Nov 16, 2018 It’s legal for you to play real money poker over the internet from California. All the laws against this activity apply to those facilitating transactions or hosting the games; you face no legal consequences as a player. Of the many sites that offer virtual card games to Californians, some are large, and some are small.

Poker wouldn’t be poker without Texas. After all, without Texas, we’d all just be playing plain old hold’em. Without Texas, we wouldn’t have some of the game’s most enduring legends, such as Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, and WSOP founder Benny Binion.

No-limit Texas Hold’em made Texas an indelible part of poker. Card players in the Lone Star Star love poker, both in land-based casinos and online poker. This page discusses the Internet poker rooms available to Texas poker players in this Guide to Playing Online Poker in Texas.

If you came here looking for how to play online poker in Texas or the tips on the best Texas poker sites, we suggest you read our real-money poker guide.

Bovada	$500 Bonus	3-4 Day Payouts	Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires
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Poker Sites Open to Players From Your State

Current Updates for TX – Laws, Legislation & House Bills

Poker players have fought for legalized poker for years, whether in Texas online poker rooms or in brick-and-mortar establishments. In 2012-2013, Senator Rodney Ellis introduced casino bills that included the legalization of poker, but Ellis received no support from his fellow lamwakers.

Since then, Texan entrepreneurs took the initiative. Private poker clubs have popped up around Texas, mostly in large cities like Houston and Dallas. Players don’t pay a rake or tournament fees. Instead, they pay membership or entrance fee, similar to a country club. The clubs make money from membership fees, seat rental fees, and food and beverage sales.

Poker clubs operate in a grey area. Local law enforcement shut down some poker clubs, but some in other towns remain open and assert their rights legally. A court ruling might decide the law, as the legislature won’t legalize Texas poker anytime soon.

AG Ken Paxton Dithers on Live Poker Rooms

The most recent news out of Texas is that Attorney General Ken Paxton will not be issuing any type of decision regarding the live poker rooms. State Representative Geanie Morrison formally asked Paxton if poker rooms that charge membership fees but don’t charge rake permitted are legal. Paxton officially refused to answer. A spokesperson for his office said that it is a legal matter being litigated in the courts, so courts should resolve the issue.

In 2018, Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would not issue any type of decision regarding the live poker rooms. State Representative Geanie Morrison formally asked Paxton if poker rooms that charge membership fees — but don’t charge rake — are permitted under the current law. Many state lawmakers have been asking the same question, but Paxton officially refused to answer. A spokesperson for his office said that the courts should resolve the issue.

Texas Poker Clubs – A Legal Gray Area

Poker clubs around Texas continued to operate as usual until May 1, 2019.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office and Houston Police Department coordinated to raid the two largest poker clubs in Houston on May 1. Nine owners and managers from the Post Oak Poker Club and Prime Social Poker Club were arrested and charged with money laundering as a part of engaging in organized crime activities. The two clubs’ bank accounts were also frozen and all funds seized. District Attorney Kim Ogg said, “Poker rooms are illegal in the state of Texas.”

Interestingly, however, all charges were dropped in July. All money was returned. The DA’s office commented that the dismissal of charges was the result of “multiple potential conflicts of interest” within her office. It seems that a contract employee of her office also worked for a law firm that tried to extort money from the two poker clubs while conducting an investigation of them. Said law firm – Jones Walker – then became the target of a lawsuit by Prime Social in early September.

Latest Texas Sports Betting Bills

Texas Rep. Eduardo Lucio introduced Texas House Bill 1275 and Texas House Joint Resolution 61 to the House in February 2019. HR 1275 would regulate land-based sports betting and impose a 6.25% tax. HRJ 61 would let Texans vote on a constitutional amendment to legalize sportsbooks through a statewide vote.

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.
Texas Gambling & Poker Laws Summarized

Texas Daily Fantasy Sports Laws – Is It Legal?

In January 2016, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that daily fantasy sports gaming was illegal in Texas. FanDuel announced it would no longer offer games to Texans after May 1, 2016. DraftKings filed suit in a Texas court, asking the court to rule DFS legal. That court case has not been resolved yet.

8-Liners in Texas Towns

One other oddity exists on the Texas landscape. Under Texas State law, the gaming machines called 8-Liners or “maquinitas“ are legal if local municipalities approve them. and the owner does not pay winnings in cash. Winners are paid in store credit, gas, or groceries. Despite that limitation, 8-liners generate $5.4 billion in revenues each year.

8-Liners create a problem for local law enforcement. Business owners often pay cash for winnings, which is illegal. Just in the past 3 years alone, Texas law enforcement has raided 8-liner operations for illegal cash payments in the following cities: San Antonio, Poth, Athens, Cap City, Eustace, Seven Points, Tool, Gun Barrel City, San Benito, Rio Grande City, La Joya, Cameron County in the Rio Grande Valley, and McAllen.

Texas Poker Sites – Where to Play Online Legally?

Most Texas poker players drive to Oklahoma or Louisiana to gamble. Several of the largest casinos (by gaming space) in the world are located an hour north of Dallas: Winstar Casino in Thackerville and Choctaw Casino in Durant, Oklahoma. The casinos in Bossier City and Shreveport, Louisiana also get most of their business from Dallas-Fort Worth.

Texans who want to know the closest card room should read our list of real money poker rooms.

Is Online Poker Legal in Texas?

Online Gambling Poker Real Money

As a rule of thumb, a poker site that accepts American players will also accept poker players from Texas. It’s NOT illegal to play online poker in Texas. In fact, unlike Washington, Texas poker players can legally play on offshore poker sites, like Bovada. The only illegal activity is owning or operating a poker room.

The rooms we’ve listed above are Texas-friendly, but they’re far from the only online poker rooms where Texans can play real-money games. Read through our list of online poker — Texas exists in a gray area, but Texans can play at most US-friendly sites.

What Forms of Gambling Are Legal in Texas?

Poker players are naturally curious about whether or not playing poker for real money online is legal under Texas law. Offering legal advice is not a function of this website (nor of anyone beyond legal professionals), but we can help you sort through the fundamentals of poker laws in Texas.

What counts as gambling in Texas?

The definition of “bet” (Section 47.01(1)) is short and sweet – it’s when you enter into an understanding “to win or lose something of value” in an activity that involves chance. Specifically, the winning or losing must occur “solely or partially by chance.” The definition includes the phrase “partially by chance,” so a bet is anything with any element of chance. The definition of “gambling device” (Section 47.01(4) clarifies the law further.

Making illegal bets is a misdemeanor in Texas (Section 47.02). Those who break the law could face a half-dozen separate charges. Gambling promotion (Section 47.03) is a misdemeanor, and covers operating, promoting, processing bets and selling lottery chances. Possession of Gambling Device, Equipment, or Paraphernalia (Section 47.06) is also a misdemeanor.

Will Texas Regulate Internet Poker?

It’s unlikely Texas will regulate online poker. Texas proponents of land-based casino gambling faced a long fight in the past. Texas online poker is even further away from approval.

Texas Gambling Facts

Texas regulates lottery betting and pari-mutuel bets on racing, and charitable gambling (raffles and games of bingo).

Tribal gambling is complicated. Naskila Gaming at Livingston owned by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino at Eagle Pass, and Speaking Rock Entertainment by the Tigua Tribe of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo each operate casino gaming. All three tribes are embroiled in multi-year legal battles with the state of Texas.

Purely social gambling in a private place or regulated gambling activity is legal, if the house makes no profit.

All Poker and Gambling Laws by State

• July 11th, 2018

  Poker rooms operating in Texas have no plans to shut down. They believe in their right to operate enough to take it to the courts if they must. The loopholes in the law, in addition to the antiquated laws surrounding poker in Texas, may be challenged in just that way,

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• May 8th, 2018

  Poker players in Texas know how to find games. Whether they travel to neighboring states that allow casinos and card rooms or locate underground games closer to home, there are ways to play poker. Some have found a different avenue. With some legal advice and personal determination, a number of

  Read Full
• October 20th, 2017

  Texas is one of the few states in America that does not permit poker rooms, clubs, or games with any type of money involved. Despite the global popularity of Texas Hold’em, the state itself has yet to consider any true poker legalization measures. Only one casino operates in Texas, and

  Read Full
• August 18th, 2017

  One of the greatest mysteries in the world of poker is the notion that Texas Hold’em – and any other kind of poker game – is illegal in the state of Texas. No matter the mainstream popularity of poker or the many reports showing the level of skill overrides luck

  Read Full

Texas’ Forms of Regulated Internet Gambling

This is a much shorter list, as the state of Texas does not regulate any form of online gambling activity. As noted in our earlier section discussing the likelihood that Texas will regulate online poker, there’s almost certainly quite a bit of daylight between now and a time when Texas is issuing licenses to online gambling operators.

Additional Research on Texas Gambling

Texas Tribune: Gaming/Gambling. Dedicated section from the Texas Tribune covering all in-state gaming and gambling issues. Includes news and interviews with major industry players.

Senator Rodney Ellis . Internet home of Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston), the driving force behind a proposal that would allow voters to decide whether or not to bring casinos to Texas.

Texas Lottery . Official website for the state lottery of Texas contains winning numbers along with a wealth of historical and statistical data about the lottery.

Texas’ and the History of Poker

It’s hard for a state to be any more integral to the game of poker than Texas. After all, the state name is right smack at the start of what is by far the most popular format of modern poker: Texas Hold’em. The “Godfather” of poker, Doyle Brunson, is still better known to some poker fans as Texas Dolly. The subject of one of the most epic poker matches (and stories) in history – Andy Beal – is (you guessed it) a card-carrying Texan. We could go on.

Poker is now by and large an underground activity in Texas, so the state doesn’t get the same spotlight as your Las Vegas or your Atlantic City. But we can guarantee that if the same laws existed in Texas as Nevada, you might quickly see the center of the American poker universe gravitate a bit closer to the Lone Star State.

Sources & Citations For This Article on Texas Online Poker

Table Of Contents

The United States has been a precarious place for online poker since 2011. Only a handful of states have legalized and regulated the activity, leaving thousands of poker enthusiasts looking for a place to enter real-money online games.

But there are options, even if you don't live in one of the states that offer legal online games. In this article we look at some of those options; be sure to check back as more states pass bills to allow us to play the game we love and don't forget to visit this page about online casinos in the USA if you want to play more games too!

New Jersey – The Place Where Online Dreams are Made

888poker NJ

888poker is one of the most trusted brands in poker, and with over 25 million customers around the world, there’s a reason for it.

888 offers large welcome bonuses and $10 free to get started. Players can also enjoy 888poker on their mobile devices. While players can only play one table at a time, cash games, sit & go tournaments and multi-table tournaments are all offered.

Obviously, the only downside to this U.S. poker site is that traffic is relatively low, because, there are only so many people in New Jersey who play poker.

Is It Illegal To Play Poker Online For Money

So get going! Take to 888poker for all the games, bonuses and special offers.

PokerStars

The best poker software around, PokerStars New Jersey is the real deal!

Play Nowpartypoker

partypoker has seen a major resurgence, and their New Jersey client is just as great.

Play Now888poker

888poker NJ customers can enjoy playing at the site via their favorite Android or iOS powered mobile device.

Play NowBorgata Poker

Property of the world-famous New Jersey land-based Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Borgata Poker is available in New Jersey.

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Borgata Poker

Of all the poker rooms you could choose, BorgataPoker.com is one of the most superb, namely because it’s the official poker site of the famous Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

Given its large signup bonus and VIP program, players enjoy a brand that’s trustworthy and secure with a free $20 in pocket.

BorgataPoker.com offers a similar range of games as 888poker but it is also home to FastForward poker, or “fast-fold” poker, meaning you can pick up a new table if you don’t like your hole cards and fold.

WSOP.com NJ

Play for a share of $700 for free; get a 100 percent match up to $400 first deposit bonus; and have all of it be legal!

With WSOP.com NJ, online poker rooms take a new form with exciting cash games, an awesome tournament schedule and, last but not least, the opportunity to qualify for the World Series of Poker!

Play on your mobile device or take it to the desktop, but either way, this trusted name won’t let you down. Play now!

PokerStars NJ

PokerStars' unrivaled game selection makes it a top play. Considered to be the best regulated online poker site in the U.S., PokerStars NJ is the market leader with excellent customer service, great software and a lucrative VIP scheme.

There’s a reason PokerStars says “We are Poker.” Their software is available on Mac, PC, iOS and Android devices. Their welcome bonuses are the most robust in New Jersey and they run alongside great promotions.

Download PokerStars today to see what you’re missing in this online poker room!

partypoker NJ

Partypoker NJ, an operator since 2001, is a major player in the online poker tournament scene. Play all your favorite games directly from your smart phone: cash games, FastForward poker, sit & go tournaments and other casino game favorites.

While partypoker does not offer multi-table tournaments, don’t let that stop you from enjoying their major signup package or free $25 bonus. This operator regularly offers value-packed promotions, so stop procrastinating and get going at this great U.S. poker site!

Nevada – Vegas, Baby!

WSOP.com NV

WSOP.com is the only online poker site where you can not only win your way into WSOP live events, but also win a WSOP bracelet. Enough said.

With the backing of Caesars Interacting Entertainment the famous World Series of Poker brand, this U.S. poker site finds favor because it offers almost everything: a wide variety of game types and limits, 888poker software, a player pool linked with Delaware, deposit and withdrawal options at live venues and excellent customer service.

And to top it all off, if you sign up to WSOP.com from PokerNews, you can get a 100 percent match up to $400.

WSOP.com NV will make your online poker experience as enjoyable as possible. So take advantage of this state-of-the-art software and have some fun!

So, have no fear! U.S. gaming is here. These online poker sites are just waiting for you.

Anywhere But No Real-Money Element: WSOP's Social Site

You can't play for real money, but you can experience the thrill of poker anywhere in the world by logging onto WSOP's social poker site. You can play no-limit hold'em and omaha, and both ring games and tournaments. Sign up for the World Series of Poker social site via PokerNews.com, and receive 250,000 extra chips!

Finding a trustworthy room to play online poker can be a monumental burden. That's all the more true if you're just looking for a place to play poker for free. We've listed five of the best play-money poker sites to enjoy and help hone your skills.

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