I remember in the late 1990s and early to mid-2000s, I used to play poker at a lot of the underground poker rooms in Dallas. Many of them had been in business for years. At some point, though, they started getting raided by the cops.
Are online slot machines legal in Texas? Due to my health and casinos being closed I don’t feel safe going to a casino even if they were open, but I also have a desire to play slots again. Any help would be. There is no general prohibition against game rooms in Texas, so long as they do not have illegal gambling devices as defined in Section 47.01(4) of the Penal Code. Gambling starved East Texas now has Class II slot machines and a new place to play them. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas has re-purposed a special events center lodge on their reservation near.
This continued until all the places I knew about had been closed. I vaguely understood that there were underground casinos in Dallas, too, but I didn’t play at any of them. I know that many bars and gas stations had the equivalent of slot machines – in Texas, they’re called 8-liners.
At one time, most of the mid-sized cities had even opened up so-called “game rooms” featuring these 8-liners. Most of them are now closed, too. The only one I ever played in with any regularity was in Farmersville.
It was fun, but you couldn’t win real cash there. You could only cash in points for merchandise, most of which looked like it had been bought on sale at Dollar General. I remember gardening tools and a 6-pack of canned corn.
And it made me wonder why the Texas gambling scene doesn’t have real casinos.
In this post, I’m going to delve into that subject a little more.
Texas Has Strict Gambling Laws
The main reason Texas doesn’t have casinos is because casino gambling – all types of casino gambling – are illegal in the state of Texas. In fact, Texas has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country.
This all stems from Penal Code 47.01, which is the statute making gambling illegal throughout the state.
The only exceptions are bets on dog and horse racing.
Not only that, but the law specifically enumerates which gambling activities are illegal in the state.
Which Types of Gambling Are Illegal in Texas?
If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you already know that gambling has any number of subcategories. The state of Texas agrees. After all, they’ve enumerated and listed the specific types of gambling which are illegal throughout the state.
The first kind of gambling that’s illegal in Texas is the casino game. Any kind of game played in a casino is illegal in Texas, and this includes real money blackjack, craps, roulette, slots, and video poker. This also applies to online gambling, although I’ve never heard of anyone getting in trouble for playing online casino games.
The only exception is if you’re on Native American land. I’ll have more to say about this later in the post. Stay tuned.
Sports betting is also illegal, with the exceptions of betting at the dog track or the horse track. Betting on sports is punishable by a $500 misdemeanor fine. It applies to online as well as in-person or over-the-phone betting.
This didn’t seem to slow down any of the bettors at my local bar who placed wagers with their local bookie.
Texas also has laws related to so-called social gambling. This is how Texas categorizes bingo games or charitable raffles.
These activities are legal when operated for the benefit of charities in the state. Otherwise, they’re illegal.
Strictly speaking, it’s even illegal to play in a friendly home poker game.
What About the Lucky Eagle Casino?
If you’ve heard of a Texas casino called the Lucky Eagle Casino, then you’ve found one of the rare exceptions to the statement that there are no casinos in Texas.
The Lucky Eagle Casino is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., and they stay open until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday night.
They have over 1200 slot machine games, but they also offer table games including blackjack, craps, roulette, and even keno. They have over 55,000 square feet of casino space with both smoking and non-smoking sections.
Is Slot Machine Gambling Legal In Texas State
I saw no mention of baccarat on their site, but I suspect baccarat isn’t a big draw in Texas.
Lucky Eagle also hosts bingo games in their event center except on Friday and Saturday night.
The keno lounge offers multiple keno games, including speed keno and 50 cent keno.
Why is the Lucky Eagle Casino allowed to operate in Texas?
They’re a Native American casino, owned by the Chehalis Tribe, which has a compact with the state government allowing them to operate.
What About Naskila Gaming?
Naskila Gaming is another notable exception to the “no casinos in Texas” generality. It’s another example of a Native American casino. They’re owned by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe.
They’re located on the Indian reservation near Livingston, Texas, and they’re open 24/7.
They only offer Class II slot machines, and they have about 800 games to choose from.
Naskila Gaming also has multiple restaurants onsite, including a Nathan’s Hot Dogs and a Mexican café. They even have a grill serving traditional American fare.
There’s some controversy related to whether they’ll be able to continue operating in Texas. If you visit their website, you’ll see notices asking their patrons to support HR 759 to keep them open.
HR 759 intends to clarify that Naskila Gaming IS acting legally because they’re on tribal land.
Texas has three Native American tribes that are legally recognize by the federal government. The Kickapoo Tribe is the only one currently allowed to offer Class II gaming.
HR 759 aims to correct that inequity. And, just to be clear, it doesn’t make it legal for Naskila Gaming to offer blackjack, craps, or roulette. They must stick with the electronic bingo gambling machines.
The legislation also authorizes the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe to offer gaming on their reservation.
What About Casino Cruises?
One way casino companies circumvent casino gambling laws is to offer casino gambling on cruise ships. These ships generally go out far enough in the water to get outside the jurisdiction of the state where they’re docked. Several casino cruises are available from Texas ports.
These include Carnival Valor Casino, Carnival Breeze Casino, Carnival Freedom Casino, and Jacks or Better Casino.
The last time I went on a casino cruise, I played Texas holdem the entire time.
It’s common knowledge among those in the know that the slot machine payback percentages on casino cruises are lousy.
Where Else Can You Gamble in Texas?
You’re legally allowed to bet on dog racing and horse racing in Texas. You must do so from the site itself, though. You have the following tracks to choose from:
- Gulf Greyhound Park
- Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie
- Sam Houston Race Park
- Valley Race Park
Of these, the only one I’ve visited was Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. They have no casino facilities, but there’s enough horse betting action here to keep even the most avid action junkie entertained for hours (or days).
Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie
Admission to Lone Star Park is only $5, and the gates open at 5 p.m. The first race is run at 6:05 p.m.
They offer stakes races where they’ll either add money to the prize pool or they’ll have a minimum guaranteed prize pool.
Like a casino, Lone Star Park has a rewards program. It’s comparable to a slot machine players’ club at a casino.
You earn a point for every dollar you wager, but you also get additional points by placing wagers with the self-serve facilities. You also get two bonus points per dollar by betting on Lone Star Park and Remington Park races.
When you spend money at the concessions stand or in the gift shop, you get a point for every dollar you spend. You can redeem these points later.
They have a variety of rewards available, but you can get an idea of what the points are worth by looking at the vouchers and food and beverage credits.
You can cash in 10,000 points to get a $10 food and beverage credit.
You can also cash in 20,000 points to get a $20 mutuel voucher. The ratio is the same for $50 and $100 vouchers, which would require 50,000 points and 100,000 points each.
I should point out that only a handful of gambling activities — including blackjack, poker, and sports betting — offer the opportunity to get a mathematical edge. Betting on horses – if you’re good at it – also offers that opportunity.
Conclusion
I’m not sure who said there are no casinos in Texas. There are at least two, and more depending on whether you count the racetracks and cruises.
You also have any number of businesses offering the equivalent of slot machine games called 8-liners.
I think the state government should go ahead and legalize and regulate gambling throughout the state. Right now, they’re just leaving all that revenue on the table.
If you are looking for the best Texas online casinos for real money games, then you’ve come to the right place. With online gambling becoming increasingly popular, Texas residents are eager to find a trustworthy casino to play at.
We’ve compiled a list of the best real money online casinos and gambling sites for Texas, so you don’t have to waste time looking for a place to play casino games online. Below is our list of the top recommendations for Texas residents. These sites and apps are some of the most user friendly and safest online casinos that we have found for Texas.
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For more information about TX casino websites, you can refer to the rest of this page as your go-to guide.
What Makes These the Best Online Casinos in Texas?
We promise that we don’t just pick these sites at random. Actually, we spent hours testing and researching dozens of sites in order to find the ones that meet our high standards. Here are some of the criteria a site must meet to be considered one of the best Texas online casinos.
Safe and Secure Online Gambling Experience
These real money online casinos all make your safety a top priority. Sites should offer a full-time security team, an up-to-date SSL site encryption, a third-party company to hold them accountable, solid relationships with banking establishments, and a proven track record of keeping their players safe.
If a site fails to have the necessary tools in place to fully protect their players, then they will automatically be taken off our list of recommendations. We hold the safety and security of players in high regard. We want you to be able to have peace of mind knowing that both your funds and your personal information are protected.
Feedback from Texas Gamblers
One of the first things we did while searching for the best real money online casinos accepting Texas players was to check out those casinos’ user reviews.
After spending several hours scouring different review sites, we discovered there was predominantly positive feedback. Users seem to enjoy themselves while playing at these Texas gambling sites, and most importantly, they feel safe there.
Diversity of Available Casino Games
We dedicate a massive chunk of time to playing the online casino games offered at the Texas online gambling sites we visit. Not only are we checking the quality of the games we play, but we’re also looking to see how diverse their game selection is.
Do the best TX online casinos offer poker? Do they have a wide variety of slot games? Do they offer ample ways to win money? These are just a few of the questions we ask ourselves while analyzing the casino’s value at hand. The more types of games we see offered at a casino, the more confident we become that they’ll have something for every player that comes their way.
Banking Methods Offered
Obviously, your money matters. That’s why we pay close attention to what banking methods are available at the best online casinos in Texas.
We also check to see how long it takes for both deposits and withdrawals or any additional fees or limits enforced by the casino. We take all of this and more into consideration when determining which sites we’ll recommend.
Top-Notch Customer Service Team
Another thing we are looking for from the best online casinos accepting TX players is a high-quality customer service team. We ask various customer service reps several different questions to see how kind and knowledgeable their staff is.
We also note how their staff can be contacted, the amount of time it takes to get a response, and whether or not they can be reached 24/7. We only recommend sites that go above and beyond in these areas.
The Legality of Online Gambling in Texas
At this point, you are probably wondering about Texas online casino laws. Here is everything we know.
In 2006, when the United States passed the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act), many sites closed their doors to American players. Through this legal document, the USA made it illegal to “knowingly accept payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet.”
As a result, Texas created its own laws on the subject. Texas Penal Code 47.02 states that a person is at fault when he or she knowingly “plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, balls, or any other gambling device.” Since real money online gambling in Texas would fall under this description, it is technically illegal.
However, there are still plenty of opportunities to participate in Texas casino gambling online. While there aren’t any US online casinos that accept Texas players, there are casinos in Costa Rica and other parts of the world that will take Texas players with open arms.
What Are the Penalties for Gambling Online in Texas?
Again, according to Texas Penal Code 47.02, participating in Texas online gambling would be considered a Class C misdemeanor, and it could cost you up to $500 in fines.
If you have any concerns about the legality of online casinos in Texas, then we recommend you reach out to a legal professional who is more educated on the subject and who will be able to answer your questions about TX online gambling more thoroughly.
Real Money Casino Apps for Texas Residents
If you love playing at online casinos on the go, you should definitely consider checking out real money USA casino apps. We love playing our favorite casino games on our phones. It gives us the flexibility to enjoy them anywhere we go!
If we’re stuck in traffic, waiting in line at the DMV, or on break at work, you’ll probably find us playing poker or our favorite slot game right on a mobile device. Texas gambling apps online give us the flexibility to make mundane activities more exciting. Plus, they give us the chance to earn some extra cash!
Despite our enthusiasm for real money Texas gambling apps, we always feel obligated to mention something to our readers when we are on this topic. As with other online casino apps, Texas gambling apps may not offer the same number of games as their desktop counterpart. This is simply a result of compatibility issues.
Luckily, as technology advances, we run into this issue less and less. Expect to find most of the games you want to play offered on TX casino apps, but not all.
Online Sports Betting in Texas
Many TX gambling sites offer online sports betting. You’ll have the opportunity to place real money wagers on baseball, basketball, boxing, football, golf, hockey, and just about any other sport you can think of. Yes, even esports doesn’t get left out.
Types of bets you might find offered at TX sports gambling sites include:
- straight bets
- total line bets
- money line bets
- parlay bets
- teaser bets
- head-to-head bets
Why Should I Play at Texas Online Casinos With Sportsbooks?
Betting with money on your favorite teams can make watching your favorite sporting events even more exciting, as you’ll have the chance to earn some extra cash! Plus, most online casino sites with sports gambling allow you to place your first bet for free, so there’s no risk involved.
Land Based Casinos in Texas
Like many other states, US brick and mortar casinos are illegal in the state of Texas; the only exception to this rule are casinos built on Native American reservations. Casinos owned and operated by Native Americans don’t have to follow Texas casino laws, so they are 100% legal. There are only two brick and mortar casinos in Texas at this time.
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino
- Website: www.luckyeagletexas.com
- Address: 794 Lucky Eagle Dr, Eagle Pass, TX 78852
- Phone #: (830) 773-2255
- Number of games: Over 3300
This is the oldest casino in Texas, as it opened its doors in 1996. While there are no table games offered here, they do have just about any slot game you can think of. Stay at any of their 249 high-quality rooms and indulge at any of their four gourmet restaurants for a wonderful experience.
Naskila Gaming
- Website: www.naskila.com
- Address: 540 State Park Rd 56, Livingston, TX 77351
- Phone #: (936) 563-2946
- Number of games: 793
Naskila is a newer casino, having only been around since 2016. They have a mix of slot games and video poker games to choose from. Members will enjoy a private lounge and three fine-dining restaurants. There are no hotel rooms connected to this casino at this time.
In addition to these casinos, Texas also has several racetracks and bingo halls growing in popularity. We’ll make sure to update this section as land-based gambling in Texas hopefully expands in the years to come.
TX Online Casinos FAQ
Is Slot Machine Gambling Legel In Texas Roadhouse
How Can I Have A Safe Experience While Gambling Online in Texas For Money?
Since we have already researched where to play casino games online in Texas and have selected ones that offer a safe and secure environment, sticking with our list of recommendations is the most important thing you can do.
Here are other things you can do to ensure your safety at real money Texas online casinos:
- Use a unique password and change it regularly (every couple of months or so should be sufficient).
- Refrain from logging onto your Texas online casinos from a public computer.
- Choose high-quality antivirus software to put on your computer and update it as needed.
- Avoid gambling online with more funds than you can afford to lose.
How Can I Make A Deposit/ Withdrawal at Texas Online Casinos?
All real money online casinos have slightly different banking options. Most online casinos accept major debit/credit card companies like Discover, Mastercard, and Visa. eWallets like Neteller, Paypal, and Skrill are also commonly accepted. Some sites even allow you to use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin. Which method you choose is entirely up to you!
You’ll have to enter your payment method and answer a few security questions to place your deposit or withdrawal. Depending on what banking option you choose, your request could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to process.
What Casino Games Are Available at the Best Texas Online Casinos?
When it comes to playing at real money Texas online gambling sites, there is a wide selection of games to choose from:
- Table games
- Keno and bingo
- Slot machines
- Sports betting
- Scratch-offs
Almost all real money Texas casinos online can be played on a mobile device. This wasn’t the case ten years ago, but it is the case today. Thanks to breakthroughs in technology, more and more online casinos are mobile compatible. While some casinos have a dedicated app, others can only be accessed through your device’s web browser.
At What Age Can I Play at Real Money Texas Casino Sites?
Most United States gambling apps and casinos won’t let you create an account on their site unless you’re 21 or older. They ask for your ID as part of the withdrawal process, so there’s no way to get around this rule, either. Waiting until you’re old enough can be frustrating, but it will be worth it.
What Should I Do If a Texas Online Casino Site Tries to Rip Me Off?
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do here. Since online gambling is an unregulated market in America, there’s no one local to report these discrepancies too. That’s why we cannot stress enough how important it is to stick to our list of recommended casinos, as these casinos are safe and trustworthy.