Bet Texas
They say everything is bigger in Texas and that saying certainly applies to the sports betting appetite of Texas residents. As the second largest State in the USA, with 29 million residents, it’s no wonder that Texas is considered a big market for sports betting in the United States.
Texas has laws in place against virtually all forms of gambling, with the notable exception being horse racing and dog racing. Penal code 47.01 defines a “bet” as “an agreement to win or lose something of value solely or partially by chance”. Texas is one of the few remaining large market states that has yet to legalize sports betting. With an abundance of sports teams and a few major cities, Texas would certainly benefit from legalized sports betting. There has been some back and forth of late, but nothing has.
Texas, like the majority of states in the US, does not allow sports betting within the State. This means if you’re a Texan who would like to bet on sports you will need to sign up an account to an offshore betting site that is licensed outside of the country.
On this page, I will outline the legality of betting on sports in Texas, as well as recommend my top rated offshore betting sites for Texas residents. I’ve also added some city specific pages, which you can find links to at the bottom of the page.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Texas?
I have a two part answer to this question. First, I should point out that it is not legal to run a sportsbook operation (accept bets) in the State of Texas. This is because Texas does not license or authorize any sports betting operations within the State. If you do find a sportsbook, online or offline, that claims to be licensed by and operated in Texas you can be confident that the site is illegal and you should not place bets through that operation.
Now on to the second part of this question. It is NOT illegal for Texas residents to place wagers through offshore betting sites. Offshore sportsbooks are licensed, authorized and regulated by a different jurisdiction, outside of Texas. By being regulated outside of Texas (and the USA) it is legal and safe for Texas residents to place wagers at these sites.
Best Sportsbooks for Texas Residents
Here are our two favorite offshore sportsbooks for Texas residents.
Both of these sites are very large and widely used across the United States. Bovada, our top rated site, actually only accepts American residents, which allows them to fully cater their offerings to the American public.
- Built for American bettors
- Wide variety of competitive betting lines
- Easy to navigate betting platform
- Accepts players worldwide
- Competitive betting lines
- Fast & easy deposits and withdrawals (including Bitcoin)
Offline Sports Betting in Texas
There is currently no offline sports betting allowed in Texas. If you do come across an offline bookie within the State you should know that they are operating illegally.
The only way to currently bet on sports in the State of Texas is through an offshore sportsbook like the ones I’ve outlined above.
Major Sports Teams in Texas
Texas is a sports hot bed with a huge variety of professional sports teams in the major cities. I’ve added a quick list of some of the major pro teams who call Texas home below. Click on the city name for more specific information about sports betting in that city.
- Austin FC
- Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
- Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
- Dallas Stars (NHL)
- FC Dallas (MLS)
- Texas Rangers (MLB)
- None
Bet Texas
- Houston Astros (MLB)
- Houston Dynamo (MLS)
- Houston Rockets (NBA)
- Houston Texans (NFL)
- San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
Horse Racing in Texas
It is legal to bet on horse races at the track in Texas. Below I’ve listed some of the major horse tracks currently operational within the State.
**You can also place wagers on races taking place at each of these tracks at either of the sportsbooks I recommend above.
Major Tracks
- Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie
- Sam Houston Race Park, Houston
- Retama Park, Selma
The No. 5 Texas Longhorns (11-2 overall, 5-1 Big 12) host the Oklahoma Sooners (9-4, 5-3) Tuesday for a 7 p.m. ET tip. Below, we analyze the Oklahoma-Texas college basketball odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Oklahoma at Texas: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:45 a.m. ET.
Money line: Oklahoma +165 (bet $100 to win $165) Texas -200 (bet $200 to win $100)Against the spread/ATS: Oklahoma +4.5 (-110) Texas -4.5 (-110)Over/Under: 143.5 (O: -110 U: -110)Oklahoma at Texas: Three things to know
Texas head coach Shaka Smart announced on Twitter Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19, and will be in isolation from the team as it plays its first game in 10 days. The previous two games – at Iowa State last Wednesday and at TCU Saturday – were postponed because of COVID-19 issues within opponents’ programs. Texas’ last outing was an 82-67 home win vs. Kansas State Jan. 16. It failed to cover as a 16.5-point favorite but rebounded from its first Big 12 loss of the season (79-77 to then-No. 15 Texas Tech Jan. 13). Junior G Andrew Jones’ 14.4 PPG leads four Longhorns in double figures.Oklahoma upset then-No. 9 Kansas 75-68 Saturday for a third win a row. The Sooners, who were 1-point home underdogs, trailed 52-51 with 9:29 to go but outscored the Jayhawks 24-16 down the stretch. Senior G Austin Reaves tallied 11 of his 16 points in the final 5:59. Sophomore G De’Vion HarmonBest Texas Beach
finished with a game-high 22 points, including 4 3-pointers, and the Sooners shot 18-for-22 from the free-throw line. Reaves leads OU in points (15.2 per game), rebounds (5.1 RPG) and assists (5.2 APG).The rivals split their two meetings last season with the road teams prevailing as underdogs. Texas won at Oklahoma 52-51 in March when now-senior G Matt Coleman III banked a 3-pointer off the glass with 0.04 seconds left after OU missed two free throws. The Sooners, behind a second-half 11-2 run, claimed a 72-62 road victory Jan. 8, 2020.Special College Basketball Betting Promotion!
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Oklahoma at Texas: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Online Wagering In Texas
Prediction
Texas 70, Oklahoma 67
Money line (ML)
AVOID. Texas will improve to 5-1 in its last six home games in the series, but the -200 price is too chalky.
Best Texas Beaches
Against the spread (ATS)
OKLAHOMA +4.5 (-110) is the worth backing, getting the nod because:
Texas will miss coach Smart.Oklahoma is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games.Texas will be a bit rusty after 9 days off.Texas is 1-3 ATS in its last 4 games.ATS: Oklahoma 8-5 Texas 6-7
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 143.5 (-110) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. Oklahoma’s defense yields 64.7 PPG in conference games to rank second in the Big 12; Texas is fourth at 70.2 PPG.
The Sooners are also 2-8 vs. the O/U in their last 10 games. Saturday’s 75-68 victory over the Jayhawks snapped a 4-game Under streak.
The Longhorns enter on a 6-game Over run, but the Sooners’ defense will be the best they’ve faced to date. Plus, only four of the Longhorns’ last 10 games have reached 144 total combined points.
O/U records: Oklahoma 5-8 Texas 8-5
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
| Johnny’s 2020-21 CBK record / Strongest plays | 39-32-1 / 17-18 |
| CBK record since Jan. 1 / Strongest plays | 24-15-1 / 12-8 |
| 2021 overall record (all sports) / Strongest plays | 37-21-1 / 20-10 |
| 2020 overall record (all sports) / Strongest plays | 178-147-4 / 87-61-1 |
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