbooks, which offer virtual currency for sports betting. Another option is to gamble in the neighboring states, such as Louisiana, where online betting is legal.

Keep checking back on this page throughout 2025. If there are any significant changes, we’ll provide the updates and explain where you can legally bet in Texas online.

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[1] http://guides.sll.texas.gov/gambling/sports-gambling

[2] https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-gaming-map/

[3] https://hudsonreporter.com/news/texas-betting-legalization/

[4] https://www.chron.com/culture/article/sports-betting-gambling-texas-greg-abbott-20146709.php

[5] https://www.kwtx.com/2025/02/03/betting-texas-state-lawmaker-hopes-legalizing-gambling-sports-betting-will-create-billion-dollar-industry-increase-tax-revenue/

[6] https://www.covers.com/industry/draftkings-ceo-eyes-bringing-sports-betting-to-texas-in-2025

The United States is home to some of the world’s biggest and richest horse races, including the iconic Kentucky Derby. As a result, punters from throughout the USA, including in Texas, love to bet on the most exciting horse races on the calendar.

But is horse betting in Texas legal? What are the different ways to bet on horses online and in person in the Lone Star State?

Keep reading to learn how to legally enjoy horse betting in Texas, including options like parimutuel and online horse racing wagering at sweepstakes sportsbooks.

Can You Legally Bet on Horse Racing in Texas?

All forms of online gambling in Texas are illegal. So, you can’t bet on the horses at sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, or BetMGM. You also can’t visit a sportsbook in person to bet in Texas, as this type of wagering is also illegal.

But the good news is that there are several legal ways to enjoy horse betting in Texas. The first is to get involved in parimutuel betting. Rather than backing a horse at fixed odds, parimutuel betting invites you to buy a ticket for a race, and if you back a winner, you will receive a share of the prize pool. 

Below, we explain more about parimutuel horse betting in Texas and reveal the state’s best venues for legal wagering.

Another option is to participate in horse betting in Texas at sweepstakes sportsbooks. These are not the same as real money betting platforms. They offer virtual currencies, which you can use to bet on various horse races. Then, if you win while betting with sweeps coins, you can redeem them for cash prizes or gift cards. 

So, with the legal landscape covered, let’s look at the best options for legal horse betting in Texas.

Parimutuel Wagering: The Best Option for Horse Betting in Texas

Parimutuel wagering is one of the few legal forms of gambling in Texas, which is great news for horse racing fans. The primary difference is that in parimutuel wagering, you are betting against other people rather than the house offering fixed odds. This is a crucial distinction to make from the outset.

Conventional bookmakers like FanDuel and DraftKings might offer odds of +400 for a horse to win the Kentucky Derby. In this example, if you bet $100, you would win $400 due to the fixed odds.

In a parimutuel horse wager, the payout is determined by the amount bet on each horse. Before a race in Texas or anywhere else in the United States, you can buy a ticket for the horse you want to back.

If your horse wins, you will receive a payout from the pool of all bets made on the entire race, minus the operator’s commission and tax.

The Best Venues for Parimutuel Horse Betting in Texas

Parimutuel wagering is permitted at horse racing and greyhound tracks in Texas and is monitored by the Texas Racing Commission. The Commission permits Class 1 horse tracks to offer parimutuel wagering at an unlimited number of races annually, making them the ideal place to visit for this type of betting.

With that in mind, the following venues are the best options for legal horse betting in Texas:

Lone Star Park (Grand Prairie)

Arguably the most famous horse racing venue in Texas, Lone Star Park is in Grand Prairie. It hosts the thoroughbred season from April to July and the Fall Meeting of Champions between September and November.

It’s a dirt oval track over one mile that hosts numerous high-profile events each year, including:

• Texas Classic Futurity (Grade 1)
• Texas Classic Derby (Grade 1)
• Refrigerator Handicap (Grade 1)
• Dash for Cash Futurity (Grade 2)
• Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (Grade 3)

Tickets for these graded events or any other horse race at Lone Star Park are available throughout the season. When you visit the track, you can participate in parimutuel betting, and if you pick a winner, you will receive a payout dependent on the pool.

Sam Houston Race Park (Houston)

When it opened in April 1994, Sam Houston Race Park was Texas’ first horse racing venue. Today, it hosts numerous thoroughbred and quarter-horse races and serves as a prominent event venue in unincorporated northwest Houston.

The track has a capacity of 20,000 and is open to numerous exciting races. Below are details of just some of the quarter horse and thoroughbred races you can attend at Sam Houston Race Park throughout the season:

Quarter horse races

• Sam Houston Futurity (Grade 2)
• BOA TX Challenge Championship (Grade 2)
• Sam Houston Classic (Grade 2)
• Sam Houston Derby (Grade 3)

Thoroughbred races

• John B Connally Turf Cup (Listed)
• Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile
• Pulse Power Turf Sprint
• Sam Houston Sprint Cup
• Houston Turf Stakes
• Bucharest Turf Sprint
• Houston Ladies Classic

Retama Park (Selma)

Opened in 1995, Retama Park is another Grade 1 parimutuel wagering venue in Texas. Situated in Selma, it hosts quarter horse races annually between July and September, while simulcast racing is shown weekly. Quarter horse racing is exciting, with fast horses that excel over short distances.

Although financial issues have recently beset Retama Park, it’s still one of the state’s best places to visit for parimutuel horse wagering, particularly if you’re keen on a night of simulcast excitement.

Simulcast horse racing is where the track broadcasts a race from another venue while offering you the chance to place parimutuel bets on the outcome.

Parimutuel wagering is also permitted at Class 2 horse tracks in Texas, but these venues can only host up to 60 races per year. Class 3, 4, and 5 venues can also offer parimutuel wagering but are limited to even fewer race days annually.

The Best Sweepstakes Sportsbooks for Online Betting in Texas

Organizing a day at the track is undoubtedly your best option for legal horse betting in Texas. That said, if you want to bet on horse races from the comfort of your own home, you can sign up for a sweepstakes sportsbook.

As mentioned, sweepstakes sportsbooks differ from real-money books like BetMGM and FanDuel, as they offer virtual currency wagers rather than real-money betting options.

When you sign up for one of these sites, you are given free currency to place social sportsbooks. But you are also given sweepstakes currency, which you can use to place bets on all horse races. If you win while using your sweepstakes currency, you can redeem the coins for a cash prize or gift card.

Below are the top online sweepstakes sportsbooks for legal horse betting in Texas:

Fliff

We rate Fliff as the number one place to bet on horse racing in Texas. The site launched in 2019 and has gained a reputation as one of the best social sportsbook offerings in the US market.

You can bet on all major US horse races and top-tier events from the United Kingdom, including the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National at Aintree.

Fliff is also a great place to enjoy social betting against your buddies. The awesome app for iOS and Android offers a brilliant interactive aspect. So, if you want to bet on horse racing online in Texas, Fliff is our number one pick.

Sportzino

Another excellent social sportsbook in Texas is Sportzino, which doesn’t currently offer live horse racing markets. Instead, you can bet on virtual horse racing at Sportzino, a brilliant option if you want to bet on races around the clock.

Virtual horse racing is growing in popularity in the US market and is hugely popular in the UK and Australia. If you sign up for an account at Sportzino, you can also bet on MLB, NBA, NFL, and other major leagues, so it’s a viable option if you’re looking for a comprehensive social sportsbook in Texas. 

The Bottom Line: The Best Options for Horse Betting in Texas

Presently, most forms of real-money gambling are illegal in Texas. However, if you’re a horse racing fan, you can visit Lone Star Park, Retama Park, and Sam Houston Race Park to participate in legal parimutuel wagering. This is undoubtedly the best way to bet on horses in Texas.

Alternatively, you can sign up for online sportsbooks like Fliff and Sportzino, which offer live and virtual horse racing betting options with virtual currency. Social sportsbooks are legal in Texas, so they’re a good alternative to conventional betting sites like FanDuel and DraftKings, which are currently illegal.

We expect sports betting to be legalized in Texas in the coming years, so check back to this page when any legislation is passed. We will introduce you to the best real-money betting sites and sportsbooks for horse racing betting as and when they launch in the Lone Star State.

In 2025, most forms of gambling in Texas are illegal. However, the Lone Star State may be one of several states that will amend its stance on real-money gambling in the coming years.

Moreover, there are several legal options for Texans keen to bet on some sports or play casino games, both online and in person.

With this in mind, we’ve compiled this complete guide to the gambling landscape in Texas in 2025. We explain the current legislation and present various legal, legitimate options if you want to gamble in Texas this year.

We also look ahead to the future and consider whether various forms of online and in-person gambling might be legalized in Texas in the coming years.

Is Online Gambling in Texas Legal in 2025?

In Texas, racetrack, commercial, online, and sports betting activities are illegal. However, charitable, parimutuel, lotteries, and tribal betting are legal. Therefore, several legal betting options are currently available to punters.

Equally, sweepstakes casinos (also known as social casinos) are permitted in Texas, letting you play with virtual currency. This is the ideal way to gamble legally online in Texas. If you land wins while playing these games in promotional mode, you can redeem your virtual currency for a gift card or cash prize. More on this shortly. 

Disappointingly for keen gamblers, recent prospective bills to try and legalize other forms of betting haven’t been favorably received in Texas, particularly those relating to sports betting in the aftermath of the US Supreme Court Ruling of 2018, which effectively paved the way for states to vote on the legalization of sports betting within their borders[1].

How to Gamble Legally in Texas in 2025? Online & Offline Options

While online sports betting and online casino gambling are currently illegal in Texas, there are numerous ways for residents to gamble legally in 2025:

Sign up for sweepstakes casinos

Texas prohibits real-money online casinos. At the time of this writing, only six US states permit their residents to gamble at state-regulated online casinos: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

However, Texans over 18 can sign up and play at sweepstakes casinos, also known as social casinos, throughout the United States. These platforms differ from real money gambling sites like BetMGM and DraftKings, as they permit free play and don’t accept wagers.

Sites like Hello Millions, Pulsz Casino, High 5 Casino, and LuckyLand are among the most prominent social casinos available to Texans.

They all feature two types of virtual currency:

• Gold coins: Though each site has its own name for this type of currency, the gold coins can be used to play slots and other casino games for free.
• Sweeps coins: Again, though called different things by different sites, sweeps coins are the currency used to play games in promotional mode. You can redeem cash prizes and gift cards if you win while playing with sweeps coins.

All social casinos in Texas offer no-deposit welcome bonuses, which add free virtual currency to your account as soon as you sign up. Then, when you follow the sweeps casino on social media, you can participate in giveaways to earn more free coins.

You can buy coin bundles if you wish, which is a way to top up your balance of gold coins. For each purchase, you are given sweeps coins for free, which you can use to play slots and other games for prizes.

If you accumulate enough sweeps coins (usually $50 or $100 worth), you can redeem them for a prize.

Sweepstakes casinos offer a great range of games like slots, blackjack, roulette, and video poker. Some, like Stake.us, even offer live casino games, while online sweeps sites like Legendz also offer virtual sportsbooks.

Given that real-money casino gameplay is illegal in Texas, playing at sweeps casinos is the best way to enjoy casino games legally in the Lone Star State, whether you choose to play for free or in promotional mode with your virtual currency.

Play the state lottery

The Texas State Lottery has been ongoing since 1992, with games like Mega Millions and Powerball being much-loved across the state. You can also buy scratch cards and enjoy instant win games via the State Lottery. To purchase lottery tickets or scratch cards in Texas, you must be 18+.

The Texas Lottery Commission oversees all state lottery-based games and is the primary regulatory body for all gambling-related activities. You can legally buy tickets for all lottery games online via The Lotter Texas[2].

Enjoy bingo & raffles

Another way to participate in legal gambling in Texas is to visit bingo halls. These halls operate under the banner of “charitable gambling” and under a license from the Charitable Bingo Operations Division, part of the Texas Lottery Commission.

Over 1,200 organizations in Texas offer bingo games, with prizes worth up to $750 permitted per game. Moreover, 226 of the 254 counties in Texas offer bingo or instant bingo games, so this is perhaps the most widespread type of gambling permitted in the state at the time of writing.

Licensed organizations can also hold two raffles each year, with non-cash prizes of up to $50,000 available (or $250,000 if the prize is a property).

Visit land-based tribal casinos

Land-based casino gambling is legal in Texas on tribal lands. As such, each of the three federally recognized tribes in Texas operates a casino:

• Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas: The Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino (Eagle Pass)
• Tigua Tribe of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo: Speaking Rock Entertainment Center (El Paso)
• Alabama-Coushatta Tribe: Naskila Gaming (Livingston)

Of the three, we think the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass is the best for game variety and other services. You will find over 3,000 slot machine games alongside live poker games and several fine-dining options.

Therefore, if you want to gamble and enjoy the thrill of a casino within Texas state lines, plan a weekend away to Eagle Pass.

Participate in parimutuel betting (horse & greyhound racing)

Although sports betting is illegal in Texas, parimutuel betting at specific horse and greyhound tracks is legal, and it has been since 1933. 

In parimutuel betting, the odds are not fixed, and you buy a ticket for the horse or dog you think will win the race. if you back a winner, you win a share of the pool, which is determined by the number of tickets purchased for that particular runner.

The Texas Racing Commission monitors and regulates all parimutuel wagering in Texas. Class one tracks can operate an unlimited number of races per year, while class two tracks are limited to 60 days of racing.

The biggest venues for parimutuel betting in Texas are:

• Lone Star Park (Grand Prairie)
• Retama Park (Selma)
• Sam Houston Race Park (Houston)

Travel to neighboring states

Texas borders Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico. While online casino gambling is illegal in each of these states, too, sports betting is legal in each of them, excluding Oklahoma.

Of all of Texas’ neighboring states, Louisiana has the least restrictive gambling laws and is a good destination for Texans to gamble in different ways. Land-based gambling is permitted at numerous venues in the Bayou State, while riverboat gambling is also popular.

At the time of writing, 28 riverboat or land-based casinos are licensed in Louisiana, offering you lots of choices if you’re planning a trip from Texas.

The Golden Nugget Casino at Lake Charles is one of the closest casino resorts to Texas and is the ideal destination for a weekend away. There are over 1,000 guest rooms, an 18-hole golf course, 12 eateries, and 1,600 slot machines at the Golden Nugget. It’s one of the top-rated US casinos outside of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

How to Legally Gamble Online in Texas in 2025

Ultimately, the best way to legally gamble online in Texas in 2025 is to sign up for a sweepstakes casino. These social casinos are not illegal in Texas, so you can play at sites like Pulsz Casino, High 5 Casino, and LuckyLand with virtual currency without breaking the law. Then, if you win while playing slots or table games in promotional mode, you can redeem your coins for real cash or prizes.

Right now, there doesn’t appear to be any new legislation on the horizon to legalize online sports betting or online casino gambling in the Lone Star State following the House’s recent dismissal of a proposed bill. Therefore, TX remains one of 11 states where sports betting is illegal, and it’s unclear if this will change in the future[3].

Still, as we’ve presented above, there are numerous ways to enjoy legal gambling in Texas, both online and offline. So, follow our tips above and gamble legally in Texas in 2025.

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[1] https://guides.sll.texas.gov/gambling/sports-gambling

[2] https://tx.thelotter.com/lottery-tickets/

[3] https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/legalizing-sports-betting-texas-would-pay-huge-dividends-study-says

If you’re based in Texas and looking for real money online casino sites to play roulette, you are unfortunately going to be disappointed. As it stands, online casino gambling is still illegal in the state, so you can’t access any of these online casino sites.

In fact, commercial gambling itself is not permitted in Texas except in certain circumstances (like Native American casinos on reservation lands). And until this changes, we can only travel to play our favorite games.

We remain hopeful that, with all the whispers about reform, gambling legislation in Texas will soon change, and the doors will soon open for us to explore these fascinating online entertainment platforms right here in Texas.

Playing Roulette at Online Casinos

Despite this slight setback, we will proceed in earnest to prep you for when (and if) things do change regarding gambling legislation. And so, we look to online roulette, which is one of the most popular games at online casinos, and indeed in their land-based equivalents.

Roulette is a casino table game played using a horizontal casino wheel divided into numbered and colored pockets. There is a small ball that runs along the outer edge of the wheel when spun by the game host (or through automated systems/RNG, depending on the game you are playing).

On a standard European roulette wheel, there are 37 pockets numbered from 0 to 36, alternating between red and black, except for the zero pocket, which is green. These numbers are laid out on the betting table where players place their bets where they think the ball will land when the wheel stops spinning.

The game rules of American roulette are the same, but there is an additional double zero pocket on the wheel, also green, which impacts the RTP of the game. This increases the house edge from 2.7% to 5.26%, skewing the game more towards the house.

Another common roulette variant is French Roulette, which introduces two new game rules, La Partage, and En Prison, which reduce the house edge on even-money bets as you get a chance to recoup some of your losses in certain circumstances.

The variants mentioned above offer differences in game rules and wheel configurations and do not account for the countless game variants that include special features like multipliers or bonus games that offer you further opportunities to increase your wins.

These feature-filled games are a unique feature in online casinos and have proven very popular among players.

Below, we look at some of our top online casino sites in the US where you can play online roulette games in states where online gambling is legally permitted.

1: DraftKings Casino

The first site we look at is DraftKings, known for its popular casino and sportsbook platforms, which combine to provide players in legal states with a one-stop shop for all their online gambling needs.

In terms of roulette, DraftKings Casino has many different game variants from which you can choose, including RNG video roulette, live dealer games, and DraftKings exclusives.

You’ll find popular titles from leading providers like Games Global and Evolution Gaming, as well as themed games like NBA Slam Dunk Roulette, which is exclusive to DraftKings, and Evolution’s incredibly popular Lightning Roulette.

You can play live American, European, and French roulette and RNG games with many bonus features.

What we love about DraftKings is the access you get to game demos, where available. This allows you to get a feel for the gameplay and practice a few rounds before committing any of your balance. There are also handy how-to-play guides for roulette and other popular games, which are fantastic for players who are just starting out.

Another highlight of DraftKings Casino is the incredible promos and bonus offers, including a rewards center and exclusive VIP club, all of which add further dimensions to your casino experience.

2: BetMGM Casino

BetMGM Casino is a popular choice among players where online gambling is legal, with its state-specific promotions, exclusive games, and exciting MGM Rewards program where you can cash in your loyalty points for real-world prizes.

Your online roulette options include titles like BetMGM Roulette Pro, which is exclusive to the operator, plus direct access to live-streamed games from Borgata, where you can play virtually alongside players live onsite.

Other exciting roulette titles to explore at BetMGM include Inspired Gaming’s charming Space Invader Roulette, the basketball-inspired NBA Roulette, and Evolution’s First Person American Roulette with its in-game access to the live dealer version of the title.

If you like live casino games and roulette, it’s also worth checking out the other live casino games on offer. A bunch of game show-style games have bonus wheels, which are vertical and not horizontal like traditional roulette wheels, where you bet on where a flapper will land. They offer a similar style of gameplay but with the fun and excitement of a live game show.

When new players sign up for an account at BetMGM Casino, they are treated to a deposit match bonus of up to $1,000 plus $25 in bonus cash, which can be used to explore these engaging titles.

3: Caesars Palace Online Casino

The iconic Caesars Palace Casino launched its online casino platform in August 2023. To date, it offers its services to players in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia, and this will undoubtedly expand to include the other states in the US where online gambling is currently legal.

The site has over 1,000 casino games, but they’re mostly slots and include less than 20 online roulette games at the time of writing. There is also a minimal selection of live games, all from Ezugi, and mostly consist of blackjack tables. Again, this will surely change in time, given the reach of this iconic gaming brand.

The welcome bonus at Caesars Palace Online Casino offers you the chance to double your initial deposit up to a whopping $2,500, and it also starts you off on your Caesars Rewards journey with 2,500 reward points. There’s no question that this is a generous bonus, indeed, that helps new players to spend more time exploring the site.

The operator also offers high-value casino bonuses for returning players and has a fantastic rewards program called Caesars Rewards. Through this program, you accrue points while playing games, which can then be redeemed for real-world prizes, including visits to the iconic casino resort in Las Vegas.

4: FanDuel Casino

The FanDuel Casino lobby features 20 online roulette games, including RNG-based video games and real-dealer titles. These include popular titles like Mega Fire Blaze Roulette from Playtech, a live casino game incorporating the popular Mega Fire Blaze bonus game from the developer’s iconic slot series.

Another highlight roulette title is Deal or No Deal American Roulette, which adds an exciting game show twist to the classic double zero table game, boosting win potential beyond the standard roulette payouts.

FanDuel includes the First Person regular roulette and lightning roulette games from Evolution Gaming, which include direct links to the live-streamed games from within the titles.

There are plenty of other table games, arcade games, progressive jackpots, and FanDuel exclusives once the roulette tables have been explored, and many of the latest slots from the industry’s biggest providers, including titles from the likes of Games Global, IGT, Reel Play, and Red Tiger Gaming.

To boost your online gaming experience, the operator runs daily chances to win awards for returning players and a generous welcome offer for new members. The welcome bonus is $100 in bonus cash when you bet just $1 on select games. The associated sportsbook offers an equally as appealing welcome bonus of $200 in bonus bets when you place your first bet of $5 or more.

US-Based Casinos Offer the Best Online Roulette Experience

Although online roulette remains illegal in Texas for now, the growing national trend toward embracing online gambling suggests that change could be on the horizon.

When that day comes, Texas residents may turn to trusted and established homegrown brands like MGM and Caesars Palace to explore the myriad of online roulette games on offer. These popular sites are already leading the way in delivering high-quality online casino experiences in other states and are trusted by American players.

With an ever-evolving legislative landscape, the possibility of Texas joining the ranks of states like West Virginia that have legalized online gambling feels increasingly likely, and we couldn’t be more excited at the prospect.

There is reason to be optimistic that Texan residents will one day have access to the thrilling world of online roulette right from the comfort of their homes, and we welcome it with open arms!

At the time of writing, all forms of real money online gambling are illegal in Texas, other than buying a state lottery ticket. You cannot sign up for real money gambling sites like FanDuel, Fanatics, or BetMGM.

But there’s a viable, legal alternative that lets you play many of the same casino games without spending any money – Texas sweepstakes casinos.

Texas sweepstakes casinos invite you to sign up and play with virtual currency. Sign-up is free and easy, and you can begin with a free coin bundle. There are many ways to top up your virtual currency balance for free, and when you play and win with sweepstakes coins, you can redeem them for cash prizes or gift cards.

Sound good? Join us as we explain how Texas sweepstakes casinos work, why they’re legal, and the best sites to join in the Lone Star State in 2025. 

What is a sweepstakes casino?

A sweepstakes casino is an online platform that lets you play games with virtual currencies. It’s not considered real money wagering and is perfectly legal in many US states, including Texas. Most sweepstakes casinos operate with two types of virtual currency:

1. Gold Coins: Gold coins can be used to play slots and other casino games for free. They have no monetary value and cannot be redeemed for cash prizes. Players can acquire gold coins by purchasing bundles or competing in competitions and promotions run by the casino.
2. Sweeps Coins: Sweeps coins can be used to play casino games in promotional mode. When you play and win with sweeps coins, you can redeem them for cash prizes or gift cards, provided you meet the minimum redemption stipulated by the casino. You cannot buy sweeps coins directly – they are only offered for free by the casino when you participate in a promotion or purchase a gold coin bundle.

When you sign up for a sweepstakes casino account, you can trigger a welcome bonus with free gold and sweeps coins. Then, you can participate in giveaways and promotions to access more coins without spending a dime.

Alternatively, you can top up your balance by purchasing a gold coin bundle. When you do this, the casino will add sweeps coins to your balance for free.

Game variety at sweeps casinos: Slots, table games, and live dealer titles

Most sweepstakes casinos have hundreds of slot games, which form the bulk of their offering. These games are from studios like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Booming Games, among others, allowing you to play top titles from the leading studios in the market.

Though much less prevalent, table games are also available at sweeps casinos. Most sites offer a handful of games, including blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, for you to play alongside slots. There may also be one or two video poker titles.

Thanks to recent advances in casino technology, several sweeps casinos now offer live casino variants, enabling you to play blackjack and roulette with a live dealer. Though only available at a few sites, live sweepstakes casinos are becoming more prevalent in the US.

Redemption options and limits: How do you win prizes?

The fundamental aspect of a sweepstakes casino in Texas is the redemption process. This indicates how you can trade in your sweeps coins for real prizes, should you meet the minimum redemption.

At most sweepstakes casinos in the US, you need at least 50 sweeps coins (worth $50) to redeem a gift card, while you often need 100 sweeps coins (worth $100) to redeem a cash prize.

Gift cards are available for major retailers like Amazon and Walmart, though every casino offers its own prize scheme. As for cash prizes, you can usually redeem them via a bank transfer or an e-wallet like Skrill or PayPal. Most redemptions take about five days to reach your account.

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Texas?

As sweepstakes casinos are not legally considered real-money wagering, they are currently legal in Texas for anyone 18 or over. Some states have launched legislation to make sweepstakes illegal, but there’s no such bill in Texas.

At the time of writing, sweepstakes casinos are only illegal in Washington and Idaho, but several other states are considering new laws. Michigan will likely illegalize sweeps casinos in the coming months, while a few others are considering the legality of such sites.

Moreover, some sweepstakes casinos are not permitted in specific states, with Nevada having tighter restrictions than many other states due to its thriving legal land-based gambling infrastructure.

Why are sweepstakes casinos legal?

It’s a good question, as many people struggle to distinguish between sweepstakes casinos and real-money betting sites.

But the key thing to understand is that sweepstakes casinos are completely free to play at. You do not need to deposit to play games (though purchasing gold coins is an option), and you can top up your balance for free by signing into your account and participating in giveaways. You can then use the site’s virtual currency to play games.

In contrast, to play at a real money gambling site like BetMGM or FanDuel, you must create an account and add cash to your balance. You can then use the USD in your balance to place bets and play games.

Sweepstakes casinos do offer the chance to play games in promotional mode via sweeps coins, but you cannot purchase these coins. If you play and win with these coins, only then can you redeem a real money cash prize or gift card.

Though some see sweepstakes casinos as operating a grey area in the US gambling market, the absence of consideration (making a real money deposit) makes them legal. After all, you don’t need to part with any cash to play slots and table games at these sites and you can merely play for fun if you wish.

The best sweepstakes casinos to try in Texas

So, are you keen to try some of the top online Texas sweepstakes casinos? Here are our top-rated sites for sweepstakes gameplay in the Lone Star State:

McLuck Casino: Best for game variety

Play 700+ games from over 10 providers at McLuck Casino, one of the best sweepstakes casinos in the United States. This is also one of the few sweeps casinos with an excellent live casino, with games powered by Iconic21.

Kick things off with a no-deposit bonus for free gold coins and sweeps coins, and then access a 150% first-purchase bonus if you decide to top up your GC balance at a later stage. Redemptions here are pretty fast, too, with many customers receiving their prizes within 24 hours.

Hello Millions Casino: Best for its excellent live casino

Like McLuck Casino, Hello Millions offers access to over 700 games from studios such as Pragmatic Play, Evoplay, and Relax Gaming. We also love the growing live casino lobby at Hello Millions, in which you can play titles like Buffalo Blitz and Top Card.

Access the no-deposit bonus to begin your gameplay and invite your friends to join you, as you can earn up to 65 sweeps coins each time you use the referral program. Cash redemptions at Hello Millions start at $75, while you can access a gift card when you have a balance of just $10.

High 5 Casino: Best for top-rated mobile app

If you’re looking for a Texas sweepstakes casino with a superb mobile app, look no further than High 5 Casino. When you download the app for iOS or Android, you can play over 1,200 different games, including live dealer titles.

This US-based sweepstakes casino has unique games and an excellent range of ongoing promotions. If you play and win with sweeps coins, you can redeem your virtual currency for cash or a gift card if you have a balance of $100, and your prize should be with you in 1-2 days.

The bottom line: Are Texas sweepstakes casinos legal in 2025?

As we await legislation that legalizes real-money gambling in Texas, sweepstakes casinos are the best option for residents. They are legal and widely available to all Texans over 18.

Whether you choose McLuck, Hello Millions, High 5, or any other Texas sweepstakes casino, you can sign up and play for free, with a chance to redeem real money or a gift card prize. 

If you’re new to online gambling, we remind you to play responsibly, even when playing with virtual currency. You should adjust your virtual wagers to manage your bankroll and only play for specific periods. If you take these precautions and play responsibly, you can enjoy Texas sweepstakes casinos. They are legal and a viable alternative to real money gambling, which is not currently legal in Texas

If you’re a gambling enthusiast living in Austin and you’re looking for some casinos to visit, you’ll be all too familiar with the strict state laws prohibiting commercial gambling and the limited options available to you.

Don’t be fooled by places like Casino El Camino or Casino South Side, which both have ‘casino’ in their names but offer no gambling opportunities whatsoever. Basically, you’ll struggle to find anything near what you’d get in Vegas close to home.

At the time of writing, you have two options if you live in Austin: either go to private poker room venues in town or pack the car and hit the road in favor of something further afield.

If you’re willing to venture beyond Austin’s city limits, you’ll find some exceptional Native American casinos that offer a more traditional gambling experience. Due to a particular nuance in federal law, federally recognized tribes can legally host gambling establishments on reserve lands.

These legal venues, such as the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass and Naskila Casino in Livingston, provide various gaming options, from slot machines to bingo and poker.

In this article, we discuss some of the best options for casino gambling in Austin and what’s in and around the state capital.

1: Bullets Card Club

Austin, Texas

https://bulletscardclub.com

We start locally with Bullets Card Club, located at 11907 Manchaca Road in South Austin. It’s a private poker club that offers a variety of poker games, such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Round of Each. Cash games run 24/7, and they have tournaments on weekdays from 7:05pm and Saturdays from 4:05pm.

You can sign up for membership on their website in advance of your visit and have a choice of membership options, from $10 day rates to $200 for the year. The club is currently running a promotion offering your first month’s membership free. Membership includes access to the games, complimentary food and drink items, the option to BYOB alcohol, and free charging stations at the modern tables.

The club is well-maintained and equipped with everything a cards enthusiast could ask for, making it an excellent place for both serious players and those looking to have a good time on a night out. The sense of community among players is strong, and the club fosters a friendly and respectful environment.

In addition to poker, Bullets Card Club provides other entertainment options, such as access to sports events, including fight nights. The club offers complimentary sodas, coffee, and dinner daily, with a chef on-site from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

If you don’t want to venture too far and are happy to stick with poker, Bullets Card Club offers an excellent night out in a safe and friendly environment.

2: The Lodge Card Club

Round Rock, Texas

Lodge Card Club – Poker Games & Tournaments Near Austin, Texas

Next on the list is The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, just a short drive from Austin city center. In keeping with local laws, the club is a members-only social club that offers a professional environment for players to enjoy a wide range of poker games.

The Lodge has over 60 modern and comfortable tables in a well-lit and spacious environment, popular with serious competitors and casual players alike. And indeed, the club attracts players from across the city 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Membership is flexible and affordable, with weekly fees from $10 up to $100 for an annual membership. Seat rental is a fixed rate of $12/hour across membership levels. Veterans, active military personnel, and seniors can enjoy discounted rates.

The Lodge Card Club has a newly opened restaurant, Odds Bar & Bistro, which offers a variety of food and drinks, including breakfasts, burgers, salads, light snacks, and the player’s favorite steak and chips. Beers, wines, soft drinks, and cocktails are also available.

If you are headed out of town, you can also visit the Lodge Card Club San Antonio, which offers more of the same great hospitality and exciting tournaments.

3: Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel

Eagle Pass, Texas

https://luckyeagletexas.com

If you’re looking for a full-blown casino experience and are happy to hit the road, Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel in Eagle Pass is just 150 miles from Austin and is the largest land-based casino venue in the state.

Kickapoo is a full entertainment complex with luxurious hotel accommodations, so you can make a weekend of it and enjoy all the impressive venue has to offer, from the well-stocked casino floor featuring over 3,300 slot machines to five different dining options, live entertainment, and heaps more.

The slots offerings are impressive, from classic three-reel fruit machines to adventure games, progressive jackpots, and many more from the world’s leading providers. As a Class II casino, you can’t play traditional games like roulette or blackjack, but there is a private poker room for card game fans.

If you are planning on staying the night, the hotel offers a selection of different room types, ranging from $179.00 per night for standard rooms up to $359.00 per night for a luxurious king suite. You can also stay in the full-service RV park, which is within walking distance of the casino.

Your dining options range from fine dining at The Azure Restaurant to the 24-hour Riverbend Café. You can get hearty South Texan meals in the Red Sky Grill, which offers heaps of steaks, burgers, soups and salads, mouthwatering appetizers, and delicious cocktails. And for breakfast? You can’t go wrong with IHOP’s world-famous pancake stacks.

Finally, if you’re a regular player, Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino runs a loyalty scheme where you can collect points for Lucky Rewards. Regular attendance can earn you VIP status, for extra privileges like meal and room comps, exclusive promotions, tailored bonuses, and access to invite-only events.

4: Naskila Casino

Livingston, Texas

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Another out-of-town option is Naskila Casino, located on the Alabama-Coushatta reservation in Livingston. This is the largest reservation in the state, sitting on 10,200 acres some 200 miles southeast of Austin.   

The casino boasts 30,000 square feet of electronic gaming machines, including over 800 bingo-based slot machines, with impressive win potential up for grabs. There is a specialist high rollers room, dedicated VIP space, and an onsite steakhouse.

Naskila Casino hosts a range of regularly changing promotions and special offers to make your visit that much sweeter. These include lucky winner scratch-and-win promos, cash giveaways, sportscar giveaways, and up to $10,000 in free play for collecting points in the player’s club, known as Seven Feathers Club.

The Seven Feathers Club can be joined on-site by completing a membership form and presenting your ID. Members can earn points just for playing games, which you can later redeem for free play on select titles, food and drinks freebies, or even to buy items in the gift shop. It is a multi-tiered rewards program that rewards you more the more you play and work your way up the tiers.

When you get hungry, the Timbers Grille is open until midnight on weekdays and until 2:00 a.m. on weekends. It serves mouthwatering steaks, all-day breakfasts, wings, pizza by the slice, and a rolling specials board. For something lighter, you can hit up Café Itto Si for all-night coffees and munchies, including wraps, wings, and delicious pastries served until 6:00am, seven days a week.

On the last visit, there were no onsite accommodations available at Naskila Casino; however, you can use the Naskila Casino Express bus service to save yourself the drive and get dropped off in nearby Houston. There are plenty of options to suit every type of budget, from luxury 5-star hotels to quaint B&Bs.

Our Verdict: Hit the Road if You Want the Best Land-Based Casino Experience Near the Texas State Capital

Photo by Dino Reichmuth on Unsplash

Despite Austin’s vibrant culture and bustling nightlife, Texas state legislation has kept commercial casinos and most gambling activities out of the capital city. Until there is a shift in state laws, your only hope of getting a full-on casino experience as an Austin resident is to hit the road and head to one of the Native American casinos listed above.

For those seeking the thrill of gambling in the city, you’ll have to look beyond the typical casino experience and try one of the private poker rooms. These venues can operate within the state’s legal framework to offer a casino alternative for players.

At this stage in the game, we advise you to pack your bags and spend the weekend away at Kickapoo Eagle Pass for a fantastic casino entertainment experience in the Lone Star State.