Sports betting in Texas isn't legal, and honestly, it doesn’t look like that’s changing anytime soon. But here’s the good news: social sportsbooks are legal in Texas. They let you make picks using virtual currencies instead of real cash.
In this guide, I’ll break down the current legal status of sports betting in Texas, including the nitty-gritty details of why it’s banned and whether there’s any hope of change in the future. Plus, I’ll explain why social sportsbooks are such a great alternative to traditional sports betting apps and share some top recommendations that are worth checking out.
Currently, online sports betting is not legal in Texas. In fact, it’s one of the states that have yet to allow any form of sports betting. On top of that, Texas hasn’t legalized casinos either, making it one of the strictest states when it comes to gambling.
But it’s not all bad news. Social sportsbooks are completely legal in the Lone Star State. They offer a wide range of sports and betting markets, just like real money sportsbooks. Plus, you can redeem possible Sweeps Coins winnings for real cash prizes, making them a great alternative to regular betting apps in Texas.
| Online sportsbooks legal? | No |
| Retail sportsbooks legal? | No |
| Social sportsbooks legal? | Yes |
The PASPA law (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) once banned sports betting across the US, except in a few states like Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon, which had some form of legalized sports betting before the law was passed.
That all changed in 2018 when the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA in the case of Murphy v. NCAA. This decision gave individual states the power to legalize and regulate sports betting as they saw fit. Since then, sports betting has rapidly expanded across the US, with 38 states now allowing single-game wagers at retail or online sportsbooks.
In Texas, however, efforts to legalize sports betting have repeatedly failed. Notable attempts include the 2021 proposals of House Joint Resolution 133 (HJR 133) and House Bill 2070, as well as House Bill 1942 in 2023. Despite these efforts, sports betting remains prohibited in Texas under Penal Code Chapter 47.
As mentioned earlier, real money sports betting is illegal in Texas. However, since social sportsbooks don’t involve real money betting, they’re allowed to operate legally in the Lone Star State. Here are my top recommendations:
SportsMillions offers two unique social sports modes: Pick'em and Blitz'em. In Pick'em, you predict higher or lower outcomes across various sports like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS. For example, you might guess if a basketball player will score over or under 24.5 points in a game.
Blitz'em works a little differently. You pick your favorite teams or players, spin a prize wheel, and receive random predictions. If those predictions come true during the events, you win the prize shown on the wheel.
You can check out my SportsMillions review for more details on how it all works. Or, if you’re ready to check out SportsMillions yourself, you can sign up now to get 1,000 Gold Coins and 3 Sweeps Coins free. Daily login bonuses give you more free virtual currencies, with rewards growing the more days you log in consecutively.
Legendz is best known for its social casino, boasting over 3,000 games, including slots, table games, live dealer options, and specialty games. But it doesn’t stop there - it also has a social sportsbook, which I thoroughly tested in my Legendz review and found to be just as impressive.
With competitive odds and a wide variety of markets across 35+ sports, there’s plenty to explore. Whether you’re into popular sports like baseball, basketball, and football or prefer esports and niche options like handball, darts, and MMA, Legendz has something for everyone.
As a new member, you’ll get 500 Gold Coins and 3 Sweeps Coins for free, giving you everything you need to start making sports predictions right away. You can also collect extra free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins through daily login bonuses, and as you progress through the VIP program, you’ll unlock bigger rewards and access to exclusive betting promotions.
Sportzino calls itself the “Best Sweepstakes Sports Casino in the US,” and if you read my Sportzino review, you will see it has a lot to support that bold claim. With over 40 sports in its lineup, you’ll find options ranging from popular favorites like basketball, football, and hockey to more niche picks such as bowls, badminton, and snooker - truly offering something for every sports fan.
Sportzino also boasts an impressive range of markets, covering everything from moneylines and spreads to over/unders, parlays, props, and even live predictions. On top of that, daily odds boosts ensure that you’re getting some of the best odds around.
What really sets Sportzino apart, though, is its bonuses. Their welcome offer is one of the best you’ll find at any social sportsbook right now - you can claim up to 220,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins completely free. The daily login bonus is also super generous, offering 20,000 Gold Coins and 1 Sweeps Coin for simply logging into your account every 24 hours.
Legal in Texas, Thrillzz is a popular social sports betting app where you can make picks on all the biggest sports and leagues, including the NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, and NCAA. Instead of wagering real money as you would at regular US betting sites, you’ll use virtual currencies called Thrillzz Coins and Thrillzz Sweeps. Thrillzz Coins are just for fun - you can win more with successful picks, but these winnings aren’t redeemable. On the flip side, when you make correct predictions using Thrillzz Sweeps, more Thrillzz Sweeps can be won and afterwards redeemed for real cash prizes.
What sets Thrillzz apart from other betting apps is its strong emphasis on the social side of things. You can share your picks with friends, compete in leaderboard-style challenges, and even create your own "Squads" to team up and compete with others. These features create a real sense of community and a social vibe that's not easy to find elsewhere. Thinking of signing up? What I found during my Thrillzz review is that you'll get 3,000 Thrillzz Coins and 3 Thrillzz Sweeps for free as a welcome bonus. This gives you everything you need to jump into the action, explore the app, and start making predictions without any upfront commitment.
Despite being a new social betting app launched in 2024, Fliff has quickly skyrocketed in popularity - and if you read my Fliff review, you'll see why. With highly competitive odds, an impressive variety of markets covering all the major sports and leagues, and round-the-clock customer support, it ticks all the right boxes.
What really sets Fliff apart, though, is how user-friendly its prize redemption process is. With just a 1x playthrough requirement and a minimum redemption amount of 50 Fliff Cash, you’ve got a fair and realistic shot at redeeming your Fliff Cash winnings for cash prizes.
The bonuses are another major highlight. When you sign up with the exclusive code PROMOGUYSOCIAL, you'll receive $100 in Fliff Coins and free Fliff Cash after purchasing a $50 worth Fliff Coin bundle. On top of that, Fliff offers daily login bonuses, referral bonuses, social media giveaways, and exclusive promos sent directly to your email.
You can’t win real money directly at social betting sites, as all picks are made with virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Any winnings are credited in the same virtual currency you used to make your picks.
The exciting part, though, is that potential Sweeps Coins winnings can be redeemed for prizes like cash and gift cards. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to verify your account and meet specific playthrough requirements before redeeming your Sweeps Coins.
Although there are no Texas sports betting apps you can access, you have the alternative of social sportsbooks mobile apps which are also offering a great experience for bettors if they want to check out social sportsbooks while being away from their PCs, brining more flexibility since you can access the social sportsbook of your choice while still being able to watch active live games at the same time for example.
| App for Social Sportsbooks | Apple App Store Rating | Google PlayStore Rating | Notable Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| SportsMillions | 4.6 | N/A | Easy sign-up and unique betting modes |
| Legendz | N/A | N/A | Special VIP program with level-up system |
| Sportzino | N/A | 4.6 | Live and event streaming |
| Thrillzz | 4.5 | 4.3 | Simple prize redemption process |
| Fliff | 4.7 | 4.2 | Variety of sports easy to access |
Texas legislature meets every two years, so the next chance for new sports betting legislation to be introduced is in 2025. However, with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick - who has consistently opposed legalizing sports betting - still in office, it's unlikely Texas will legalize it anytime soon.
Previous efforts to pass legislation, such as House Joint Resolution 133 (HJR 133) and House Bill 2070 in 2021, as well as House Bill 1942 in 2023, have all failed under Governor Dan Patrick's leadership. This suggests future bills are unlikely to succeed while he remains in office.
Unless there’s significant support from Republican senators or a change in leadership - such as Governor Dan Patrick stepping down - sports betting likely won’t be legalized in Texas before 2027, when his term could end.
Regular sportsbooks and casinos are illegal in Texas, but some forms of gambling are allowed. The state lottery, for example, has been legal since 1991.
Pari-mutuel wagering is also allowed at licensed racetracks for horse and greyhound races. Additionally, nonprofit organizations can host bingo games and raffles to raise funds for charitable causes.
In Texas, you have to be at least 18 years old to play the state lottery or take part in things like horse race betting and charitable bingo. This is the same legal gambling age as most other states.
Since sports wagering isn’t legal in Texas, you don’t need to worry about taxes because, technically, you can’t place legal bets in the state. If you visit a state where sports betting is legal, federal taxes may still apply, and it’s your responsibility to report any winnings to the IRS.
At social sportsbooks, you can bet on almost any sport you can imagine - ranging from popular options like football, baseball, and basketball to college sports, esports, and even niche sports such as handball, badminton, and darts.
Yes, you can. Social sportsbooks let you bet on all the major Texas sports teams. Whether it’s the Dallas Cowboys or Houston Texans in the NFL, the Dallas Mavericks or Houston Rockets in the NBA, or the Texas Rangers or Houston Astros in the MLB, you’ve got plenty of chances to support your favorite local teams.
Social sportsbooks in Texas are known for offering a variety of generous bonuses. Here are some of the best ones available right now:
No purchase is necessary to place bets on social sportsbooks in Texas. However, you can purchase bundles of Gold Coins and redeem Sweeps Coins for prizes. The table below shows the usual processing speeds and fees for each payment method.
| Payment method | Purchases | Prize redemptions | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit/debit cards | Instant | 1-3 business days | Varies by provider |
| E-wallets | Instant | 1-3 business days | No fees |
| Bank transfers | Instant | 3-5 business days | May include fees of 1-3% |
When rating the best sports sites in Texas, we focus on everything from the overall user interface and sports betting options to customer service quality, payment methods, and prize redemption requirements. We leave no stone unturned, so you can trust that our recommendations meet the highest standards.
While social sportsbooks in Texas don’t involve real money gambling, it’s still important to play responsibly. That’s why we only recommend sites with tools to help you stay in control, like setting limits on your spending and time on the site.
If you’re finding it difficult to gamble responsibly, these resources can provide professional help and support:
The bottom line is that sports betting isn’t legal in Texas, and while there’s a chance a new bill could be introduced in 2025, the odds of it passing under the current leadership aren’t looking great given the history of failed attempts.
That said, there’s still good news. Social sportsbooks like SportsMillions, Legendz, Sportzino, Thrillzz, and Fliff are fully legal in Texas. These social sportsbooks let you make free sports predictions using virtual currencies, giving you a fun and completely legal way to get in on the action.
Real money sports betting apps are not legal in Texas due to the state's strict gambling laws outlined in Penal Code Chapter 47. However, social sportsbook apps are legal. These apps use virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, allowing you to make free sports predictions. Plus, you can redeem Sweeps Coins winnings for prizes, making them an excellent alternative to traditional sports betting apps.
The next chance for sports betting legislation to be introduced in Texas is in 2025 when the state legislature reconvenes. However, with strong opposition from current Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the likelihood of legalization remains slim. Unless there’s a shift in support from Republican senators or a change in leadership, sports betting is unlikely to be legalized in Texas before 2027.
If you're wondering how to sports bet in Texas, social sportsbooks are your go-to option. Unlike regular sports betting websites that involve real money wagering - which isn't legal in the state - social sportsbooks let you make sports predictions for free using virtual currencies instead of real money.
Since they don’t involve real money gambling, social sportsbooks such as SportsMillions, Legendz, Sportzino, Thrillzz, and Fliff are legal in Texas. They let you make sports predictions for free using virtual currencies, making them a great alternative to real money sportsbooks, which are still illegal in the Lone Star State.
Social sportsbooks are legal in Texas because they operate under sweepstakes laws, which are different from regular gambling laws. Instead of using real money, you use virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold Coins are purely for entertainment, while Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash or prizes after meeting specific conditions.
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