Horse racing betting in Texas is a pretty popular activity these days. They have multiple live race tracks that customers can frequent as well as a ton of different online sites in which residents can bet with. Everybody has their preference as to which method they like to use but we are here to tell you that betting on horses online in Texas is the way to go.

Texas doesn’t address internet gambling in their criminal code. Furthermore, they don’t mention the words “computer,” “internet,” or “online.” But this doesn’t mean that internet gambling is legal here. In fact, the state’s broad laws make it illegal for offshore gaming sites to operate within their borders. Online and mobile sports betting in Texas will be legal. A maximum of five licenses will be sold. Each license will permit two online betting site skins. Gamblers will pay a 6.25% tax, similar to a sales tax, on all money wagered. If the bill and resolution to amend the. Texas, like the majority of US states, have not yet regulated its online sports betting market. Fortunately, there are still a number of incredible sites operating here that provide odds on just about every major sport. There are a few important features that every sports betting site should always offer. A number of online offshore sports betting sites accept Texas residents and most are licensed and regulated sportsbook businesses. The online sportsbooks below are licensed, safe, and secure. We have used our decades of online sports betting experience and land based sports betting experience in Las Vegas to select only the best. 7 hours ago  You can bet golf online from the state of Texas using BetUS (established 1994), which offers a generous welcome bonus (max bonus $2500). Odds to Win The Players Championship (2021).

This page will help Texas residents to decipher which sportsbook/racebook they would like to frequent for all of their sportsbettingtexas.com and horse racing betting in Texas needs, by explaining the safety involved, the benefits of online horse racing betting in Texas, recommendations for specific sites to use and more.

Betting On The Breeders Cup In Texas

Horse betting is always fun and most players always find a way to cash on the major betting chances they take. Texas players know that they can always find different ways they can make money and during the horse betting season, there will be many betting options here for players including bets for the Breeders Cup. This great sporting event starts on November 6 so players need to have their bets in as soon as possible. The fact that there are online sportsbooks with mobile betting and live betting options will bring on more players to bet on the Breeders Cup.

With horses like Runhappy and other ones that will be there competing, this will mean some players are going to have a chance to win big by pulling off the upset. The location that this famous race takes off usually changes yearly and this year coming up, it will be located in Kentucky at the Keeneland Race Course. There will be many horse betting fans that will be paying attention to this match here in Kentucky as money can be flipped easily.

Online Horse Racing Betting Sites

If you are looking for the best online horse racing betting sites, there are certain qualities that you expect these sites to have. Those qualities include safety, helpful and efficient customer service, a visually appealing site, a variety of banking and wagering options, bonus opportunities, plenty of wager types and more. With all of the sites available on the internet, it makes sense for players to want the highest quality sites to use and we have narrowed your search down to four of the top available options for Texas horse racing betting online.

Bovada, BetOnline, Sportsbetting.ag, and MyBookie are the clear-cut cream of the crop. Each of these sites is based outside of the United States and are legally licensed and regulated by their home territories so there are no worries about safety. They also have some of the most incredible betting variety across the board on their sites that are also very impressive. Below we have included two detailed reviews of two of these sites so you will have a better understanding of what all they have to offer.

Bovada Review

When discussing the best online horse racing betting sites in Texas, the first name that comes to mind is Bovada Racebook. This incredibly detailed, intricate, and user-friendly site has been building its resume in the online betting market for nearly 20 years and over that time they have slowly but surely become the premier name in the industry.

The racebook on this site is chock full of great features that you should expect at a great horse racing betting site. They have up to date racing odds on a ton of tracks throughout the country, as well as some outside of the United States. Players can enjoy bonus opportunities, mobile betting, and even live betting on horse racing. This allows players who are only interested in a couple of races throughout the day to not be as attentive as someone who is betting on all of the races. Their wager types list is very impressive as they offer up any type of horse race bet you can think of and the deposit and withdrawal options they have are as safe, quick, and reliable as it gets.

Sign up for Bovada’s racebook today and see exactly why we feel that this is the best site to use for horse racing betting in Texas. It’s free to join and takes mere minutes, if not seconds to create an account. After filling out some basic information, you are free to explore all of the possibilities at Bovada.

BetOnline Review

BetOnline has been building a strong customer base for the better part of 15 years and it is now considered one of the top options for players looking for a sportsbook or racebook. They have available betting lines for just about every sport and every horse race from the United States and even some races from overseas.

The BetOnline’s racebook is absolutely in the upper tier of racebooks. They offer up-to-post betting odds and the track listings are seemingly endless and that includes major races like the Kentucky Derby. Texas residents will absolutely love the wager types and bet line options at BetOnline. They have straight wagers that start from just a $1 and more exotic wagers than you have ever seen.

The customer service at BetOnline is another reason why you should give this site a try. They are available 24/7 for contact and you can reach them via phone, email, or even their live chat option on their website. They also have one of the better refund policies in the business in case of a scratch. They cover just about all of their bet types if that scenario was to occur. The only bets that would not be refunded are the Pick bets.

This truly is one of, if not, the best horse racing betting sites for Texas residents. It’s got everything you would want and more so create your account today and we guarantee you will not be disappointed. It’s free to join and as long as you are at least 18 years old, you are free to dive into the world of online horse racing gambling.

Is it Legal To Bet On Horse Racing in Texas?

It is absolutely legal to bet on horse racing in Texas. As far as state laws are concerned, Texas allows licensed horse racing and on-track pari-mutuel wagering, as well as the act of simulcasting races from Texas race tracks. So as far as state laws are concerned, there is nothing to worry about.

Horse Racing Federal Laws are kind of similar as none really mention the act of betting on horse racing in Texas to be illegal. The only federal statute that even mentions something concerning this is the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978 and even that is just a law that allows betting on horse races and excludes it from other online gambling laws.

Horse Racing Wager Types in Texas

When placing bets on horse races, you have a multitude of different horse racing betting types to choose from. You have your traditional straight bets that are pretty straight forward as you will pick the horse who will win as well as the horses who will place and show. You can even combine multiple straight wagers together as a sort of parlay wager. An example of a combined straight wager would be an Across the Board, which allows you to bet on a horse's chances to win all three positions. If he wins the race, you win all three bets, if he gets second you win just the place and show, and if he finishes third, you just win the show.

You also have the option to bet with more exotic horse wager types like Exacta, Perfecta or Exactor bets which are wagers on single races. These are the easiest and probably the most popular exotic wagers for horse racing. A Quinella is similar to the Exacta as it also requires you to predict the top two horses, with the difference being that with a Quinella, you don’t have to predict which horse gets first and second. As long as you guess the two horses that finish first, you win.

A Trifecta is also similar to these bets but instead of predicting the top two horses, you predict the top three. Finally, players can also choose to bet with a Superfecta, which is one of the hardest bets to win in horse racing but the payout can be huge. This bet requires you to bet on the top four finishers of a race which are very hard to predict and just like with the straight bets, you can put money on exotic bet lines for multiple races at a time. These bets are known as a Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 6, or a Place Pick All.

Betting On The Triple Crown in Texas

The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes are the three races that make up the Triple Crown. The Derby is by far the most talked about and bet upon horse race there is in the United States and the two that follow aren’t far behind. Betting on the Triple Crown in Texas is probably the most popular grouping of events to bet on in the entire horse betting industry so sign up for a racebook and join in on the fun. All of the top online offshore sportsbooks host racebooks that are just as comprehensive, fast, and fun to use. They will also all post odds for each leg of the Triple crown and will do so far in advance.

Where Can I Bet On Horse Racing in Texas?

There are three horse racing tracks in Texas that span across three different cities. Fans can choose between Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Retama Park Race Track in Selma, and Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. All three have limited hours but each offer betting lines and allow wagering at the track or you can use their simulcast option and bet on the races from another location. There are limitations at these tracks, though. We previously mentioned the limited hours but there are also different racing seasons throughout the year.

That being said, off-track horse racing betting in Texas is probably the best option available to residents in the Longhorn State. This option eliminates all of the hidden costs associated with actually going to live tracks to spend your money. Traveling costs, food and drink, parking tolls, and more are all just unnecessary expenses that could be used for more wagering. This is why pari-mutuel wagering online is the most convenient and cost friendly method to bet on the ponies.

With 27.5 million residents, Texas is America’s second most-populous state.
This means that the Lone Star State could make a fortune through gambling taxes.

But Texas doesn’t take advantage of this opportunity because they have
limited casino gaming and live poker.

Can I Bet Online If I Live In Texas

Not surprisingly, Texas doesn’t have legal internet gambling either.

But offshore gaming sites still target their large market.

Online Gambling and Texas Law

Texas doesn’t address internet gambling in their criminal code. Furthermore,
they don’t mention the words “computer,” “internet,” or “online.”

But this doesn’t mean that internet gambling is legal here. In fact, the
state’s broad laws make it illegal for offshore gaming sites to operate within
their borders.

We’ll cover this and other important aspects of the state’s online gaming
stance below.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Texas?

Let’s begin with code 47.03 of the criminal code, which states that a person
“commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly does any of the following
acts:”

• Earns profits from a “gambling place.”
• Bookmaking.
• Earns profits from being “a custodian of anything of value bet or offered to be bet.”
• “Sells chances” on any game, contest, or political nomination.
• Sets up and runs a lottery.

The first-time charge for any of these offenses is a Class A misdemeanor,
which is a light punishment for illegal gambling operators.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that Texas doesn’t allow any form of gaming beyond
what they’ve specifically approved. Internet gambling doesn’t fall under this
umbrella, therefore it’s technically illegal in the state.

Why do Gambling Sites Operate in Texas?

As just discussed, offshore gaming sites are not considered legal
in the Lone Star State, but they continue to
operate here for three main reasons:

1. Texas doesn’t have a regulated iGaming market.
2. Texas hasn’t taken legal action against offshore sites.
3. The Texas Constitution doesn’t specifically make internet gambling illegal.

These three conditions are present in most states, which is why most of them
are served by offshore operators.

Even Louisiana, South Dakota, and Washington – which explicitly outlaw online
gambling – have problems with offshore sites.

This means that the threat of legal action is the biggest condition to
whether internet gambling sites serve a state.

Texas has never pursued legal action against offshore sites, and the status
quo is likely to continue for a while.

Will I be Arrested for Gambling Online in Texas?

It’s possible, but there’s almost no chance that you’ll be arrested.

Code 47.02 states a gambling offense occurs if somebody:

1. “… makes a bet on the
   partial or final result of a game or contest or on the performance of a
   participant in a game or contest.”
2. “… makes a bet on the
   result of any political nomination, appointment, or election or on the degree of
   success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate.”
3. “… plays and bets for
   money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, balls, or any
   other gambling device.”

Anybody who commits one of these offenses is subject to a Class C
misdemeanor. Exceptions are made for those who engage in social gambling and /
or are involved in a skill-based contest where everybody has the same chance.

Perhaps an argument can be made that online poker falls into this category
because it’s skill-based. But by and large, internet gambling is illegal in the
Lone Star State.

Nevertheless, they haven’t arrested anybody for playing online casino games
or placing sports bets. This gives us confidence that you won’t be arrested for
the activity.

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a 2011 opinion that the
Wire Act – a
federal ban on certain types of gambling – only applies to sports betting.

Are Offshore Gaming Sites Safe?

This depends upon the specific site you’re dealing with. But for the most
part, offshore gambling sites are safe.

The risk comes when considering that offshore sites are based outside of the
U.S. This means that they’re neither licensed in America nor directly subject to
U.S. laws.

The matter can be scarier given that a small percentage of nefarious
operators have closed without repaying player deposits..

But here’s the thing: most offshore operators realize the value in repeat
business.

If they don’t have good customer service or process cashouts in a timely
manner, they’ll receive less repeat players. Long story short, you can have
confidence that most internet gambling sites will serve you well.

How Do I Pick the Best Gaming Sites?

To choose safe gaming sites, you should read reviews of any prospective site.
The more reviews you read, the better you’ll be able to make an informed
deposit.

Another thing you should do is visit the site directly and look for certain
aspects. Reviews are great, but it’s even more effective if you do research
yourself.

Here are some key points that you want to look for:

• Longevity and Reputation –

  The longer a site is in business, the more likely it is that they properly serve
  players. And when you combine this with a good reputation (via reviews), you
  have a winning site.

• Game Variety –

  Everybody
  loves a nice variety of games. This is why you want to visit a site and see if
  they have the games / sports lines you want.

• Banking Options –

  If real
  money iGaming is your goal, then you need to make sure that there’s a deposit
  option you can use.

• Customer Support –

  This is
  a key point covered in reviews. You can also visit directly and live-chat with
  customer service to see how friendly and knowledgeable they are.

• Bonuses & Promotions –

  It’s
  always exciting to earn cash on the side of your play. Check out the welcome
  bonus and promotions at any site you’re interested in.

• Bonus Terms & Conditions –

  Click the terms and conditions underneath the welcome bonus to see what wagering
  requirements must be met. The industry standard for online casino bonuses is 40x
  rollover (or 20x bonus + deposit).

Also On This Page

More Gambling Laws in Texas

• Casino Games (Class II Legal)
• Sports Betting (Illegal)
• Poker (Legal)
• Racing Betting (Legal)
• Lottery (Legal)
• Bingo (Legal)
• Charitable Gambling (Legal)
• Social Gambling (Legal)

Casinos: Legal

Texas only has two casinos spread throughout its vast 269,596 square miles.
This includes the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino and Aransas Queen cruise ship.

The Kickapoo Lucky Eagle is located along the Mexican border and offers Class
II gaming. Class II machines are similar to regular slot machines, except that
results are determined by historic horse races or electronic bingo cards
(instead of random number generators).

The Aransas Queen is a huge yacht that began sailing out of Corpus Christi in
2015. They’re only allowed to offer gaming when in international waters.

It remains to be seen how successful the Aransas Queen will be. Texas has had
multiple gambling cruises that have failed over the years.

This includes the Le Mistral, the original gambling cruise ship that set sail
from Galveston in 1988; it went bankrupt in 1994.

Several other Texas gambling cruises have either gone bankrupt or moved to
different states seeking more profitability.

Charitable Gambling: Legal

Under the Charitable Raffle Enabling Act, Texas allows licensed charities to
offer bingo and raffles. Unfortunately, this means that casino nights and Texas
hold’em tournaments are out of the question.

Lottery: Legal

Legalized in 1992, the Texas Lottery sells a wide range of instant and
drawing games. Available games include: All or Nothing, Cash Five, Daily 4, Pick
3, Mega Millions, Powerball, Texas Triple Chance, and Texas Two Step.

Poker: Legal

The Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino has a small poker room. Other than this, the
only ways to play poker in Texas include offshore gaming sites and social games.

Racing: Legal

Texas is one of the few states that offers active horse and dog racing
tracks. They currently have four tracks operating in the state.

Social Gambling: Legal

Code 47.02 of the Texas criminal code includes exemptions for social gaming.
These include the following:

1 – “The actor engaged in gambling in a private place.”

2 – “No person received any economic benefit other than personal winnings.”

3 – “Except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risks of losing and the
chances of winning were the same for all participants.”

As long as the host isn’t profiting from your social gambling function
through a house edge, food, or drinks, the game should be fine. Also, make sure
that no illegal firearms or drugs are on the premises.

Gambling Venues in Texas

As discussed before, Texas only has two casinos – the Aransas Queen cruise and
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle.

Lucky Eagle is by far the largest of these casinos, sporting over 3,300 Class
II gaming machines. But it’s also in the remote Lucky Pass area on the Mexican
border, making it difficult for many Texans to visit.

Aransas Queen has over 200 gaming machines and some table games. This mega
yacht must reach international waters before gambling commences.

In addition to two casinos, Texas also offers Class II pull tab machines at
parlors in the Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio areas.

These are electronic pull tab machines that look and play like slot machines.
One stipulation to these games is that individual payouts can’t be any larger
than $5.

Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel

794 Lucky Eagle Drive

Eagle Pass, TX 78852

History of Gambling in Texas

Dating back to when U.S. settlers arrived in Mexican Texas, the territory was
filled with brothels, saloons, and gambling halls. This continued long after
Texas became a state in 1845.

Professional gamblers like “Doc” Holliday and “Lottie Deno” Thompkins roamed
the plains of Texas in the mid and late 1800s.

The Lone Star State finally began cracking down on vices in the early 1900s.
Most gambling halls were banned and closed by 1917.

Texas didn’t officially legalize any gambling activities until 1933, when
they approved pari-mutuel betting. Just four years later, the state voted to
shut down pari-mutuel wagering.

The see sawing continued in 1987, when Texas legalized pari-mutuel gambling
for good.

The state also has a strange history with tribal casinos. With help from the
federal government, they shut down the Tigua Tribe’s Speaking Rock casino in
2002.

But the Kickapoo Casino has been in operation ever since 1996 because they
offer Class II gaming. Governor George W. Bush questioned the validity of this
casino, but the Kickapoo won a pre-emptive lawsuit against the state.

Can I Bet On Sports Online

Texas also legalized casino cruise ships in 1988, but ships were originally
forced to visit a foreign port of call (Mexican villages) before docking in
Texas. This only lasted a year before Galveston officials got the port of call
portion repealed.

Despite their limited gambling, Texas has had activity on the iGaming
legislative front.

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton has introduced federal online poker legislation twice.
Texas also had two other iGaming bills introduced in 2013, but none of these
efforts came to fruition.

Texas Gambling FAQs

With no specific laws addressing internet gambling and a host of available
offshore sites, Texas iGaming is confusing to many gamblers.

Here are some FAQs we’ve received on the Lone Star State that can help clear
up the matter.

Are Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Texas?

According to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, daily fantasy sports (DFS)
aren’t legal. Here’s an excerpt from his
January
2016 letter:

“Because the outcomes of games in daily fantasy sports leagues depends
partially on chance, an individual’s payment of a fee to participate in such
activities is a bet. Accordingly, a court would likely determine that
participation in daily fantasy sports is illegal gambling.”

DraftKings, the industry’s largest site, has refused to take this ruling
lying down. They launched a lawsuit against Paxton and continue to operate in
the Lone Star State; FanDuel, however, exited Texas.

State Rep. Richard Raymond introduced legislation that would’ve classified
DFS as a skill based activity, but House Bill 1457 failed to gain any serious
attention.

When Will Texas Legalize Online Gambling?

It could be a decade or more.

Texas isn’t receptive of new forms of gambling. The casinos and gaming
parlors they have skirt state laws by offering Class II machines that operate
through loopholes.

With no commercial casino industry to lobby for internet gambling, it seems
unlikely that the activity will be available any time soon.

Strangely enough, though, Texas has had federal legislative efforts come out
of their state.

U.S. Representative Joe Barton (R-Tex.) proposed the Online Poker Act of
2011, which would’ve legalized online poker on a federal level. But HR-2366
didn’t get any significant attention in Congress.

In 2013, Barton introduced another legislative effort called the Poker
Freedom Act. This also sought to regulate internet poker on a federal level,
while leaving online casino games up to individual states.

The same year saw former State Senator Leticia van de Putte introduce State
Bill No. 1103. This legislation would’ve allowed states to opt in to federally
legalized internet poker.

None of Texas’ iGaming bills have gotten very far. But they do show that
state politicians at least consider the matter.

Looking at Texas today, though, we don’t see them regulating online gaming
for another 10 years.

Why Doesn’t Texas Bust Internet Gambling Sites?

Texas will bust an online gambling operation – they just haven’t shown the
willingness to cross seas to do it.

In 2013, state police raided a
$5 billion online sports betting operation in the North Texas area.

How To Bet Online In Texas

The eighteen-member ring accepted both online and in-person bets, making $200
million in profits from 2007 to 2011.

The main reason why this group was busted is because they operated on US
soil.

It’s an entirely different ballgame to pursue offshore gaming sites operating
in countries like Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, and Panama. The only state
that has successfully done this is New York, which was backed by the U.S.
Department of Justice.

Because of their size, Texas has the resources to pursue offshore gambling
sites. But like most other American states, they view other things as more
important than chasing gambling sites.

Can I Gamble on my Smartphone or Tablet in Texas?

Gambling on your smartphone isn’t technically legal. But we don’t see you
ever being arrested for it.

Code 47.01 (4) states the following about illegal gambling devices:

“…means any electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance not
excluded under Paragraph (B) that for a consideration affords the player an
opportunity to obtain anything of value, the award of which is determined solely
or partially by chance, even though accompanied by some skill, whether or not
the prize is automatically paid by the contrivance.”

This could include a smartphone or tablet if Texas felt like pursing mobile
gamblers. But they’ve never arrested anybody for internet gambling, and we don’t
see this changing anytime soon.

Can You Bet Online In Texas

Additional Resources

Here’s information on Texas gaming agencies and where you can find the
state’s gambling laws.

This website features many laws related to Texas’ gambling industry.

This page covers multiple gambling-related FAQs with Texas State Attorney
General Ken Paxton.

This page offers a comprehensive look at laws for Texas bingo, general
gambling, lotteries, and racing.

The Texas Racing Commission website features information on the state’s dog
and horse racing industries.

Is It Legal To Bet Online In Texas

The Future

Texas features most forms of gambling, although they’re very limited in the
casino, pari-mutuel, and poker categories.

The Lone Star State has been conservative on the gambling front ever since
the lawless 1800s. This means that they’re slow to adapt to new forms of gaming.

The same holds true for internet gambling because Texas hasn’t legalized
casino games, poker, or daily fantasy sports.

Surprisingly, Texas has had politicians try to legalize online poker on a
federal level. But these efforts have never earned a serious look.

Odds are that iGaming will never be legalized on a federal level until the
state has commercial casinos. This has been an absolute condition thus far in
regulated states like Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey.

Given that Texas has no immediate plans for casinos, this alone could take 5
to 10 years to happen. Then, we’re looking at a few more years until the Lone
Star State regulates internet gambling.

Until that happens, you’re free to enjoy offshore gaming sites, because Texas
ignores both operators and players.