Texas sports betting apps are illegal, and we don’t expect them to be legal for the next few years. This page will provide regular updates on sports wagering in Texas as they become available.
The last attempt at legalizing Texas sports betting apps was shot down in May 2023.
A 2019 estimate from Dallas Morning News says Texas is losing $2.5 billion in gambling revenue to its neighboring states. No doubt about it, Texas would immediately become one of the biggest sports betting markets in the country if it passes legislation.
Legal in Texas: Win gift cards with TheLines free-to-play contests.
Best Free TEXAS Betting Apps for Cash Prizes
Fliff is billed as a social sportsbook app, providing an alternative for Texans patiently waiting for online sports betting legislation to pass. Fliff allows customers to socially wager on sports in two modes: social or sweepstakes.
There are minor differences between the two modes. Those who select the social mode will use Fliff coins, the site’s play money, to place social wagers, earn additional coins, and redeem prizes. Fliff coins are not redeemable for cash.
The sweepstakes mode is more similar to top betting sites. You use Fliff cash that you have earned to socially bet on various sports and can earn cash prizes. This currency is redeemable for cash prizes at a 1:1 ratio.
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Texas Sports Betting: What You Should Know
- Population: 30.5 million
- Legal age for sports betting: 21
- Online sports betting: No
- Retail sportsbooks: No
- Sports betting revenue: N/A
- Online Horse Racing: No
- DFS: Yes
- Lottery: Yes
- Card Rooms: Yes
- Tribal Casinos: Yes
Texas Sports Betting Updates
Below are the most recent updates regarding the legalization of Texas sports betting apps. TheLines will continue monitoring the situation and update the list below as things change.
- June 22, 2023: As expected, the San Antonio Spurs use the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and select 7-foot-5 French phenom Victor Wembanyama. He is a heavy -160 favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year, but you can not legally place this bet in Texas.
- June 1, 2023: Former Gov. Rick Perry continues to advocate for Texas sports betting legislation. “Texans deserve the chance to vote on legalizing sports betting, and we will continue working to put this initiative on the ballot in 2025,” said Perry in a release from the Texas Sports Betting Alliance.
- Nov. 6, 2022: The Houston Astros are crowned 2022 World Series champs, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
- July 1, 2022: A bipartisan group of Texas legislatures was among those who recommended the Department of Justice crack down on offshore books.
- May 11, 2022: BetMGM strikes a deal to be the exclusive Sports Betting Partner with the Houston Astros– the first deal of its kind in the Lone Star State.““
- April 2021: A bill (Texas HJR61) proposing Class III gambling– including sports betting– was struck down in a committee and was never voted on.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Texas?
Sports betting remains illegal in the Lone Star State, and the situation will not change until 2025, at the earliest.
The Path To Legal Sports Betting Apps In Texas
Legal sports betting is nowhere in sight for the Lone Star State. The latest failed attempt took place earlier this year. Texas lawmakers passed HJR 102 and HB 1942 out of the House of Representatives by a 101-42 vote. Even though it marked the first time a Texas sports betting bill advanced out of the State House, any chances of Texas sports betting apps becoming a reality died in the Senate.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick reaffirmed that there is no support for the legislation in the State Senate. So without the Senate support, the path to legalizing Texas online sportsbooks looks gloomy.
Some would argue out of the big three states attempting to legalize sports betting (California and Florida being the others), Texas has the longest road ahead. The state legislature of Texas has a reputation of being one of the most outwardly opposed US governments when it comes to gambling.
Another major obstacle toward legalization is that the Texas House Committee only meets on odd-numbered years, and the 2023 legislative session has now come and gone. Politicians can try again in 2025. Texas is likely at least three years away from legal sports betting at any given time.
Possible Future Texas Sports Betting Apps
Like every other year since PASPA was overturned, Texas bettors will continue waiting for the day they can download Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, and other top sports betting apps. Since we don’t know how future sports betting legislation will pan out, here is a hypothetical list of potential sportsbook operators that could eventually launch Texas sports betting apps.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM is one of the top US sports betting operators. The app is currently available in 20+ markets. When it comes to its popularity, It helps to have Kevin Garnett and Jamie Foxx serving as brand ambassadors. Bettors in legal markets enjoy daily Lion’s Boosts on certain markets, like Dak Prescott to throw two touchdowns versus the New York Giants and the Cowboys to win. Another could be Justin Verlander to record 7 Ks versus the Texas Rangers and the Texas Astros to win. Sports bettors also earn MGM Rewards that can be used toward discounted hotel stays or entertainment at MGM properties.
BetMGM is a likely candidate to launch in Texas due to its sports betting partnership with the Houston Astros.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook is the largest operator in the US as of 2022, and bettors enjoy a strong selection of promos covering just about every major pro sport. There are MLB profit boosts, NFL bonus bets tied to a preseason Super Bowl wager, and same-game parlays. FanDuel does a great job promoting the most popular daily SGP bets, including how much bettors could win with a $10 wager.
FanDuel is already live in Texas with its daily fantasy sports product, so there is an existing player database of potential Texas sports bettors.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook is right up there with FanDuel as one of the most popular sports betting brands. It makes sense that the brand would want to add one of the biggest untapped markets to a launch list that already includes New York, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Existing DK sportsbook customers enjoy daily odds surges and stepped-up parlays in multiple sports.
DraftKings also runs DFS in Texas and is one of the largest operators in the US. Should DK ever launch a Texas sports betting app, many existing customers would likely make the natural sports betting transition.
Caesars Sportsbook
Generally considered the final of the “Big Four” sportsbooks, Caesars Sportsbook has launched in most new states. With parent company Caesars Entertainment being one of the gambling industry’s biggest names, there is a very good chance Texas would be a target market due to its sheer size. New Caesars Sportsbook customers enjoy one of the most generous welcome offers, including reward credits for a future stay at Caesars Palace. Players earn additional Caesars Rewards when placing a sports bet. Same-game parlays and profit boosts are a couple of the popular promos.
Caesars Entertainment and the Houston Texans announced a multi-year partnership in 2021, including a free-to-play “Schedule Pick’Em” game on the Texans’ mobile app. While the deal is centered around promoting Caesars Rewards, a future sports betting deal between the two parties could make sense if Texas sports betting apps ever launch.
Latest Texas Betting News
Who Can Sports Bet In Texas?
Nobody can legally place a sports bet in Texas, and we do not expect it to change anytime soon.
| Legal Age: If Texas Sports Betting passes, the legal gambling age is expected to be 21. | Remote Registration: When The Lone Star State approves mobile sports betting, the guidelines will most likely allow remote registration. |
| Mobile Betting: Not yet, but it’s expected any Texas sports betting legislation will include mobile wagering. | Retail Sportsbooks: TBD. This will depend on if sports betting operators are required to partner with a Texas pro sports team/arena, racetrack or tribal casino. |
| Within State Borders: Similar to neighboring Louisiana, you will need to be located within state lines to place a sports wager. | Taxable Winnings: Once Texas sports betting legislation is approved, there will be a section related to taxable winnings. Texas does not have a state income tax. |
How To Sign Up For A Sportsbook In Texas
If Texas goes live with mobile sports wagering in the future, here is what the sign-up process will most likely look like.
1. Download a Texas sports betting app
Once Texas sports betting apps are cleared to launch, you will need to download them. iOS users will use the App Store while those with Android devices will visit the Google Play store. You will be able to complete the process via web browser as well.
2. Register for an account
Once the Texas sports betting app is downloaded, there will be a quick registration process. Be prepared to supply the following information:
- Name
- Age
- Address
- Phone number
- Social security number for tax purposes
- Valid e-mail address if online account
3. Claim bonus
When Texas sports betting launches, operators will welcome new players with bonus bets or bonus cash. TheLines will be the place to find the best sportsbook promo codes currently available from top sports betting sites.
4. Deposit
Before placing your first moneyline or point spread wager, you must deposit funds into your Texas sports betting account. There is typically a minimum $10 deposit. The best PayPal betting sites and the best Venmo betting sites are among the many banking options at your disposal for payment methods.
5. Place your bet
No matter which sport you go with, there are several different bet types, with moneyline, point spread, and totals being among the most popular.
While we are still several years away from Texas sports betting apps going live, a good starting point is to look at NFL Week 1 odds for the Dallas Cowboys or Houston Texans. If NBA betting is more your game, wagering on the Dallas Mavericks and Luca Doncic to win the NBA championship will be another option. With the Houston Astors and Texas Rangers among the MLB championship favorites, the World Series odds might be worth a look.
6. Withdrawal funds
When Texas approves sports betting, we expect operators will offer the same withdrawal methods available in legal states like Louisiana and Arizona.
These withdrawal methods include:
- ACH/E-check
- Check
- Paypal
- Prepaid card supplied by the operator
The amount of it time it takes to complete the transaction can vary. Take the fastest sportsbook payouts into consideration.
Texas Sports Teams
If and when sports betting is legalized in the Lone Star State, Texas could quickly establish itself as one of the fastest-growing markets due to its population and teams with a national fanbase. The Cowboys, for example, are known as “America’s Team.” The list below shows all four pro sports leagues are well-represented:
- Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
- Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
- Dallas Stars (NHL)
- Houston Astros (MLB)
- Houston Rockets (NBA)
- Houston Texans (NFL)
- San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
- Texas Rangers (MLB)
At this point, it’s way too soon to tell what the rules will be regarding wagering on in-state college teams. Assuming betting on Texas schools is approved, there will be a plethora of options:
- Baylor
- Houston
- Stephen F. Austin
- TCU
- Texas
- Texas A&M
- Texas Tech
- University of North Texas
Besides Houston being the host city for the 2023-24 College Football National Championship game, Texas serves as the home state for several college football bowl games:
TOP-RATED DFS SITES IN TEXAS
Users can take advantage of other top-rated Texas DFS sites, like the SuperDraft Fantasy site and Underdog Fantasy Sports. The ParlayPlay Promo Code also gives new users in Texas a $105 sign up bonus.
Daily Fantasy Sports Vs. Sports Betting
Daily Fantasy Sports, or DFS, is where users draft and set what they hope will be a winning lineup for that day’s NFL, NBA, or MLB games. FanDuel and DraftKings, two of the biggest names in the legal US mobile sports betting business, are the two most popular DFS brands. The DraftKings and FanDuel DFS products have been live in Texas since at least 2019. Each DFS contest has a separate cash prize pool, but your lineup might need to place within the top 1,500 entries to receive a portion of the cash (the top finisher could win $1,000 while those on the bottom end of the payout pool might only win $2). Entry fees can be as small as $1. Daily fantasy sports is a user vs. user system.
With legal sports betting, the house, such as Caesars Sportsbook or BetMGM, sets lines or odds for games, and gamblers must decide which side to play. Sportsbooks only pay out the wagers if the ticket is a winner. Several types of bets exist, including a moneyline bet, total, spread, or prop wager. Sports betting is the user vs. the book.
TEXAS SPORTS BETTING FAQ
No. Sports betting is illegal in Texas. The situation is not expected to change until 2025 or later.
While Texas sports betting remains illegal, the Lone Star State has three racetracks where horse betting is allowed. Daily fantasy sports, the Texas Lottery, live poker, and bingo are permitted as well.
Gambling companies like Caesars Entertainment and Las Vegas Sands can’t offer casino-style gambling in Texas. However, there are three tribal casinos within state lines where you will find live bingo, electronic bingo, and live poker. Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel, Naskila Gaming, and Speaking Rock Entertainment Center are the three locations.
The minimum age to legally gamble in Texas varies. You must be 18 or older to purchase Texas Lottery tickets, However, you must be at least 21 to gamble at the Lucky Eagle Casino.
The DraftKings daily fantasy sports app is live in Texas and legal for those age 18 and older.
The FanDuel daily fantasy sports app is live in Texas and legal for those 18 and older.
You will need to wait until Texas approves legal sports betting before any bets on San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama can be placed.
Betting on the Dallas Cowboys to win the Super Bowl or NFC East is illegal in Texas.