Federal laws have changed in the last few years. Residents and visitors are free to enjoy sports betting in Texas. Online legal sportsbooks are the only alternative so far. Land-based Texas sports betting sites do not exist yet. Legislators can create and regulate legal betting in Texas. Thanks to the overturn of PASPA in 2018. Until that happens, the best option for Texans to bet in the USA is an internationally-based US sportsbook. These sports betting sites USA sports betting sites have welcomed Texas residents since the beginning of the internet.
This page is designed for people who are confused about legal Texas sports betting sites. There are state and federal laws. As well as many shady gambling sites that aren’t legal Texas sportsbooks. This guide ensures you can make the right decision when it comes to a Texas sportsbook in USA. We include reviews of the best sportsbooks for US players.
Answering the question of whether sports betting in Texas is legal is a tad difficult. Nothing prevents Texas sports betting sites from opening. At least not from the federal side of things. The state has not moved forward with legal betting in Texas. There is nothing in the law books against betting online. But they still need to formalize the laws in general. Meanwhile, residents can place wagers with any offshore sports betting website. Legislators attempted to discuss legal Texas sportsbooks without success. They introduced two bills in 2019. One was a ballot initiative for residents to approve legislation for legal Texas sports betting sites.
This was TX HJR 61. It stayed in the committee without approval or recommendations. The other bill was more comprehensive. It would set an annual licensing and renewal fee ($25,000). And implemented a 6.25% tax on the legal betting in Texas handle. It would permit sports betting in Texas on professional and collegiate sports for those 21 and older. Any college or university representing Texas would be off of the betting boards.
This measure never went beyond the committee stage. Offshore online sportsbooks are based in foreign countries. State laws do not govern them like they would Texas sports betting sites. Many Texas residents prefer joining them because it is safer to bet with offshore online sportsbooks. Safer than businesses that are not legal Texas sportsbooks. Their home countries regulate these sites. They have no ties to any state law or federal law. That makes them 100% legal to use. As legal as if they were legal Texas sports betting sites.
The state has not arrested any residents for placing bets online. The state lacks the laws to charge residents with illegal gambling. There isn’t a single law stating it is illegal to use online sports betting services. Texas bettors must know offshore online sportsbooks do not have their offices in Texas. They have licenses from gambling jurisdictions away from Texas and the US. They cannot be said to violate Texas gambling laws. Or federal gambling laws. Texas sports betting laws, such as they are, target operators of online sportsbooks. Individual bettors have nothing to fear. Operators will find themselves in trouble if they try to operate a bookmaking business in the state. You will not be in trouble for placing the bets if you use an offshore betting site.
Texas legislature has tried to pass a law that allowing for legal sports betting. Unfortunately, they have not signed such bill. This does not mean there is no hope. All residents are able to wager on the Cowboys and Texans with the internet. International online sportsbooks are legal for residents to join. US law has no jurisdiction over businesses not in the country. These internet-based sports betting sites have licenses and meet regulations in their countries. They are legal and safe for Texans. For all your sports betting needs this football season, you can turn to the internet.
Let’s say you want to bet on the Dallas Cowboys. You have a lot of confidence in Dak Prescott. You think they’ll go all the way. May not have a chance to put your money where your mouth is in Texas. But there are many safe, legal, licensed, regulated, and reputable online bookmakers. They are willing to take bets from Texas residents. We took the trouble of researching several Texas offshore online sportsbooks. We have identified the best, safest, and top-rated online sports betting websites.