Legal Poker For Texas Residents
Texas is one of the worst US states for poker enthusiasts. Although home poker games are legal in Texas, the state has only one licensed live poker room. Besides, the state has not yet regulated online poker so if you're looking to play poker somewhere with the Texas seal of approval, you're going to be waiting a while.
We have provided some pertinent information regarding Texas poker laws and playing poker in Texas on this page. We have also shared expert opinions on whether it is legal for residents to play real money poker at offshore online poker sites. This page also has a list of safe and licensed Texas friendly online poker sites.
Texas Poker Laws & Statutes
Texas, a US state that is not at very friendly towards poker (despite the most popular game being called Texas Hold'em), has a set of gambling laws, which it does not hesitate to use against any individual or company that tries to run illegal gambling businesses like poker rooms in its jurisdiction. Section 47.01 (1) of Texas law contains a definition of the word “bet,” according to which betting is an agreement made between two parties to either win or lose something valuable on outcomes of games or events of chance. Section 47.02 also gives a detailed explanation of what constitutes gambling, and it can thus be deduced that it is illegal for Texas residents to place bets on games or events with any gambling business until and unless the state has licensed and approved of that business.
The state has separate illegal gambling penalties for players as well as operators of illegal games. Texas has also reported a high rate of gambling-related arrests, owing to which players and operators need to make doubly sure that they are not violating the state’s laws. Illegal gambling for players is just a misdemeanor, but for operators, it is a much more serious offence.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in Texas?
The state of Texas says that it does not condone the act of playing poker games online for money. But, the state has no laws clearly prohibiting its residents from signing up for real money gambling activities at offshore online poker rooms. Texas itself does not have any licensed online poker sites, but there are plenty of offshore online poker rooms that accept Texas players and allow them to play their favorite poker games for real money.
It can be argued that the existing gambling laws of Texas can be applied to online poker too. However, the existing laws are directed at operators of illegal gambling outfits, and not players. Texas poker players therefore need not worry about getting penalized for playing real money poker online. It is perfectly safe for them to sign up at any of the offshore online poker rooms we have recommended on this page.
Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker Texas?
You will not get into trouble for playing online poker for real money at offshore online poker sites. The state of Texas lacks the required regulatory framework and legislation to authorize and license online gambling companies to launch online poker products in its jurisdiction. For this reason, Texas players will not find any online poker room operating in Texas, but there are plenty of offshore online poker rooms willing to accept Texas players and it isn’t against the law for Texas residents to play real money poker at these online poker rooms. Texas just does not have any online poker law, which it can use against its residents.
However, operators of illegal online poker outfits in Texas will definitely get into trouble. Since the state does not license any gambling company to run online poker sites, it will not hesitate to crack down upon any illegal online poker business in its jurisdiction. Since offshore online poker rooms, which are licensed in gambling jurisdictions far away, are not based in Texas, it is safe and legal for Texas residents to play real money poker online at these online poker facilities.
Legal Poker Sites That Accept Texas Players
With the name “Texas” in one of the most popular versions of poker, it’s no wonder that people from the lone star state have a vested interest in playing the game. As difficult as finding a legal and safe poker site may be, indexed below are several good options for Texas residents when they want to mosey up to a poker table from the comfort of their own home.
Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For Texas
Folks from Texas learn to always start with the best, and when it comes to legal poker sites, that means Bovada. Bovada is not only the foremost in quality when it comes to serving the state of Texas for all their online poker and casino needs, they are the foremost in experience. They have been serving US citizens for more than 20 years and have been open to Texas residents for the entire time. When signing up, no one need worry about dealing with a service that doesn’t understand the particular needs, of US citizens, they just need to worry about having a good time.
To showcase what makes Bovada's poker room one of the best run poker sites on the web, just look at their tournaments page. This legal poker room for Texas residents has a tournament for every taste. Whether the goal is to win a lot of money in a high stakes, high buy in tournament, to blaze through a smaller stakes tournament in a matter of minutes or anything in between, they offer it all. In addition to tournament play, players are free to sit in at any number of virtual tables with various action on the blinds where you can win money by the hand in real time.
BetOnline Poker - All Texas Players 18+ Welcome Here
If a Texas poker player keeps testing the market, they may very well stumble upon one of the most rapidly developing online poker rooms available to Texas residents right now in BetOnline. BetOnline is a sleek, good looking poker site that believes in one simple principle: the player should have the power. With an account here, poker can be played any way under the sun and even a few ways the sun has never seen. It’s all in the player’s control, and the winnings are all real.
As if that wasn’t incentive enough, when a new account with this legal poker site for Texas residents is fueled with cash for the first time, it’s eligible to receive a full 200% of the initial deposit back all the way up to $2,000 just by staying active, which is probably why the account was created in the first place. Check with the BetOnline poker promotion page for all the details, and do it fast, this insane deal could end at any time.
| Legal Texas Poker Sites | Welcome Bonus | What To Play | Site Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up | $1,000 FREE - 100% Match | Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo |  |
| BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up | Maximum $1K: 200% Rate | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| SportsBetting Play / Sign Up | 200% Match / $1,000 Max | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| 5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up | Vary Weekly - Check Website | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo |  |
Does Texas Have Legal Land-Based Poker?
Playing real money poker is legal in Texas as long as residents do it in state-licensed facilities. On the downside, Texas does not have many licensed gambling facilities for its poker-loving residents. The only place in Texas where players can legally play poker games for real money is Lucky Eagle Casino, which is run by the Kickapoo Indian community. The operators say that they run the only licensed live poker room in Texas.
Home poker games are permitted as long as the organizers of private games do not accept a commission. However, the state has a number of terms and conditions for the organization of home poker games. Players will not find any charity poker tournaments in Texas because running poker tournaments to raise funds for charity is against the state’s laws.
Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For Texas Players
As previously mentioned, the only legal and licensed place for Texas residents to play live poker games for real money is the Kickapoo Luck Eagle Casino, which runs a wide range of poker cash games and tournaments. Players can also organize and take part in private poker games as long as they take care to see that nobody makes a profit from the games.
If players really want to experience the joys of playing poker, they must register for real money play at offshore online poker rooms, such as the ones we have mentioned on this page. Texas residents can rest assured that the offshore online poker rooms we recommend are all licensed and regulated. They welcome players with grand new player bonuses and run qualifier satellites to lucrative live poker events.
Future of Poker/Online Poker in Texas
Online poker has no future in Texas because a number of organizations are against online poker legalization. Although there are a few supporters for online poker legalization in Texas, their voice is too weak to be heard. Since there is hardly any public support for online poker and since lawmakers are least bothered about proposing online poker bills, one cannot expect Texas to legalize online poker in the near future. The only option for Texas players is to sign up at offshore online poker rooms.
