Texas is one of the strictest states when it comes to gambling and its laws can cover a wide variety of activities. Under Texas law, (Penal Code §47.02) gambling is considered a criminal offense if someone:

Sports

Even if sports gambling is legalized in a limited way — if, for example, Lone Star Park's Bar and Book simulcast facility was allowed to take bets on sports in addition to horse racing — Texas. Texas would be the largest state to fully legalize fantasy sports betting, marking a win for the billion-dollar industry that has operated under murky legal status in much of the country.

  • 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
  • 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; or
  • plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, balls, or any other gambling device.
Sports

Texas Legalize Sports Gambling Losses

The law does provide for some exceptions such as participating in the state lotteryor placing bets on horse and greyhound dog races (sometimes referred to as pari-mutuel wagering). The law also provides for some affirmative defenses to prosecution:

  • the actor engaged in gambling in a private place;
  • no person received any economic benefit other than personal winnings; and
  • except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risks of losing and the chances of winning were the same for all participants
Texas Legalize Sports GamblingLegalize

Texas Legalize Sports Gambling Laws

Additional exceptions include if the person reasonably believed their conduct:

  • was permitted under Chapter 2001, Occupations Code; (Charitable Bingo)
  • was permitted under Chapter 2002, Occupations Code; (Charitable Raffles)
  • was permitted under Chapter 2004, Occupations Code; (Sports Charity Raffles)

Texas Legalize Sports Gambling Rules

Gambling

Texas Legalize Sports Gambling Betting

The first page of this guide will provide you with an overview of the Texas laws on gambling while the subsequent pages will discuss more specific topics like bingo, eight-liners and poker.