Texas Sports Gambling Online & the Law – Is It Legal?

Despite a large number of professional and college teams in Texas, it is still a remaining state where sports betting is not legal.

Best choice for Texas sports gambling

To most Texas sports gambling fans disdain, Texas lawmakers missed the May deadline for the current legislative session.

Many sports fans were hopeful that this legislative session would end with Texas sports gambling legalized in the state, but it did not come to fruition.

We must wait two more years to learn any new updates concerning sport betting in Texas.

Is Texas Sports Gambling Legal?

 Unfortunately, Texas sports gambling is not legal. The state lawmakers had the opportunity to bring sports gambling to the state during the legislative session of 2021. 

Just because the discussion is tabled until 2023 does not mean it will become legal then.

Texas has very conservative legislature relating to gambling. Not to mention, there is discussion that certain parts of the Texas constitution would need to be amended in order to allow it.

In other words, things aren’t particularly hopeful on the Texas sports gambling front in the state.

Why Is Sports Gambling Not Legalized in Texas Yet?

Because of how lucrative sports betting would be for the Texas market, one of the key questions to uncover is why sports gambling is so difficult to legalize in Texas.

The most obvious answer is because of how conservative the lawmakers are, especially where gambling is concerned.

Even if lawmakers were in favor of sports gambling, sports gambling legislator is still difficult to push in the state, though.

Whenever Texas was admitted into the union, its state’s constitution clearly prohibited many types of gambling, including casinos, card games, and sports betting.

 This step makes it a bit more difficult to legalize in the state than it would elsewhere in the nation. 

Looking to the Future of Sports Gambling in Texas

Difficulty aside, sports betting will be legalized in the state at one point or another. Texas sports gambling can bring a big revenue to the state.

Although Texas is not necessarily in as much need as other states for additional revenue, no state would turn down additional money.

More importantly, there have been a few bills pass through the state legislator, and they have been there for some time.

These bills show that different lawmakers are interested in bringing sports gambling to Texas, even though the majority are still against it.

Some Texas Representatives Are Speaking Out in Favor of Texas Online Sports Betting

Representative Eddie Lucio III is just one example of a lawmaker actively trying to bring sports gambling to the state.

In 2019, he introduced HB 1275, which was a 15-paged bill that detailed future betting regulations. He even proposed House Joint Resolution 61 the same year. This resolution enabled a referendum so to amend the state’s constitution.

Other high-powered people within the state are in favor of legalizing sports betting too.

Not to mention, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has also supported the idea of Texas sports betting in the future, though he states there are things that need to be worked out before he gives his full support.

Even though there are some people in favor of sports betting in Texas, the state still has a long way to go.

The majority of lawmakers are opposed to legalizing Texas sports gambling. Governor Dan Patrick, for example, is highly against legalization. Amending the constitution is another hurdle in the way.

When, Not If

Still, more people openly supporting Texas sports gambling shows that the future is hopeful.

It doesn’t hurt that some of these supporters are lawmakers.

 So, the question is not if Texas will legalize sports gambling. Instead, the real question is when Texas will legalize it. 

Texas Sports Betting Legislator Updates

Year	Event
2018	PASPA overturned by the Supreme Court
2019	HB 1275 introduced by Eddie Lucio III
2019	Eddie Lucio III introduced House Joint Resolution 61 to enable state constitution amendment
2021	Texas professional sports team start a coalition to support sports betting in the state
May 31, 2021	Legislative session ended with legalizing sports betting

How Can I Bet on Sports in Texas?

Even though sports betting is not legalized in Texas, there are ways that you can place bets on your favorite Texas teams.

Offshore sports betting sites have been allowing American residents to bet on sports for the last decade, though it is not technically legal in the Lone Star State.

Risks

Before you immediately search for offshores sportsbooks, you do need to know that there are risks involved.

Most importantly, offshore sportsbooks show warning that they are not legally obligated to pay out your account balances or winnings.

They don’t come with the best digital security either. This can put your personal information at risk of being hacked and stolen.

Something else that is not as important as security but certainly is something you should consider is the quality of the odds.

Many offshore odds are not as accurate as onshore ones.

For this reason, it can skew the likelihood of you placing a well-informed bet.

Not to mention, you need to keep in mind that offshore sports betting operators are not legal or licensed for operation in the state.

Is the Risk Worth It?

 The risks associated with offshore sportsbooks make it imperative to select sites that are reputable and safe. 

There are a few offshore sites that are safer than others. So long as you select a reputable site, the risk very well may be worth it.

Offshore sportsbooks

Here are a few offshore sites that are popular among Texas residents and other people who live in states where sports betting is not legal.

Bovada

Bovada has long been one of the most popular offshore sportsbooks. Located in Quebec, it offers a variety of sports betting options with an updated interface and great digital security.

From just about every perspective, Bovada is the leading offshores sports betting site.

All most popular Texas sports are offered on the Bovada sports site. This includes professional football, basketball, baseball, and hockey.

 In terms of cybersecurity, Bovada is one of the best. 

In 2017, the site gained an A+ rating at SPR. They also have fast payouts and really great customer service.

This makes Bovada a great choice if you are a bit skeptical when using offshores sites.

Visit and Bet at BovadaVisit and Bet at Bovada

MyBookie

MyBookie offers many betting options that are customizable.

You can bet on your computer, tablet, or phone. All of their interfaces are up to date and optimized with the most recent technology, making MyBookie easy to download and place bets on.

 Just about every sport you can think of is available on MyBookie sportsbook, including professional basketball, football, and baseball. 

Other sports like hockey, soccer, tennis, golf, horseracing, and cricket are also available.

MyBookie accepts Visa, MasterCard, ACH, phone transfer, bank wire transfer, person-to-person transaction, and Bitcoin for deposit.

Visit and Bet at MyBookieVisit and Bet at MyBookie

BetOnline

BetOnline is not as popular as Bovada or MyBookie, but it is still a great site.

It’s especially known for having a lot of options and easy depositing services.

It is also a completely reliable sportsbook that will offer great customer service and payouts.

The BetOnline.ag sportsbook has quite a few betting options.

The betting interface is a little outdated, but it is not terrible.

 One thing that is beneficial about BetOnline is that it has more deposit methods than other offshore sites. 

It accepts a variety of deposit methods, including Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Discover, Bitcoin, and many more.

They also payout with multiple options, and their site is reliable and safe.

Visit and Bet at BetOnlineVisit and Bet at BetOnline

Sportsbetting

Sportsbetting is pretty unknown, which is a bit shocking given its inclusive offers and options.

There are quite a few sports you can bet on, and all of the most popular bets are offered as well. Straight bets, moneylines, totals, and parlays are all offered.

As for sports, just about every sport you can think of is available on Sportsbetting. Some of the most popular include baseball, football, basketball, soccer, tennis, and E-sports.

There are less popular sports offered as well.

You can deposit with Visa, MasterCard, and other E-currencies. Withdrawal options are primarily through E-currencies or checks.

 Almost all customers note that payout is quick and reliable. Sportsbetting also has 24/7 customer support for added convenience. 

Visit and Bet at SportsbettingVisit and Bet at Sportsbetting

Xbet

If there is one offshores site you haven’t heard of, it’s Xbet. Xbet is not necessarily the best offshores site, but it does offer quite a few sports and E-sports to choose from.

Its biggest downside is user interface options, but it is safe and reliable.

Xbet sportsbook offers quite a few sports to choose from.

This includes football, basketball, baseball, horse racing, and more.

You can deposit with Visa, MasterCard, ACH, Bitcoin, and other similar transaction options.

For withdrawal, you can only withdraw using wire transfer, Bitcoin, or MoneyGram. This is very limited, but it is reliable, and they do offer quite a few signup bonuses.

Visit and Bet at XbetVisit and Bet at Xbet

Texas Sports Teams to Wager On

Professional Teams

Texas is home to a number of professional sports teams.

There is at least one professional team in every North American professional league in the state.

This includes basketball, baseball, football, and hockey.

Here are professional sports teams based in Texas:

• Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
• San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
• Houston Rockets (NBA)
• Houston Astros (MLB)
• Texas Rangers (MLB)
• Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
• Houston Texans (NFL)
• Dallas Stars (NHL)

Some of these Texas professional teams are some of the most loved in the nation.

College Teams

Texas is not just home to professional teams. Many college sports teams call the Lone Star State their home.

In fact, college sports have a huge cultural impact on the state. In Texas alone, there are 12 Division One colleges.

Some of the most popular include Texas A;M, Texas Tech, and Texas State University.

Other Popular Sports in Texas

Of course, Texas residents don’t just have to bet on Texas teams.

Whenever Texas sports gambling is legalized, nearly all sports will be on the table, including European football, NASCAR, tennis, golf, and MMA.

Here are some other sports that are popular on betting sites:

• Darts
• Rugby
• NASCAR
• Tennis
• MMA
• UFC
• Golf
• Many more!

Sites to Keep An Eye Out For in The Future

At the moment, no onshore sportsbooks are legalized within the state of Texas.

However, there are a few sportsbooks that you might want to keep an eye on, especially as Texas begins to put out new legislature legalizing sports gambling.

• DraftKings: DraftKings started as a fantasy sports site, but they have transformed into a comprehensive sports site. You can place bets on just about any sport, including fantasy sports. Not to mention, their customer support and user interface are top-notch.
• BetMGM: BetMGM is more than just a casino line. They now offer online sports gambling. Much like DraftKings, BetMGM offers great user interface and outstanding odds.
• FanDuel: Even though FanDuel is less known than these other two sportsbooks giants, it is a great choice. It came about as a fantasy sports site, but it now offers sports betting in a high-quality format.

 Of course, there is a high chance that there will be new players on the scene by the time sports betting is legalized in Texas. Definitely keep an eye out for new players as well! 

Final Thoughts

• At the end of the day, sports betting is not legal in Texas.
• Even more depressing to sports bettors is the fact that it won’t be legalized anytime in the near future.
• Texas fans have to wait until 2023 at the earliest.

Until then, keep your eyes peeled about new legislature and enjoy Texas sports gambling on safe offshores sportsbooks instead.

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