Texas Gambling Laws & Online Poker in Texas

Texas still doesn’t have any online poker legislation in place.  However, changes have been discussed and there could be something developed within a couple of years.

Type/Code Summary
State Code Section(s) PEN.10.47; CIV.6
Definition of Gambling A person commits an offense if he makes a bet on the partial or final result of a game or contest or on the performance of a participant in a game or contest; makes a bet on the result of any political nomination, appointment, or election or on the degree of success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate; or plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, balls, or any other gambling device.
Definition of Gambling Device Any electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance that for a consideration affords the player an opportunity to obtain anything of value, the award of which is determined solely or partially by chance, even though accompanied by some skill, whether or not the prize is automatically paid by the contrivance. The term includes, but is not limited to, gambling device versions of bingo, keno, blackjack, lottery, roulette, video poker, or similar electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical games, or facsimiles thereof.
Definition of Bet An agreement to win or lose something of value solely or partially by chance.
Online Poker/Gambling There have been no proposals in the state legislature that would legalize online poker or internet gaming of any kind.
Live Poker The live poker offered at cardrooms in major cities in Texas advertise as membership club. No rake is taken from the poker games, though there are fees to enter or belong to the clubs. So far, there have been no court decisions that have closed these poker rooms.
Casinos There are no casinos in Texas, though cardrooms exist as entertainment venues.
Sports Betting HR1275 and HJR 61 would regulate Texas sports betting.
DFS A proposal to legalize daily fantasy sports was proposed in 2017, but died in committee.
Other Forms of Gambling Horse and greyhound racing, on-track pari-mutuel betting, lottery, social gambling, bingo and charitable gambling, contests of skill.

Can Players from Texas Play Online Poker?

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