As the state that inspired the most famous poker game in the world, you might think that playing online poker in Texas is straightforward. However, due to state regulations relating to online gambling, it’s not quite as simple as you might have hoped.
This article provides a complete guide to online poker in Texas. We begin with a look at the current legal landscape of online poker and explain what you need to know. Then, we introduce you to sites where you can legally play online poker in Texas.
Finally, we recommend the best poker games to consider when playing this legendary card game in the Lone Star State.
Is Online Poker Legal in Texas?
Real money online gambling is illegal in Texas in 2025. Therefore, you cannot legally sign up for a US-based poker site to play cash games or enter tournaments in the state.
It’s also illegal to play online poker games in Texas. So, that rules out live casino variants of Texas Hold’em and Caribbean Stud and even makes it unlawful to play video poker titles from Game King and other studios.
Texas has some of the most restrictive gambling laws in the United States. At this time, all forms of online gambling, excluding the State Lottery, are illegal.
That said, lawmakers have made numerous attempts in recent years to legalize sports betting and some online casino games in the state. However, the most recent effort to pass a bill through both chambers failed in 2023[1], so there’s still a long way to go before online poker and other gambling games are legal in Texas.
How to Play Online Poker Legally in Texas
Unfortunately, you cannot sign up for a real-money poker site like PokerStars to play cash games or tournaments in Texas. Playing casino-style poker games like Casino Hold’em at sites such as BetMGM and DraftKings is also out.
So, how can you legally play online poker in Texas? The good news is that there are a few options to consider, which we introduce below:
Sweepstakes Online Poker
Also known as social poker, sweepstakes poker is your best option if you want to legally play online poker in Texas. Sweepstakes casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites are all legal in Texas, letting you play with virtual currency rather than real money.
Right now, the best sweepstakes poker sites in Texas are:
Clubs Poker
Alt Text: The homepage at Clubs Poker in Texas.
We rate Clubs Poker as the top social casino site in the United States, available in Texas and 43 other states. You can play unlimited online poker with Gold Coins and Clubs Poker and enter sweepstakes games for prizes using free Sweeps Coins.
When you create an account, 2,500 Gold Coins and 0.5 Sweeps Coins will be added to your account with no purchase necessary. The following games and variants are offered:
- Texas Hold’em
- Omaha
- HORSE
- Stud
- 2-7 Single Draw
If you play and win with Sweeps Coins at Club Poker, you can redeem your coins for cash prizes. You must have a balance of at least 50 SC to redeem a prize, and you can redeem up to 5,000 per day.
Clubs Poker makes it extremely easy to access free Sweeps Coins. You earn SC with every GC purchase, and you can access free coins by logging into your account daily and participating in social media contests.
Global Poker
Alt Text: The homepage at Global Poker in Texas.
Another viable option for online sweepstakes poker in Texas is Global Poker. It’s free to sign up and play here, and if you play and win with Sweeps Coins, you can redeem cash prizes.
One of our favorite things about Global Poker is the low-value redemptions. You can redeem a gift card prize with a balance of just 10 SC. You can redeem a cash prize with 50 SC in your poker account.
Global Poker offers a wide selection of variants with different limits. You can also participate in tournaments, which are advertised on the site.
If you don’t want to play in promotional mode, you can play at Global Poker for free using Gold Coins. This is a great way to practice online poker while honing your strategy.
Free Online Poker in Texas
Sweepstakes betting sites are your best option for legally playing online poker in Texas. They feature the best of both worlds. You can sign up for free before joining games and playing with sweeps coins, which can be redeemed for real cash prizes.
But if you’re not bothered about the financial element of online poker, you can play free online poker at numerous top sites in Texas, including:
- World Series of Poker (WSOP): The WSOP site is our top-rated destination for free online poker in Texas. Play free variants of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and numerous Three-card poker games against players from all over the world.
- 24/7 Free Poker: Powered by 247Games.com, 24/7 is a no-frills free online poker site giving you immediate access to online poker with no sign-up required. Choose the gameplay level and play as much as you like, with no risk attached.
- Zynga Poker: You can also play free poker games at Zynga, one of the world’s most popular poker platforms. This is the best option for playing poker on your smartphone or tablet, thanks to Zynga’s excellent iOS and Android apps.
Legal Offline Poker in Texas: Private Poker Clubs
Until PokerStars and BetMGM become legally available in Texas, the above sites are your best free and sweepstakes play options. Even though Texas was the birthplace of the most legendary poker variant, this game remains illegal online.
However, you can legally play poker offline in Texas, thanks to the state’s many flourishing private poker clubs. There are currently 68 private poker clubs in Texas from Amarillo to Wichita Falls.
The biggest private poker club in Texas is the Lodge Card Club in Austin, with 68 tables. In Dallas, Shuffle 214 is home to 31 tables, while Lucky J Social Club is Houston’s biggest poker club, with 38 tables.
These clubs are legal in Texas for two reasons:
- They operate in a “private” place.
- They do not take a rake and are thus deemed not for any “economic benefit.”
These clubs operate in a grey area, as they certainly profit from the membership fees of the players who join the clubs. At most poker clubs in Texas, daily, monthly, and annual memberships are available.
Currently, monthly memberships run from $30 to $150, depending on the club. Then, to enter a tournament, a player must pay for his or her seat, which usually starts at $10 for cash games and about $20 for tournaments.
Essentially, these clubs operate a bit like sweepstakes online poker sites. They circumvent the regulations to remain legal and are a viable option if you want to play poker in Texas legally in 2025.
The Best Poker Games in Texas
Now that we’ve established the best places for online poker in Texas, which are the best games to play? Here are our recommendations:
Texas Hold’em
The world’s most popular variant of poker was created in the Lone Star State. Texas Hold’em requires you to create the best five-card poker hand with the two cards you’re dealt and the five community cards in the middle of the table.
Five-Card Draw
Each player is given five cards to begin the game. Then, you can trade up to three of your cards for new ones or stick with what you have. At the end of the game, the player with the best-ranking poker hand wins.
Omaha
Similar to Texas Hold’em, Omaha has four betting rounds and five community cards. However, each of the community cards is shown from the very start of the game, and every player receives four pocket cards, not two.
The Bottom Line: How to Play Online Poker in Texas
Although real-money online poker in Texas is illegal, there are numerous ways to play this legendary card game in the state.
As highlighted above, your best option is to sign up for a sweepstakes poker site like Clubs Poker or Global Poker, where you can play with virtual currency. Then, if you win, you can redeem your virtual currency for a cash prize or gift card.
Alternatively, play poker for free at sites like WSOP to hone your strategy. Then, visit any of the 68 private poker clubs in Texas and become a member. You can then play Texas Hold’em, Five-Card Draw, Omaha, and other variants for real money.
[1] https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/11/texas-legislature-gambling-casinos-sports-betting/