Texas Flag

Texas is one of the remaining US states with laws prohibiting online gambling. As a result, residents have limited real-money gambling options; two land-based casinos and three horse racing venues. While legislation to legalize more casinos and sports betting has been filed in 2023 in the Texas Legislature, there are currently no measures pending to make online casinos legal. In this guide, we’ll explain how Texas sweepstakes casinos offer the best online gambling experience in the state. 

Until the stance against online gambling in Texas changes, it’s unlikely that legal online casinos will be available soon. Even the options in most anti-gambling states, such as daily fantasy sports and online horse racing, are either banned or walking a legal tightrope. 

While many gamblers are betting at unregulated offshore online casinos, the only legal exception is sweepstakes casinos in Texas, where players can enjoy their favorite games and have a chance to win cash and prizes. These sites aren’t under the jurisdiction of any state gambling agency and are under the authority of US sweepstakes laws.  

Players can access and play at sweepstakes casinos online in Texas for free using the provider’s virtual currency. In addition, gold coin packages can be purchased, which include a bonus in sweeps coins that can be redeemed for cash using several safe withdrawal methods. 

How to Win Real Money at Texas Sweepstakes Casinos

Texas online sweepstakes games provide players with free sweeps coins as a bonus when they purchase gold coins. Gold coins have no cash value and can only be used to play for fun. However, when sweeps coins are redeemed for cash, players can transfer their winnings directly into their bank account.  

There is always a minimum amount of sweeps coins that can be redeemed when players request a payout. In addition, most providers offer several convenient methods to cash out their winnings, such as using online banking, eCheck, or Skrill to transfer the funds to the player’s account within a few days.

Texas Sweepstakes Casino Bonuses

Most popular online Texas sweepstakes casinos give new players a welcome bonus of free gold coins just to open an account. Ongoing customer promotions, such as daily log-in bonuses and free spins, are also standard among most providers. 

Sweepstakes casinos in Texas currently offer their customers promotions like: 

  • Sign Up Bonuses
  • No-deposit Bonuses
  • Daily Login Bonuses
  • Free Spins
  • Gold  Coin Purchase Offers
  • Social Media Bonus Offers
  • Loyalty or VIP Programs

Are sweepstakes casinos in Texas safe and legit?

For players at a sweepstakes casino online in Texas, it’s always good to know the most reputable sites. All providers must ensure their customers have a certain level of safety, the same as any legal online casino. They must also adhere to all US sweepstakes laws and promptly pay out when customers request to redeem their sweeps coins for real money.

All Texas sweepstakes casinos are required to follow the same model as any promotional sweepstakes provider to operate in the US. Secure online gaming and payment platforms must be available to ensure players are treated fairly and receive their payouts in a reasonable time frame when they win. Legal sweepstakes casinos also must use secure encryption technology to ensure customer info is safe.

How do I get paid if I win?

Texas online sweepstakes casinos offer various ways for players to redeem their sweeps coins for cash. Most offer several ways to transfer winnings to the player’s bank account, such as online banking or an electronic check. Sometimes withdrawals are also available using secure e-wallets like Skrill or PayPal.

Texas Sweepstakes Casinos Game Selection

Casino players can find various games at online sweepstakes casinos in Texas, which are very similar to those at real money casinos online and in person. The selection of games is typical of any online casino, with the main focus being slots. Other games are progressive slots, poker, blackjack, bingo, roulette, scratch-offs, sports betting, and other table games.

Best Sweepstakes Casinos in Texas

Those who want to try their luck at online Sweepstakes casinos in Texas will find many sites to play at, but only a handful are considered the best available in the state and are trusted and reliable providers. Some of the top sweepstakes casinos online in Texas are the following:

Real Money Online Casinos in Texas

The current Texas gambling laws prohibit real-money online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites from operating. Players can only enjoy casino games at one of the three land-based locations in the state. However, legislation has been brought before lawmakers in 2024, with the hope of adding more land-based casinos and legalizing sports betting at retail venues. 

Horse racing has been legal to wager in Texas since 1987, but there are no off-track betting sites within the state, and the activity remains illegal for residents. Texans can also play at poker rooms that charge a membership fee. However, these clubs are currently involved in a legal battle to argue the “economic benefits” of legal poker rooms, which could affect their future operation.  

There are currently no proposals for debate in the legislature to legalize Texas online betting sites. Because the state has consistently resisted any attempts to approve more casino providers, it’s more likely that online sports betting will be legalized first. The efforts to push through sports betting legislation are now being backed by various professional sports leagues and local Texas franchises like the Dallas Mavericks that want to see the activity legalized in the US’s second-biggest state by population.

Online Sports Betting in Texas

While there are more sports fans in Texas than in almost any other state, they can only wager on their favorite games by betting at unregulated offshore sportsbooks. Online gambling in Texas on sports remains illegal, with no indication that it will soon be available. However, many prominent public figures, such as Governor Rick Perry, favor legalized sports betting but have a tough road ahead. 

Texas residents have been very patient, as it’s been nearly two years since the last time legislators pushed for legalization. However, as Texans continue to cross the border into neighboring Louisiana and New Mexico to make legal sports wagers, legislators could feel more pressure to keep that revenue within the state. 

Several Texas professional sports franchises, including the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers, support the latest sports betting legislation. Of all the gambling proposals that have come before Texas lawmakers, none have ever made it past the committee stage and been put up for a vote. However, bettors in Texas can wager legally at Fliff sweepstakes sportsbook, where they can make all their favorite wagers and win real cash and prizes. 

Texas Online Poker

There are more than 50 poker rooms available for players in Texas. However, online poker rooms are still considered illegal gambling activity. Online poker players in the state often play at one of the many offshore providers, which are unregulated and sometimes unreliable when paying customers winnings.

Although online poker is legal in the states bordering Texas, lawmakers have yet to make any effort to propose any new legislation. As a result, poker players who prefer to play online may have to wait a long time to enjoy their favorite game. 

The laws governing poker in Texas are much different than in other states. As long as there’s still confusion about whether poker rooms are legal, Texans can’t expect online poker to be available until the current legal battle is settled.

Retail Casinos in Texas

The only place casino gambling is legal in Texas is at land-based casinos operated by local Native American tribes. The state government has been actively making efforts since 2002 to eliminate tribal casinos, and only two remain. 

Because Texas has no state gaming commission, one would need to be created to regulate any form of online gambling. For that reason, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) is the federal governing body that regulates the tribal casinos within the state.

These land-based casinos are currently in operation in Texas:

Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino

Eagle Pass, TX

The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas owns and operates this facility, which offers players slots and table games and has the only raked poker room in Texas.

Naskila Gaming

Livingston, TX

This casino is located northeast of the Houston metro area and has over 800 slot titles. The 30,000-square-foot facility also has two restaurants but no poker room. 

Responsible Gaming in Texas

Although there are few legal gaming choices for players in Texas, options for responsible gambling are available just as they are in states with more prominent gambling industries. There are many resources, such as the Texas chapter of  Gambler’s Anonymous, which has many programs available for residents with gambling issues. The National Council on Problem Gambling helpline is also open to anyone with compulsive gambling issues via online chat, phone, or text.

FAQs

Can I bet on the Houston Astros and Dallas Cowboys at sweepstakes sports betting sites in Texas?

Yes. Fliff Sportsbook is a sweepstakes gaming site that allows players to have legal online betting in Texas on major professional sports leagues. No purchase is necessary, and players can win real cash and prizes to withdraw to their bank account using several convenient methods. 

Is Fortune Coins Casino available in Texas?

Yes. Fortune Coins Casino is one of the leading sweepstakes casino sites in the state, offering players over 60 games to play where they can win cash prizes. The site’s primary focus is slots, but players can also enjoy several table games like video poker and keno. In addition, sweeps coins can be redeemed for cash using several banking methods to transfer funds directly to the player’s bank account.   

How do I get paid when I win at Texas’s sweepstakes casino sites?

Sweepstakes casinos in Texas have several ways for players to receive cash when they redeem sweeps coins. The most common method is using the online banking feature or electronic checks. However, players will sometimes find the option to cash out their winnings using popular e-wallets such as Skrill and PayPal, which don’t require bank approval.

Can I win real money at Texas sweepstakes casinos?

Yes. Anyone can play for free at Texas online betting sites that offer sweepstakes casinos. However, they can win real money by redeeming sweeps coins for cash using several methods. All sweeps coins must be played at least once, and players must have a minimum amount in their account before requesting to redeem them.

No. There are currently no legal and regulated online sportsbooks for Texas online betting. Because of its strict gambling laws and government resistance to any type of gaming, it isn’t likely that sports fans in the state will be able to bet on their favorite teams anytime soon. However, Fliff Sportsbook is available for bettors in Texas using the sweepstakes model where players can win real money by making the correct picks.