Legal Gambling Age In Texas
- Bingo (1982), Horse racing (1987), Lottery (1991), Kickapoo Casino (1996)
- $1.2 billion
- $4.6 billion
- 18 for lottery and bingo, 21 for racing and Kickapoo Casino
- Texas does not have a statewide smoking ban
- Horse racing is the only form of legal online gambling
Each state regulates its own minimum age for gambling. Some states have two legal gambling ages, commonly 18 in some casinos, 21 in others. Each state regulates its own minimum age for gambling. Some states have two legal gambling ages, commonly 18 in some casinos, 21 in others. The Legal Gambling Age in Texas is 21 for casino gaming and other forms of online gambling. Lottery players only need be 18. Those who are at least twenty-one years of age or older can freely participate in Legal Gamblingover the Internet. Legal Gambling Age In The United States. There are legal ways in which players in the United States are able to gamble online without having to worry about breaking online gambling laws. However, there is one facet of the law that is not flexible across the country in all phases of online gambling. That would be the legal gambling age for players.
Texas casinos and gambling is not very common within its borders. The same cannot be said about its neighbors. Every state that borders Texas offers casinos. Oklahoma stacks casinos along its border with Texas. Lake Charles, Louisiana is just east of the Texas state line. There are also casinos just across the New Mexico border.
Texas has one tribal casino. It is located near the Mexico border on the Kickapoo reservation. The games available are slots, video poker, bingo, electronic table games, and live poker. The only forms of legalized gambling permitted off that reservation are a state lottery, charitable bingo and horse racing, which includes live and off-track betting.
Paying Gambling Taxes in Texas
OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying taxes on your gambling winnings. Learn everything about reporting your gambling taxes straight from a Certified Public Accountant in our exclusive Gambling Taxes article.
Texas Casinos Map & Guide
- Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino
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Types of Online Texas Gambling Allowed
The only form of online gambling that is legal in Texas is off-track betting on horses. Apps like TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica accept Texans.
Daily fantasy sports sites accept Texans. This goes against the public declaration by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtonthat the games are illegal. The sites that defy this opinion and continue to operate in Texas in what appears to be an illegal market include DraftKings and FanDuel.
Types of Live Texas Gambling
- Slots: Yes
- Blackjack: Yes
- Poker: Yes
- Craps/Roulette: Yes
- Horses: Yes
- Lottery: Yes
There are a few forms of live gambling permitted in Texas. The Kickapoo tribe has a southern Texas casino. It is the only Texas casino in the state. Slots, video poker, electronic table games and live poker are spread. There are about 3,300 machines at the Lucky Eagle Casino on that reservation. There are no other Texas casinos currently operating within its borders. If the Texas gambling laws were to change, this might as well.
The Texas Lottery sells two types of lottery tickets. One is an instant game that involves scratch-off tickets. The other is lotto drawings. Texas is included in the multi-state drawings like Powerball and Mega Millions. It also has in-state drawings like Lotto Texas, Texas Two Step, Texas Triple Chance, All or Nothing, Pick3, Daily4, and Cash5.
Charities may spread bingo for fundraising purposes. These are very popular compared to most other states due to the lack of other Texas casinos and gambling options.
The racing industry also fares better in Texas than other locales. The lack of Texas casinos probably helps the tracks remain active. Live and off-track betting is available at horse and greyhound racing venues in Texas.
What Is The Legal Gambling Age In Texas
Texas Gambling Laws
There are strict Texas gambling laws. The only forms of legalized Texas gambling are ones specifically approved by voters in a constitutional referendum. The only forms of gambling voters have affirmed are charitable bingo, horse racing, and a state lottery. A gaming compact was created between the state and the Kickapoo tribe under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Slots, video poker, electronic table games and a poker room are approved. Table games are not allowed. The Kickapoo tribe has the only reservation recognized by the state for gaming purposes. They are the only Texas casino currently operating.
While Texas bans most forms of betting, its punishments are lenient compared to other states. All gambling crimes that are not handled on a federal level are only misdemeanors.
A bet is defined as “an agreement to win or lose something of value solely or partially by chance”. Daily fantasy sports are illegal in Texas, likely because of this definition. The sites claim to be bona fide contests of skill that fall outside of this definition. The state attorney general and most legal analysts that follow the industry find that to be a laughable position.
The minimum Texas gambling age for lottery players is 18 years old. Live racing and off-track betting has a minimum Texas gambling age of 21 years old. The Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino also is required to exclude anyone under 21. Bingo players must be 18 but state law permits minors to play if accompanied by an adult.
List of Texas Casinos and Racetracks
There is only one Texas casino and it is the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass. There are six active racetracks in Texas that have live and off-track betting. Three offers horses while the other three are greyhound tracks.
Casino | Size | Address | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino – Eagle Pass | 3,300 Slot Machines | 768 Lucky Eagle Dr. | www.luckyeagletexas.com |
Racetrack | Type | Address | Website |
Gulf Coast Racing – Corpus Christie | Greyhounds | 5302 Leopard St. | www.gulfcoastracetrack.com |
Gulf Greyhound Park – La Marque | Greyhounds | 1000 FM 2004 | www.gulfgreyhound.com |
Lone Star Park – Grand Prairie | Thoroughbred | 1000 Lone Star Pkwy | www.lonestarpark.com |
Retama Park – Selma | Thoroughbred & Quarter Horse | 1 Retama Pkwy | www.retamapark.com |
Sam Houston Race Park – Houston | Quarter Horse | 7575 N. Sam Houston Pkwy W. | www.shrp.com |
Valley Race Park – Harlingen | Greyhounds | 2601 S. Ed Carey Dr. | www.valleyracepark.com |
In addition to the Texas casinos and tracks, there are thousands of lottery retailers in the state where bettors can buy instant game and lotto tickets. There are also more than 100 places to play bingo.
Texas Gambling History
Horse racing dates back to before Texas became a state. Old time bookmakers took bets without any oversight. The industry had its issues with legitimacy before the industry died off in the middle of the 20th Century. It returned in a regulated state in 1987 to keep bettors from traveling to neighboring states for action. Live horses and greyhounds may be used.
Racing was not the first time gambling was legalized in Texas. Voters approved charitable gambling in 1980. The first bingo license was issued in 1982.
Voters approved the Texas Lottery in November 1991. The first ticket was sold in May 1992.
Tribal Texas Casinos Enter the Picture
Texas casino gambling has an interesting past in Texas. The Kickapoo tribe is the only one permitted to hold a gaming pact with the state.
The Tigua tribe was the first to open a casino in Texas. That occurred in 1993. It was done without a gaming compact. Governor Richards refused to enter into one.
The Tigua tribe sued the state and lost in 1994. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state could not be compelled to sign a gaming compact. The Tigua casino remained open without a gaming pact. The state sued in 1999 and prevailed to shut the casino down. The casino did not close until 2001 when the Tigua tribe lost its appeals.
The Tigua tribe tried again in 2008 to roll out cash games. It opened a slot parlor but was forced to shut down after enforcement action was brought by Texas officials.
The Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino opened in 1996. It is still open today as it holds a gaming pact.
The Alabama-Coushatta tribe opened a casino in 2001. It closed after the Tigua Indians lost its initial court battle.
State law considers any activity that involves partial chance with money on the line to be gambling. Many gaming lawyers assumed that these meant daily fantasy sports were illegal in the state. The companies that operate those contests did not agree and operated in the state. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared the games illegal in January 2016. The sites ignored his opinion as it did not include a demand to leave the market.
Texas Casinos & Gambling FAQ
What is the minimum Texas gambling age?
Lottery and bingo players must be at least 18 years old. Racing and casino players must be at least 21.
A bingo patron under 18 is allowed to play for real money if accompanied by an adult.
Yes. There is three horse racing tracks in Texas.
Yes. There are three greyhound tracks in Texas.
Yes. All six tracks have race books. TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica all have mobile racing apps available to Texans.
There is one. It is Kickapoo’s Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass.
Slots, video poker, live poker and electronic table games are spread at Lucky Eagle Casino.
Sunland Park Race Track and Casino is just across the border in New Mexico from El Paso.
There are dozens of casinos along the Oklahoma state line.
Lake Charles, Louisiana is home to the closest casinos to Houston.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared daily fantasy sports illegal in January 2016. His opinion was ignored by most of the companies that provide the games.
FanDuel and DraftKings are the major daily fantasy sports sites still in the state.
Is online poker, casino or sports betting legal in Texas over the Internet?
Adhering to the legal gambling age in your state is vital, both in legal online gambling in the United States and land based gambling. Due to the nature of state's rights, each state can have its own age requirements pertaining to gambling. Due to the differences between each state, you cannot just assume that you can gamble at any certain age.
Most states have a strict gambling age requirement of 21, and all states are actively enforcing these gambling laws. Even in the case where no gambling options are available through land based gambling businesses, you will find that most states still have some form of age restriction codified in their laws. While some states have an age requirement of 18, this is rare. Only 13 states allow gamblers to begin at the age of 18, so it is unlikely that you may do so.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In My State?
While the age to gamble is set at the state level, it's not as if there are age ranges all over the ball park. In fact, the majority of the states have set their minimum age to gamble at 21 years old. However, there are some states where that age is set at 18.
If you happen to have questions about what the legal gambling age in your state might be, you are in luck. Listed out below, we have broken down the gambling age for each of the 50 states in the U.S. You will notice that there are a lot of stipulations for 21 years of age, but there are in fact some at only 18 years old. This will come into play the most when visiting an online gambling site with a minimum age to join / play of 18 years old.
Remember that the age in your state carries just as much weight as the age set by the online gambling site. For easy reference, just remember that the higher of the two ages must be met, if it differs between the site and the state age.
Right below, you can find your state within our list and easily locate the age required to gamble there. Users can then assume this is the age to participate in any form of online gaming that is offered by a gambling site that accepts players from their state. This is not always true but in most cases it is. Take a second to find your state before proceeding.
Chart of Legal Gambling Ages In The U.S.A. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama - 21 | Hawaii - 21 | Massachusetts - 21 | New Mexico - 21 | South Dakota - 21 |
Alaska - 18 | Idaho - 18 | Michigan - 21 | New York - 18 | Tennessee - 21 |
Arizona - 21 | Illinois - 21 | Minnesota - 18 | North Carolina - 18 | Texas - 21 |
Arkansas - 21 | Indiana - 21 | Mississippi - 21 | North Dakota - 21 | Utah - 21 |
California - 21 | Iowa - 21 | Missouri - 21 | Ohio - 21 | Vermont - 18 |
Colorado - 21 | Kansas - 18 | Montana - 21 | Oklahoma - 18 | Virginia - 21 |
Connecticut - 21 | Kentucky - 21 | Nebraska - 21 | Oregon - 21 | Washington - 18 |
Delaware - 21 | Louisiana - 21 | Nevada - 21 | Pennsylvania - 21 | West Virginia - 21 |
Florida - 21 | Maine - 18 | New Hampshire - 21 | Rhode Island - 18 | Wisconsin - 21 |
Georgia - 21 | Maryland - 21 | New Jersey - 21 | South Carolina - 18 | Wyoming - 18 |
Legal Gambling Age In Texas
When browsing the different online gambling sites that accept U.S. players, you will see that they also have their own age requirement. Some online gambling sites allow their users to play at the age of 18. If this is the case, you still have to adhere to your state gambling laws. If you live in Kansas, for instance, you can begin gambling at 18 - but only if your gambling site allows 18 year olds. Some gaming sites have a 21 year old age limit, which you also must abide by. In the event that your state and the gambling site have differing age limits, you will find that you have to adhere to the larger of these two ages.
The consequences of gambling online without adhering to the age requirements are fairly egregious. If you attempt to gamble online you open yourself up to the risk of financial loss and the possibility of a criminal infraction. If an online gambling site catches you attempting to gamble underage, your remaining money will be returned and you will be banned from their service. This means all of your winnings, and even your initial deposit, will all be a loss. Criminal charges for gambling underage are dependent on your jurisdiction, and they can range from a few fines all the way up to an arrest.
Legal Gambling Age In Texas
Online casinos that are legal, legitimate sports betting sites, and poker rooms that allow US players take underage gambling very seriously. It is well policed and it is likely that if you do so, you will get caught and have to suffer any and all consequences of doing so such as being denied payment of winnings. There are a lot of steps taken by the regulators of the industry, so it will be a good idea to adhere to the rules set down by both the gambling sites and of course your state gambling age.
In the end, we do not recommend trying to bypass the ages we have listed for each state. No matter what you do, you will ultimately have to submit identity verification. Each gambling site will force you to send in a copy of your ID and a utility bill in order to cash in your winnings, so you will get caught no matter what. Live gambling locations, such as brick and mortar casinos and card rooms, generally have a security force devoted to the apprehension of underage gamblers. This is where your criminal penalties become really prevalent, so keep your state's legal gambling age in mind before you decide to play - not after you get caught.
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