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It’s no surprise that the state of Texas is conservative. Matter of fact, locals and politicians hang their hat on this. But a byproduct of this conservatism has been a hardline stance on legal sports betting (or any form of gambling really). Right now, Texas legal sports betting is nonexistent. It’s one of 11 states in the country that can say such a thing.
That’s why it’s surprising how the Lone Star State ended up on a short list we’re going to cover in this subject. Keep reading cause these findings are out of the ordinary.
Betting Addiction Is Abnormally High In Texas
WalletHub just released its annual report on the most gambling-addicted states in America, and the 2025 rankings are eye-opening. Researchers analyzed all 50 states using data points like illegal gambling operations, lottery sales per capita, and the percentage of adults with gambling disorders.
Texas landed at number 11 on the list — high, but still behind Nevada, which claimed the top spot as expected. On the opposite end of the spectrum was Utah, where gambling is even more nonexistent due to strong Mormon cultural values.
Of course, what makes Texas stand out is the contradiction between its addiction ranking and its legal stance. Not only is betting of most kinds illegal in Texas, but there are harsh penalties against doing so. Under Texas law, you can be charged with an offense if you:
- Bet on the outcome of a game or how a participant performs
- Wager on the results of a political race or a candidate’s success
- Play any game involving cards, dice, or gambling devices for money or valuables
There are a few narrow exceptions, including the state lottery, charitable bingo games, and certain types of animal racing. But overall, Texas keeps a tight grip on gambling activities.
“Gambling addictions can destroy lives the same way that alcohol and drug addictions can,” said Chip Lupo, an analyst at WalletHub. “Some people can gamble casually, but others need to stay away entirely. For those struggling, it may help to live in states with fewer opportunities to gamble and stricter laws that make it harder to feed the habit.”
So while Texas may rank high in gambling addiction, it’s also one of the few states drawing a firm line in the sand — at least on paper. In the next section, we’ll dig into why betting is still happening among Texans.
Texans Are Still Betting — Just Not Legally
Despite the state’s restrictions, Texans are still finding ways to place bets. A lot of them. Just because lawmakers have shut the door doesn’t mean the demand has disappeared. It’s just being redirected — sometimes across state lines and other times into the shadows.
One of the most common workarounds? Crossing the border — not to Mexico, but a neighboring state. With betting legal in nearby states like Louisiana (casino and sports betting) and Oklahoma (casinos only), many Texans are simply driving a few hours to place bets at tribal casinos or top mobile apps within those states’ borders. And for bigger events — think March Madness or the Super Bowl — it’s not uncommon for Texans to plan entire weekend trips to Las Vegas.
Then there’s the other side of the coin — the offshore stuff. While not talked about as openly, popular offshore sportsbooks have made it incredibly easy for anyone with a phone and an Internet connection to bet from their couch. These platforms are based in countries with loose regulations and zero oversight from U.S. authorities. That allows them the grey area to serve Texans and other jurisdictions without legal betting.
In fact, for many Texans, offshore books are seen as the “normal” way to bet — because that’s all they’ve ever known. Not only that, but many of these offshore platforms are every bit as good as regulated ones like DraftKings or FanDuel. If you’re looking for reliable offshore bookies, we recommend starting with one of the five listed underneath:
So yes, Texans can find ways to bet — they just need to get creative. And if they’re taking the extra effort to get bets in the first place, then it should be no surprise that addiction is quite high in the state.
How Texas Can Fight Off Problem Gambling
Proponents of legalized betting argue that regulation actually curbs addictions and problem gambling. If betting were to be taxed, money would flow back to organizations that support struggling bettors. But without those tax dollars, bettors largely lack the resources to get help. Which leads us to our next question, what are the chances Texas changes its stance on betting?
Not high, that’s for sure. Just recently, a group of newly elected Texan Republicans penned a letter to Rep. Ken King — who chairs the House State Affairs Committee — urging him to kill gambling proposals.
“We are confident this legislation does not have the votes necessary to pass the Texas House this session,” the letter states. “Given the certainty of its failure, I urge you not to waste valuable committee time on an issue that is dead on arrival.”
So expect Texans to continue funneling their betting money into offshore sportsbooks and other states.
Best Betting Sites 