Is offshore sports betting legal in Texas? In this guide, I will provide an update for 2024 on Texas sports betting laws and where the state currently stands on gambling regulation and approval.
I personally have had a great experience with offshore sports betting sites, mainly Bovada.
While gambling is not technically legal in Texas, There have been no reports of people getting in trouble using offshore sports betting sites. I would estimate there are well over 100,000 Texans if not more using offshore sports betting sites like Bovada and others.
table with 3 offshore sportsbooks pros and cons, year established, bonus amount etc
Table with pros and cons click down etc and bonus links for 3 offshore sports betting sites
The amount of people using these sites and having no issue is definitely a peace of mind. What I was able to find is that gambling is punishable in Texas by up to a 500$ fine per offense, making it a minor offense, however there have not been any reports of Texas going after online sports gamblers that opt to use offshore sports betting sites, and the Texas law even has an allowed defense if the bets are placed in a private location. So if you’re in public and place a bet, it is probably illegal.
Texas Sports Betting FAQ
Are there any plans to legalize sports betting in the state of Texas?
In 2023 there was a bill to legalize sports betting in Texas that passed the house, however was stalled in the senate. The Texas legislative session is every 2 years and sports betting will likely be brought up again in 2025. 2025 is the earliest time that sports betting will be legal in Texas.
Are apps like Underdog and Fantasy good sportsbooks in Texas?
Apps like Underdog operate in a legal gray area just like offshore sports betting sites. Offshore sports betting sites offer a more complete sports betting experience with the ability to place moneyline bets, and all kinds of single bets such as player props without having to do multiple props at once. I recommend a site like bovada for a full sportsbook experience.
Sports Betting History in Texas
Sports betting has been largely not legal in Texas due to it being a viewed as a vice by the majority of Texans. Opinions may be changing , as one of the most recent polls showed 67% of Texans in favor of legalizing sports betting in the Lone Star state.
Offshore Sports Betting in Texas – How to Stay Safe
There are several sites available in Texas for offshore sports betting . to stay safe with your money sports betting, there are a few criteria that we use when ranking a sports betting site.