Land Based Gambling
Online Gambling
Overview
Despite being the biggest state in America, gambling is not widely practised. Casino gambling is practically non-existent in the region and most betting is done on horseraces, the lottery, or on charitable bingo games. Gambling does, however, manage to rack up a decent income in the state despite its limitations, with revenues of close to $5,000,000,000, with a little over $1,000,000,000 generated on taxes.
The first regulated games in Texas were licensed bingo options, which are now legally offered by charitable organisations across the region. This form of gaming traces back to 1980 when it was first legalised.
Horseracing is probably one of the oldest betting outlets for Texans, as the sport was in existence before Texas was even a state, but regulation and legal issues forced a shutdown to the industry. It wasn’t until 1987 that race betting on both horses and greyhounds became legally regulated. It is said that the legalisation of the market was done to prevent residents from taking their money to neighbouring states that offered race betting. Race betting is a thriving business in TX, more so than in any of the neighbouring states around it. This is probably because there is no competition in Texas from casino operators.
The lottery was legalised by the voters in 1991 and saw the first tickets sold in May the following year. Players have a choice of two ticket types, including normal draw tickets and instant win scratch-off tickets. When it comes to live draws, gamblers are spoiled for choice, with several in-state lotto draws as well as the interstate lottery options, such as Mega Millions and Powerball.
Casino gambling is only offered at one casino in the state. The casino is under the ownership of the Kickapoo tribe that offers gambling through a gaming compact formed with the state in 1996 under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. It offers games such as slots, video poker, electronic tables, and a poker room. Unfortunately, no table games are allowed. The Kickapoo tribe was, however, not the first Native American tribe to offer casino gaming in the state. Betting establishments run by the Tigua Indians and Alabama-Coushatta were closed by the government for operating illegally without compacts. There is fierce competition for casino gambling in this region of the USA, as every bordering state offers casino gambling in some form or another.
Both Sports Betting and Daily Fantasy Sports are illegal in Texas, however, the latter still runs in the state without regulation through leagues such as FanDuel and DraftKings. The laws are about to change in the industry to allow for regulated gaming.
