Legal Gambling Age In Texas
- Legal Gambling Age In The United States. There are legal ways in which players in the United States are able to gamble online without having to worry about breaking online gambling laws. However, there is one facet of the law that is not flexible across the country in all phases of online gambling. That would be the legal gambling age for players.
- Minimum Age to Gamble in United States of America. Below you will find the minimum legal age to gamble in various locations around the U.S., Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. In the 50 American states, some times you'll see a variance, this usually is due to Indian casinos having different age requirements in their casinos than state regulated.
- Each state regulates its own minimum age for gambling. Some states have two legal gambling ages, commonly 18 in some casinos, 21 in others. Each state regulates its own minimum age for gambling. Some states have two legal gambling ages, commonly 18 in some casinos, 21 in others.
- Texas law does not allow for casinos. The gambling law specifically prohibits 'keeping a gambling place.' However, Native American lands are not subject to the same state gambling laws, and there is at least one legal casino in Texas on native lands. Social Gambling in Texas. One big exception in Texas gambling laws is social gambling.
Introduction to Texas Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Casino Gambling Age in Texas. Gambling in Texas is restricted to individuals over the age of 21 years. This protection is in place to stop the spread of irresponsible gambling, and protect minors from the devastation of gambling addiction at a young age.
Texas slot machine casino gambling consists of two American Indian tribal casinos with Class II competition-style or bingo-style electronic gaming machines. Carnival cruise ships offer onboard casinos when traveling to international destinations.
Texas does not have theoretical payout limits at its tribal casinos. No return statistics are publicly available.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
Keep Reading … or Watch Instead!
Or … Listen Instead!
Subscribe to my Professor Slots podcast at Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Amazon Audible Gaana Stitcher Pandora iHeart Radio Tune-In SoundCloud RadioPublic Deezer RSS and everywhere else you find your podcasts!
Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Texas*
The minimum legal gambling age in Texas depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 21 in casinos, 18 in churches, and less than 18 with an adult
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Legal Gambling Age In Texas
The Texas government and the state’s three federally-recognized tribes have, so far, been unable to negotiate tribal-state compacts. Without these gaming compacts, Texas prohibits tribal casinos from having Class III Vegas-style electronic gaming machines.
Legal Gambling Age In Texas
However, Texas tribal casinos can offer Class II bingo-style machines. Although these machines appear as traditional slot machines, they are not Class III machines. Players compete for prizes against other players throughout a casino’s gaming floor.
There have been substantial lawsuits by the Texas government to shut down tribal casinos offering Class II gaming, with some successes. Various court filings and rulings regarding the legality of tribal casinos in Texas have continued since the late 1980s.
Texas challenges the legality of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 based on the argument that the federal Restoration Act of 1987 takes legal precedence. This somewhat earlier Restoration Act gave federal recognition to the Tigua and Alabama-Coushatta tribes while also explicitly forbidding gambling.
None of the pari-mutual racetracks in Texas offer electronic gaming machines.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Texas
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Texas without restriction on its date of manufacture.
Gaming Control Board in Texas
Texas does not have a state gaming commission as it prohibits non-tribal casinos. No tribal-state gaming compact exists. However, the Texas Lottery Commission exists and operates the Texas Lottery.
Casinos in Texas
There are two American Indian tribal casinos in Texas as well as up to five international cruise ships with onboard casinos.
The largest casino in Texas is Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel with 3,300 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is Naskila Gaming with 365 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in Texas
The commercial casinos available in Texas are up to five cruise ships. Onboard casinos are only open while in international waters.
Carnival Cruise Lines operates these cruise ships sailing out of the Port of Galveston.
Tribal Casinos in Texas
The two tribal casinos in Texas are:
- Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel in Eagle Pass located 143 miles southwest from San Antonio.
- Naskila Gaming in Livingston located 74 miles north-northeast from Houston.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Texas slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Texas is:
- North: Oklahoma Slots
- East, Arkansas Slots, Louisiana Slots, and the Gulf of Mexico
- South: The country of Mexico
- North and West: New Mexico Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Texas.
Our Texas Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Texas? If so, join our Texas slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Texas. Join us!
Payout Returns in Texas
Texas has no theoretical payout limits established as the state prohibits slot machines. Further, no return statistics are available.
Summary of Texas Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Texas slot machine casino gambling consists of two American Indian tribal casinos offering bingo-style video gaming machines. The Port of Galveston offers Carnival cruise ships with onboard casinos open while sailing in international waters.
Neither theoretical payouts nor return statistics exist as Texas prohibits land-based casinos with Vegas-style slot machines.
Annual Progress in Texas Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, there has been little to no change in the slots gaming industry in Texas.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Tennessee Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: U.S. Virgin Islands Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
Texas is one of the strictest states when it comes to gambling and its laws can cover a wide variety of activities. Under Texas law, (Penal Code §47.02) gambling is considered a criminal offense if someone:
- 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.
The law does provide for some exceptions such as participating in the state lotteryor placing bets on horse and greyhound dog races (sometimes referred to as pari-mutuel wagering). The law also provides for some affirmative defenses to prosecution:
- the actor engaged in gambling in a private place;
- no person received any economic benefit other than personal winnings; and
- except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risks of losing and the chances of winning were the same for all participants
Additional exceptions include if the person reasonably believed their conduct:
What Is The Legal Gambling Age In Texas
- was permitted under Chapter 2001, Occupations Code; (Charitable Bingo)
- was permitted under Chapter 2002, Occupations Code; (Charitable Raffles)
- was permitted under Chapter 2004, Occupations Code; (Sports Charity Raffles)
Legal Age For Gambling In Texas
The first page of this guide will provide you with an overview of the Texas laws on gambling while the subsequent pages will discuss more specific topics like bingo, eight-liners and poker.